Streets of Forbes
"Streets of Forbes" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Weddings Parties Anything | ||||
from the album The Big Don't Argue | ||||
A-side | "Streets of Forbes" | |||
B-side | "Missing in Action" | |||
Released | 1989 | |||
Genre | Folk rock | |||
Label | WEA | |||
Songwriter(s) | traditional | |||
Producer(s) | Jim Dickinson | |||
Weddings Parties Anything singles chronology | ||||
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"Streets of Forbes" is an Australian
Lyrics
- Come all of you Lachlan men
- and a sorrowful tale I'll tell,
- concerning of a hero bold
- who through misfortune fell,
- His name it was Ben Hall, a man of high renown,
- Who was hunted from his station, and like a dog shot down.
- Three years he roamed the roads, and he showed the traps some fun,
- One thousand pounds was on his head, with Gilbert and John Dunn.
- Ben parted from his comrades, the outlaws did agree,
- To give away bushranging and to cross the briny sea.
- Ben went to Goobang Creek, and that was his downfall
- For riddled like a sieve was the valiant Ben Hall,
- 'Twas early in the morning upon the fifth of May
- That the seven police surrounded him as fast asleep they lay.
- Bill Dargin he was chosen to shoot the outlaw dead,
- The troopers then fired madly and they filled him full of lead,
- They rolled him in his blanket and strapped him to his prad,
- And they led him through the streets of Forbes, to show the prize they had.
Explanation
The song recounts how Ben Hall left his station and became a bushranger for 3 years, and was then shot dead by police in 1865.
The song paints Ben Hall in a sympathetic light, and portrays the police as corrupt, brutal and cowardly.
Cultural references
Forbes is a small town in New South Wales, a state of Australia. At the time of Ben Hall, Forbes was part of the Colony of New South Wales, in turn part of the British Empire.
"Lachlan men" refers to people living near the Lachlan River, which runs through Forbes.
A station is a large Australian livestock farm.
"Traps" and "troopers" are old Australian terms for the police.
Goobang Creek is a small tributary of the Lachlan River.
The Bill Dargin (also known as Billy Dargin) mentioned in the song was an
"Prad" is old Australian slang for a horse.[7]
"One thousand pounds" refers to the
References
- ^ "Weddings Parties Anything discography". Musicmoz. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
- ^ Nimmervoll, Ed. "Paul Kelly". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ^ Horsburgh, Susan (4 June 2007). "Song lines". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
- ^ "Only Love Survives". Gary Shearston. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
- ^ "Streets of Forbes". Sheet music plus. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
- ^ "Ben Hall and the outlawed bushrangers". Department of Water, Heritage and the Arts. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
- ^ ""Prad" - Grose 1811 Dictionary". From Old Books. Retrieved 2 October 2008.