Johnny Dunn

By Jack Ballhausen

I was raised out in the country on the Crookwell Breadalbane
And me folks they worried that me heart was lost out in the plains
What will we do with Johnny Dunn?
They’d soon renounce my name
For like a flood that convict blood was coursing through my veins

Run, run, run, you’ll never take me alive
Johnny Dunn’s a rovin’ under clear Australian skies
Oh run, run, run, you’ll never take me alive
Johnny Dunn’s a bushranger til the day he dies

Soon as I had come of age, couldn’t take it anymore
I packed my bags and lay them down on the Ben Hall gang’s front door
What will we do with Johnny Dunn?
Said the outlaws I adored
I’m sorry Mum, I’ve now become Australian folklore

Run, run, run, you’ll never take me alive
Johnny Dunn’s a rovin’ under clear Australian skies
Oh run, run, run, you’ll never take me alive
Johnny Dunn’s a bushranger til the day he dies

Bailing up all the wealthy folk, all the merchants, maids and men
Though the convict life was fraught with strife, we’d be caught not if but when
What will we do with Johnny Dunn?
The traps have found our den
And with a crash the glass did smash and it killed our leader Ben

Run, run, run, you’ll never take me alive
Johnny Dunn’s a rovin’ under clear Australian skies
Oh run, run, run, you’ll never take me alive
Johnny Dunn’s a bushranger til the day he dies

Bailed up in a prison cell, cockatoos squawkin’ outside
Can you believe it just nineteen years of age, I’m soon to kick the sky
What will we do with Johnny Dunn?
I asked myself in vain
Nothing to do now but to turn around and renounce all of my ways

Run, run, run, you’ll never take me alive
Johnny Dunn’s a rovin’ under clear Australian skies
Oh run, run, run, you’ll never take me alive
Johnny Dunn’s a bushranger til the day he dies

In the summer of 1866, I finally met my fate
A man appeared with a big white beard to meet me at the gate
What will do with Johnny Dunn?
St Peter asked of me
So with some pluck I bailed him up and continued on my way

Run, run, run, you’ll never take me alive
Johnny Dunn’s a rovin’ under clear Australian skies
Oh run, run, run, you’ll never take me alive
Johnny Dunn’s a bushranger til the day he dies