The Lousy Miner
Air: Dark-eyed Sailor
Put's Original California Songster
Sacramento: Gardiner & Kirk, 1854
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.
I've lived on swine 'till I grunt and squeal,
No one can tell how my bowels feel,
With slapjacks swimming round in bacon grease,
I'm a lousy miner,
I'm a lousy miner; when will my troubles cease?
I was covered with lice coming on the boat,
I threw away my fancy swallow-tailed coat,
And now they crawl up and down my back,
I'm a lousy miner,
I'm a lousy miner, a pile is all I lack.
My sweetheart vowed she'd wait for me
'Till I returned; but don't you see'
She's married now, sure, so I am told,
Left her lousy miner,
Left her lousy miner, in search of shining gold.
Oh, land of gold, you did me deceive,
And I intend in thee my bones to leave;
So farewell, home, now my friends grow cold,
I'm a lousy miner,
I'm a lousy miner in search of shining gold