Honest John And William Relief
Air: Oh, wasn't I glad!
Put's Original California Songster
Sacramento: Gardiner & Kirk, 1854
Honest John and William Relief
About the time of election,
Were thinking which was the biggest thief,
Or nearest to perfection;
When on the levee they chanced to meet,
They both were drunk as ever,
John pitched headlong in the street,
And William in the river.
Chorus—Oh, wasn't I glad, oh, yes;
Wasn't I glad, oh, yes!
William, he went to the mines,
Where he had been before,
His shirt-tail hanging out behind,
Where his breeches they were tore.
The Whigs' advice to him was, "Leave,
And never more be seen!"
So, shirt-tail out, as when he came,
He ran down Puke ravine.
Oh, etc.
William, he ran all that night,
Got back to Sacramento,
Swore with John he'd have a fight,
But sill he didn't intend to.
Then honest John came up behind,
To see what might befall him
And there, William made a speech,
He swore again he'd maul him.
Oh, etc.
William, he began to see,
His case it was a gonner—
So he got mad, went on a spree,
And fell down in a corner;
And there he lay so nicely curled,
And snoring so like fury,
Says he, "If beat, I'll leave the world,
And go back to Missouri!"
Oh, etc.