ABSTRACT

Songs written and sung by the miners and performed in gold rush saloons reflected the experiences of the miners in California. The following excerpts suggest the variety of mining experiences, as well as their sense of homesickness and the pressure they felt to succeed. The Happy Miner I am a happy miner, I love to sing and dance; I wonder what my love would say, if she could see my pants, With canvas patches on the knees, and one upon the stern; I’ll wear them while I’m digging here, and home when I return. Chorus: So I get in a jovial way, I spend my money free, And I’ve got plenty, will you drink lager beer with me? * * * The Sensible Miner I’m mining in a dry ravine, That may not pay at all; I’ve dug a long and fancy drain, to sluice through in the Fall; But should the rains hold off till late, And keep me in suspense, I’ll write a line and tell dear Kate, My hide is on the fence! * * * The Lousy Miner It’s four long years since I reached this land, In search of gold among the rocks and sand; And yet I’m poor when the truth is told, I’m a lousy miner, I’m a lousy miner in search of shining gold * * * An “Honest” Miner When first I went to mining, I was uncommon green, With a “gallus” rig I went to dig, and claimed a whole ravine; But when I could not make my grub, with implements to gag, An honest miner might have been seen at night with a pig in a bag! As he lugged it away from the pen, was thinking how lucky he’d been, Went into a hole, dug deep after gold, With pig in a bag tumbled in. * * * I Often Think of Writing Home I often think of writing home, but very seldom write; A letter now and then I get, which fills me with delight, But while I’m here with Romans I’ll do as Romans do,— And let it rip, till I return, and tell them all I know. Chorus: For it keeps a man a humping round, to keep up with the times, And “pen and ink” is very scarce with people in the mines, And writing don’t amount to much, unless you have the dimes.