The Lousy Miner: Folk Song
From The Pacific Song Book
San Francisco: D. E. Appleton & Company, 1861

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 sweetheard 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.


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