Clementine by Percy Montross

………………………..Clementine

In a cavern in a canyon, excavating for a mine,
Dwelt a miner, forty-niner, and his daughter, Clementine. 

…Chorus (after each couplet):
…Oh, my darling, oh, my darling, oh, my darling Clementine,
…You are lost and gone forever, dreadful sorry, Clementine. 

Light she was and like a fairy, and her shoes were number
…nine,
Herring boxes without topses, sandals were for Clementine. 

Drove her ducklings to the water, every morning just at nine,
Hit her foot against a splinter, fell into the foaming brine. 

Ruby lips above the water, blowing bubbles soft and fine,
Alas, for me! I was no swimmer, so I lost my Clementine. 

In a churchyard, near the canyon, where the myrtle doth
…entwine,
There grow roses and other posies fertilized by Clementine. 

Then the miner, forty-niner, soon began to droop and pine,
Thought he ought to join his daughter, now he’s with his
…Clementine. 

In my dreams she still doth haunt me, robed in garments
…soaked in brine,
Though in life I used to kiss her, now she’s dead, I draw the
…line.

 

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