Ellen by BOUDICCA
"I am a Widow’s Son, outlawed, and my orders must be obeyed."
Deeply inspired by re-tellings of the Kelly gang story, motivated by the words of Ned Kelly's Jerilderie letter (1879) and named in honour of Ellen Kelly, the mother of Dan and Ned Kelly. Ellen Kelly was often the subject of public fascination, represented as a fierce, criminal-harbouring woman by the media and perceived as the epitome of a horrid Irish mother by the people. In October, 1878, the Melbourne Argus declared her a “notoriously bad woman,” and Ellen was herself a prisoner in Old Melbourne Gaol on the day that her beloved son, Ned, was hanged within its walls.
More information about the Jerilderie letter can be found here: https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/features/ned-kelly-jerilderie-letter
Tracklist
| 1. | Ellen | 2:12 |
Lyrics
A policeman is a disgrace to his country
Not alone to the mother that suckled him
Seek revenge for the human race
Let no damned Englishman know my face
My mother of her strength I spoke
It appears you forget where you come from
Forgo Ireland, your life- a joke!
You clearly aren’t your emerald mother’s son
Fork the men who help them too
Consider the shame, I implore you
Whose land are you on?
What kind of sick old bastard raised this son?
Credits
Written by Boudicca on Awabakal and Worimi Country
Recorded by Jay Whalley at The Pet Food Factory on Gadigal Country
Mixed by Clem Bennett on Gadigal Country
Mastered by Chameleon Studios on Gadigal Country
Single art photography and design by Lauren Moulton, produced on Awabakal and Worimi Country (www.laurenmoulton.com)
