Very interesting discussions here! I have an original manuscript lyrics book from Helena Montana Territory 1873-74 era with some variant lyrics of this song, likey designed for the local audience. There are an amazing 12 verses, some with obscure lyrics - I wrote them as I deciphered them - some of the error could be mine, some in the spelling, etc. With more research, the date could probably be more accurately established but the manuscript ledger book was owned by one Mose Abraham, Helena City Montana, and he dated the front October 20, 1873. Some of the songs are "as performed by", including members of the Great Western Minstral Troupe, apparently led by Eugene Holman, Song and Dance Artist, Bajoist, etc. Enjoy! Days of Fourtynine 1st You see before you Old Tom Moor A relic of by gone days The people call me a bummer sure But what care I for praise When I think of the days that are passed and gone It makes me grieve and pine For the days of old the days of gold The days of fourtynine 2nd I had comrades then a savage set They were rough I must confess But brave and bold as true as steel Like hunters from the West But they like many an other fish They have run out their line But like good old briks they stord(?) the kicks Of the days of fortynine 3rd There was "Monte" Pete a clever chap As ever had a dad He'd deal from morning untill night Or as long as he had a scad One night a pistol "laid him out" T'was his last "lay out" in fine For it caught him sure right "bang" in the door In the days of fourty nine. 4th There was "New York" Jake the butcher boy Who was always on a tight Whenever Jake got on a spree He was "spiling" for a fight One night he ran a gainst a knife In the hands of old Bob Kline And over Jake we held a "wake" In the days of Fourtynine. 5th There was "Old Lame Jess" a hard old cuss Who never would repent Jess was never known to miss a meal Nor never to pay a cent But poor lame Jess like all the rest To death he did incline And in his bloom he "went up the flum" In the days of fourtynine 6th There was "Buffalo" Bill who could out roar A Buffalo Bull "you bet" He "roared" from morning untill night He may be "roaring" yet One day he fell in a prospect hole Twas a "roaring" bad design And in that hole he "roared" out his soul In the days of fourtynine. 7th Then there was Henry Plumer A ruffin he was by trade He went up to Montana And thought his fortune was made But quickly he "passed in his checks" Like others of his kind With a hempen rope about his throat Like the days of Fortynine. 8th There was Bill Luttle as good a boy A ever drew a breath He caught Banmonia one day And struggled hard with death Poor bill he now lies in his grave Way over in white pine He leaves many friends to mourn his death Of the days of fourtynine 9th There was "Farmer" Peele another sport Who from California came He delt faro and played "short card" And many an other game. But "Farmer" like many an other one He had lived out his time For "Sonny Bull" put out his light Like the days of fortynine 10th There was one I nearly had forgot And that was Irish Tom As brave a heart as e'er drew a steel Or made an enemy run His enemies said that he would hang In his boots when he was dead But he died one day in the month of may On a downy Feather bed 11th There was old bill stine a good old sport A butcher he was by trade He used to run "with der machine" A gallant fire "blade" He worked on a fire in Montana one day Which over taxed his spins Wid out stopping he laid down and died Like the days of fortynine 12th Of all the comrads I had then Theres none now left but me The only thing I'm waiting for Is a senator to be The people cry as I pass by There goes a travelling sign It is Old Tom Moore a bummer sure Of the day's of fourtynine.
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