I Often Think Of Writing Home
Air: Irish Molly, O 
Put's Golden Songster:
containing the largest and most popular collection of California songs ever published
by John A Stone
San Francisco : D.E. Appleton & Co., 1858
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.
If I would write them every mail I know it would them please;
But neighbors would then flock around them, like a swarm of bees-
And great would be the cry abroad that such a man's a fool,
And if he was a friend of mine, I'd have him sent to school.
CHORUS
I've half a mind to drop a line and tell them I'm alive,
And watch the California boats whenever they arrive,
For I intend to home return, whene'er I feel inclined,
Then drop a line informing them I've lately changed my mind.
CHORUS
I like to live among the hills, and pleasant mountain towns,
And like the cities better since they drove away the hounds;
But were they fifty times as fair, for all I would not fail
To be a man forevermore, and write every mail.
CHORUS
Score from the Library Of Congress
Score from the Lester S Levy Collection
MIDI file of "Irish Molly O" from numachi.com.