The words and music for the Australian folk song 'Poor Ned Kelly' were by Canadian-born yodeller Smilin’ Billy Blinkhorn, who made Australia his home from 1939 onwards. This sheet music features a stylised illustration of the bushranger in his iconic suit of armour, leaping from a horse. It demonstrates the broad appeal of the Ned Kelly story, several decades into the 20th century.

Many notable musicians have been fascinated by Ned Kelly. In 1971, Johnny Cash released the song ‘Ned Kelly’ on his Man in Black album. Kris Kristofferson, Shel Silverstein, Waylon Jennings and Mick Jagger were instrumental creatives on the soundtrack for the Ned Kelly (1970) film, which starred Jagger as the outlaw. Midnight Oil’s ‘If Ned Kelly Was King’ appeared on their album Place Without a Postcard (1981).