Eighteen-hundred & 78 was the year I remember so well they put my father in an early grave and slung my mother in gaol now I don't know whats right or wrong but they hung Christ on nails 6 kids at home & 2 still on the breast they wouldn't even give us bail Poor Ned, you're better off dead at least you'll get some peace of mind you're out on the track they're right on your back boy they're gonna hang you high You know I wrote a letter 'bout Stringy-Bark Creek so they would understand that I might be a bushranger but I'm not a murdering man I didn't want to shoot Kennedy or that copper Lonnigan he alone could have saved his life by throwing down his gun Poor Ned, you're better off dead at least you'll get some peace of mind you're out on the track they're right on your back boy they're gonna hang you high You know they took Ned Kelly & they hung him in the Melbourne gaol he fought so very bravely dressed in iron mail & no man single handed can hope to break the bars there's a thousand like Ned Kelly who'll hoist the flag of stars We sing Poor Ned, you're better off dead at least you'll get some peace of mind you're out on the track they're right on your back boy they're gonna hang you high