California As It Is And Was
Air: I remember Play Midi
Put's Original California Songster
Sacramento: Gardiner & Kirk, 1854

I remember, I remember, when once I used to mine,
My cabin still is standing beneath a sugar-pine;
From daylight in the morning, till the sun went out of sight,
Alone I used to dig for gold, and mend my clothes at night.
Alone I used to dig for gold, and mend my clothes at night.

I remember, I remember, when grub was very high,
We had to live on pork and beans, 'twas little pork indeed,
And miners were very poor, could not afford to buy;
With enough to grease the frying-pan, we thought we'd struck a lead.
With enough to grease the frying-pan, we thought we'd struck a lead.

I remember, I remember, when we flumed American river.
The floods came down, swept off our dam, and all hands d——d together;
We lost our time and mining tools, and everything we had,
Instead of leaving a pile we were left without a scad.
Instead of leaving a pile we were left without a scad.

I remember, I remember, when the Yuba used to pay,
With nothing but a rocker, five hundred dollars a day;
We used to think 't would always last, and would with perfect ease,
If Uncle Sam had only stopped the coming of Chinese.
If Uncle Sam had only stopped the coming of Chinese.

I remember, I remember, we're compelled to pay a tax,
Which people say is gambled off—I wonder if those are facts?
And certain ones are trying to give our mineral lands away,
To build a railroad from the States, to San Francisco Bay.
To build a railroad from the States, to San Francisco Bay.

I remember, I remember, when we hadn't any laws,
We then could live in peace among the diggers and their squaws;
But now it's Whigs and Democrats, and Know Nothings of late,
All fighting after office, with a chance to rob the State.
All fighting after office with a chance to rob the State.

I remember, I remember, when Captain Lynch was boss,
We had no use for prison brigs, we hadn't that, old hoss;
But now it's thieves on every side, political thieves in flocks,
All promised office if they wait till Frank Pierce buys more rocks.

Score from Lester S. Levy Collection

Play Midi MIDI file of "I Remember" (Used by permission of B. R. Tubb from his website at Public Domain Music.)