Oh My Darling, Clementine

Oh My Darling, Clementine is a song Barker Bradford written in 1885. The song, about a forlorn gold miner, was instantly popular but made Bradford no money becuase of nonexistant copyright laws. Bradford also wrote Captown Races

Lyrics

In the centre of a golden valley, Dwellt a maiden all divine, A pretty creature a miner's daughter And her name was Clementine.

Refrain: Oh my darling, oh my darling, My darling Clementine, You are lost for me forever, Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

Her noble father was the forman Of ev'ry valued mine, And ev'ry miner and ranchman Was a brother to Clementine.

The foreman miner, an old forty niner, In dreams and thoughts sublime, Lived in comfort with his daughter, His pretty child Clementine.

When far away, he would often pray That in his sunny clime No harm might overtake her, His favorite nugget, Clementine.

When the day was done and the setting sun Its rays they ceased to shine, Homeward came the brawney miner To caress his Clementine.

None was nearer, none was dearer, Since the days of forty-nine When, in youth, he had another Who was then his Clementine.

She led her ducks down to the river, The weather it was fine, Stubbed her toe against a sliver, Fell into the raging brine.

He heard her calling: father, Her voice was like a chime, But alas he was no swimmer, So he lost his Clementine.

In a cavern, in a canyon, Excavating for a mine, Dwelt a miner, forty-niner, And his daughter Clementine.

Refrain: Oh my darling, oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

2. Light she was, and like a fairy, And her shoes were number nine, Herring boxes without topses, Sandals were for Clementine.

3. Walking lightly as a fairy, Though her shoes were number nine, Sometimes tripping, lightly skipping, Lovely girl, my Clementine.

4. Drove she ducklings to the water Ev'ry morning just at nine, Hit her foot against a splinter, Fell into the foaming brine.

5. Ruby lips above the water, Blowing bubbles soft and fine, But alas, I was no swimmer, Neither was my Clementine.

6. In a churchyard near the canyon, Where the myrtle doth entwine, There grow rosies and some posies, Fertilized by Clementine.

7. Then, the miner, forty-niner, Soon began to fret and pine, Thought he oughter join his daughter, So he's now with Clementine.

8. I'm so lonely, lost without her, Wish I'd had a fishing line, Which I might have cast about her, Might have saved my Clementine.

9. In my dreams she still doth haunt me, Robed in garments soaked with brine, Then she rises from the waters, And I kiss my Clementine.

10. Listen fellers, heed the warning Of this tragic tale of mine, Artificial respiration Could have saved my Clementine.

11. How I missed her, how I missed her, How I missed my Clementine, Til I kissed her little sister, And forgot my Clementine.