Josh, John
Air:
Put's Original California Songster
Sacramento: Gardiner & Kirk, 1854
You have strayed away from your Josh, John,
You have strayed away from your Josh.
And between the spot where you stand
And your home in the flowery land,
The waves of an ocean dash, John,
The waves of an ocean dash.
Your "tail" is severed clean off, John
Your pig tail is clean cut off;
I should like to see you, John, sit down,
Right in the midst of your native town—
Yah! wouldn't the Johnnies scoff, John,
"How can!" they would cry in scoff.
The hair now covers your head, John,
The hair now covers your head;
You have lost your nankin shirt of blue,
And a sorry coat of doubtful hue
Is seedily worn in its stead, John,
Is shabbily worn in its stead.
A boot of at least thirteen, John,
A boot of at least thirteen,
And made of cowhide, strong and good,
In the place of sole of solid wood,
On your elegant foot is seen, John,
On your sweet little foot is seen.
You have come, as it were, alone, John,
You have come, as it were, alone;
And you lead an unhappy kind of life,
Coming without a cheerful wife,
A cheerful wife of your own, John,
An almond-eyed wife of your own.
You've left your national god, John,
You've left your god and your land
You've left the dress of the land of flowers,
And in leaving these, haven't taken ours;
And you've friends upon neither hand, John,
You have friends upon neither hand.
Buffeted, beaten, and cursed, John,
Buffeted, beaten, and cursed,
I think your life had happier been
As the slave of a nine-tailed Mandarin -
This last state is worse than the first, John,
This last state is by far the worst!