Clementine

(original song)

Words & Music:

Barker Bradford (1885)

 

       A                                  E7           A

In the center of a golden valley, dwelt a maiden all divine,

         E7                  A                E7             A

A pretty creature, a miner's daughter and her name was Clementine.

 

CHORUS:

Oh my darling, oh my darling, my darling Clementine,

You are lost for me forever, dreadful sorry, Clementine.

 

Her noble father was the foreman of ev'ry valued mine,

And ev'ry miner and ranchman was a brother to Clementine.

 

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The foreman miner, an old forty niner, in dreams and thoughts sublime,

Lived in comfort with his daughter, his pretty child Clementine.

 

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When far away, he would often pray that in his sunny clime

No harm might overtake her, his favorite nugget, Clementine.

 

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When the day was done and the setting sun, its rays they ceased to shine,

Homeward came the brawny miner to caress his Clementine.

 

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None was nearer, none was dearer, since the days of forty-nine

When, in youth, he had another, who was then his Clementine.

 

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She led her ducks down to the river, the weather it was fine,

Stubbed her toe against a sliver, fell into the raging brine.

 

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He heard her calling: father, her voice was like a chime,

But alas he was no swimmer, so, he lost his Clementine.

 

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