Origins/Lyrics: Oh, My Darling Clementine

Subject: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: Mr Happy
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 03:36 AM

good morning one & all!

i've looked in the dt for this one but there's not a sign of the original,only some other versions with crude,unfunny lyrics.

anyone have it?

cheers,

mr h

Subject: Lyr Add: OH, MY DARLING CLEMENTINE
From: songs2play
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 03:43 AM

The one I heard is - (but could be mistaken).

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

CHORUS: Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling, Clementine!
Thou art 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. CHORUS

Drove she ducklings to the water ev'ry morning just at nine.
Hit her foot against a splinter, fell into the foaming brine. CHORUS

Ruby lips above the water, blowing bubbles, soft and fine,
But, alas, I was no swimmer, so I lost my Clementine. CHORUS

How I missed her! How I missed her! How I missed my Clementine!
But I kissed her little sister. I forgot my Clementine. CHORUS

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 16-Sep-02.

Subject: Lyr Add: OH MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (1879, 1887)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 06:39 AM

In the DT:

CLEMENTINE (standard version)

CLEMENTINE (2) (Tom Lehrer)

CLEMENTINE (3) (as sung by The Highgraders, San Francisco, early 60s)

CLEMENTINE (4) (parody; "I owe my darlin' Clementine")

DOWN BY THE RIVER (earliest known version, published in 1863; no reference to mining nor 49ers)

MY DARLING 39 (parody)

From the Levy Collection:

Down by the River Lived a Maiden (1863 original version)

Followed by two versions:

(1) OH MY DARLING CLEMENTINE
Words & music by Percy Montrose
Published by Oliver Ditson & Co., Boston, 1879

1. In a cabin, In a canyon,
an excavation for a mine;
Dwelt a miner, A Forty-niner,
And his daughter Clementine.

CHORUS:
Oh my darling, Oh my darling,
Oh my darling Clementine,
You are lost and gone forever,
Dredful [sic] sorry, Clementine.

2. She drove her ducklets, To the river,
Ev'ry morning just at nine;
She stubb'd her toe, against a sliver,
And fell into the foaming brine.

3. I saw her lips above the water,
Blowing bubbles soft and fine;
Alas for me, I was no swimmer,
And so I lost my Clementine.

(2) OH MY DARLING CLEMENTINE
P. Montrose
From Henry R. White, College Songs (Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co., 1887)

1. In a cavern, in a cañon,
Excavating for a mine,
Dwelt a miner, forty-niner
And his daughter Clementine.

CHORUS:
Oh my darling, Oh my darling,
Oh my darling Clementine,
You are lost and gone forever,
Dredful [sic] sorry, Clementine.

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

3. Drove she ducklings to the water,
Ev'ry morning just at nine,
Hit her foot against a splinter
Fell into the foaming brine.

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

5. In a church-yard, near the cañon,
Where the myrtle doth entwine,
There grow roses, and other posies,
Fertilized by Clementine.

6. Then the miner, forty-niner
Soon began to peak and pine,
Thought he "oughter jine" his daughter,
Now he's with his Clementine.

7. In my dreams she still doth haunt me,
Robed in garments soaked in brine,
Though in life I used to hug her,
Now she's dead, I'll draw the line.

SOURCES:
(1) Richard Jackson, ed., Popular Songs of Nineteenth-Century America (Dover Publications, 1976), pp. 148-151 [reproduction of the sheet music]
(2) Richard A. Dwyer and Richard E. Lingenfelter, eds. The Songs of the Gold Rush (University of California Press, 1965), pp. 199-200

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: Mr Happy
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 06:53 AM

thanks mas san,

it's the 'college songs' version i was after.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: Micca
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 07:01 AM

Mr Happy, we tend to sing this to the tune of "Bread of Heaven"("Guide me thou oh Great Jehovah") which it fits rather well and is less dirgelike than the original tune, "Try it, you'll like it"!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 07:11 AM

CLEMENTINE by Esmereldy [Realaudio], from The Record Lady's All-Time Country Favorites.

CLEMENTINE by the Browns [Realaudio], from a Japanese Oldies site.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 10:44 AM

And CLEMENTINE sung by Bobby Darin [Realaudio], from HERE. ....................................................

From The Traditional Ballad Index:

Clementine

DESCRIPTION: The singer reports on the death of his beloved Clementine, the daughter of a (Forty-Niner). One day, leading her ducklings to water, she trips and falls in. The singer, "no swimmer," helplessly watches her drown
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1863
KEYWORDS: death drowning love
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (9 citations):
RJackson-19CPop, pp. 148-151, "Oh My Darling Clementine" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fife-Cowboy/West 34, "Clementine" (1 text, 1 tune)
Meredith/Covell/Brown, p. 68, "Mazurka: Clementine" (1 tune)
Spaeth-ReadWeep, p. 85, "Clementine" (1 text, 1 tune)
PSeeger-AFB, p. 27, "Clementine" (1 text, 1 tune)
Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 272, "Clementine" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 241, "Clementine" (1 text)
Fuld-WFM, pp. 174-175, "Clementine"
DT, CLEMENTI* (CLEMENT3*) (CLEMENT4)
RECORDINGS:
Pete Seeger, "Clementine" (on PeteSeeger24)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Silver Jack" [Laws C24] (tune)
SAME TUNE:
Found a Peanut (Pankake-PHCFSB, pp. 28-29)
Oh My Monster, Frankenstein (Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 219)
Notes: In some of the modern versions, the song ends when the singer kisses Clementine's younger sister and forgets Clementine. - (PJS)
The words to this piece were first published in 1863 under the title "Down by the River Lived a Maiden," credited to H. S. Thompson. This printing had a melody, but it was not the "standard" melody. The text was also rather different (in minstrel dialect); Norm Cohen gives the first verse as
Down by the river there lived a maiden
In a cottage built just 7 x 9;
And all around this lubly bower
The beauteous sunflower blossoms twine.
CHO: Oh my Clema, oh my Clema, Oh my darling Clementine,
Now you are gone and lost forever,
I'm dreadful sorry Clementine.
In 1864 a text appeared in "Billy Morris' Songs" in which Clementine appears as little short of a legendary monster; she is even reported to have grown wool.
In 1884 the piece reappeared, with the famous tune, this time credited to "Percy Montrose," under the title "Oh My Darling Clementine."
Since neither Thompson nor Montrose is known, the authorship of the song probably cannot be settled.
It is reported by reliable sources that this song was originally intended to be serious. No doubt a few thousand enterprising parodists would be amazed. - RBW
File: RJ19148

---

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2002 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.
...........................................................

Indeed, the "kisssed her little sister" stanza is not in most earlier editions; not in The Most Popular College Songs (1906 ed.), Spaeth's Read 'Em and Weep (1927), and Boni's Fireside Book of Folk Songs (1947), either. But the version in The Scottish Students' Song Book (1897 ed., p. 278) contains the stanza:

How I missed her, how I missed her,
How I missed my Clementine!
But I kissed her little sister,
And forgot my Clementine.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 10:48 AM

Bobby Darrin did a vegas version, I'll post the lyrics here sometime

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: curmudgeon
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 11:52 AM

The version I learned was that posted by songs2play, minus the "sister" verse approximately 55 years ago, when I made my "debut" as a folksinger at the local beach amateur night. Although I've never forgotten the words, I don't think I have sung it since I was 7, but that too was long ago -- Tom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 12:33 PM

Does it have a Child Number?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: Joe_F
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 06:23 PM

And remember, a pestering sister's a festering blister -- you're best to resist her, says I.

Subject: Lyr Add: CLEMENTINE (Barker Bradford)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 09:13 PM

There's a sheet music of another "Clementine" (New York: Woodward, Willis, 1885) written by Barker Bradford at Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, 1870-1885.

CLEMENTINE
Barker Bradford

1. In the centre of a golden valley
Dwelt a maiden all divine
A pretty creature a miner's daughter
And her name was Clementine.
Her noble father was the foreman
Of ev'ry valued mine,
And ev'ry miner and ranchman
Was a brother to Clementine

CHORUS:
Oh my darling, oh my darling,
My darling Clementine,
You are lost for me for ever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

2. The forman [sic] miner, an old forty niner
In dreams and thoughts sublime
Lived comfort with his daughter
His pretty child Clementine.
When far away he would often pray
That in his sunny clime
No harm might overtake her
His favorite nugget Clementine

3. When the day was done and the setting sun
Its rays they ceased to shine
Homeward came the brawney [sic] miner
To caress his Clementine
None was nearer, none was dearer
Since the days of forty-nine
When in youth he had another
Who was then his Clementine

4. She led her ducks down to the river
The weather it was fine
Stubbed her toe against a sliver
Fell into the raging brine
He heard her calling calling father
Her voice was like a chime
But alas he was no swimmer
So he lost his Clementine

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 13 Sep 02 - 06:09 AM

Extra Verse:

All of you who are life-savers
Pay heed to this tale of mine
Artificial Respiration could have saved my Clementine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: Mr Happy
Date: 13 Sep 02 - 07:13 AM

good one, dave,cheers!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Sep 02 - 01:51 AM

Pedant alert - the tune for 'Guide me, O thou great Redeemer/Jehovah' is 'Cwm Rhonda' by J Hughes, not 'Bread of Heaven' which is by Archbishop W D Maclagan and doesn't scan for 'Clementine'.

LTS - it's my birthday, I'm allowed to pedant.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Sep 02 - 12:12 PM

And there is no doubt that the best rendition on record has got to be Tom Lehrer.He doesnt care who he insults.

Subject: Lyr Add: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH
From: Gareth
Date: 14 Sep 02 - 02:44 PM

Mmmmm ! - Micca the words of the Welsh hymn are "GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH"

The Tune is "CwM Rhonda"

What is more fun is singing "Jehova" to the tune of "Clemantine"

Words - in Saxon :-

1. Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.

Strong Deliverer, Strong, Deliverer
Be Thou still my strength and shield
Be Thou still my strength and shield

2. Open Thou the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing streams do flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.

Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven
Feed me now and evermore
Feed me now and evermore

3. When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me through the swelling current
Land me safe on Canaan's side.

Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee
I will ever give to Thee

Gareth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Sep 02 - 06:49 PM

Try 'Jerusalem' to 'Linden Lea', it's about the only other tune that fits it and even then there needs to be a subtle bit of tweaking.....

LTS

Subject: RE: Clemantine's shoe size?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 06:10 AM

In the original "Clementine" her shoe size was not mentioned.

"Down by the River" (1863) (from HERE)

3.
Her foot, Oh! Golly! Twas a beauty,
Her shoes were made of Dig-by pine,
Two herring boxes without the tops on
Just made the sandals of Clementine.

~Masato

---

See Digital Tradition Version

Subject: RE: Clemantine's shoe size?
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 12:29 PM

My hat's off to Masato - I thought I'd seen info about"Clementine" being a college song from 1880 or later, and he's found evidence it was around in 1863! I can now add it to the Civil War set list.

Subject: RE: Clemantine's shoe size?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 12:38 PM

Not that I found it. DOWN BY THE RIVER (with a different tune) is in the DT. The original sheet music is at the Levy Collection (the link is at Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Clemantine's shoe size?
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 12:48 PM

Masato - yes, I just went to Levy and printed it out. Also found it in the DT, but wouldn't have known to look under "Down by the River" - Thank you, thank you !

Subject: RE: Clemantine's shoe size?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 12:59 PM

GUEST Les B.

Titles are a snare and a delusion. If you go to the lyrics search and enter Clementine, you'll find all the versions (plus a few irrelevant lyrics that contain the word. "Oh my darling" will do it, too (without quotes)

Subject: RE: Clemantine's shoe size?
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 01:10 PM

"Down by the River Lived a Maiden" (1863) is in the DT, song ID 1676. H. S. Thompson is not credited as "Composer, Lyricist, Arranger," as he (she?) is on the sheet music at Levy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: masato sakurai
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:28 AM

Oh My Darling Frankenstein (Clementine Parody) [ppt file]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:52 AM

Pedantic note upcoming [it is NOT my birthday — but I can still be pedantic if I want: so SUCKS·BOO!]

'My Darling Frankenstein' commits the *unspeakably ignorant solecism* of calling the monster 'Frankenstein'; which was of course, as eny fule kno, the name of his CREATOR... If this was meant as any sort of ironic comment, it misfires badly.

PEDANTS OF THE WORLD — UNITE AGAINST SUCH ENORMITIES. You have nothing to lose but your Marbles...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: Peace
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 01:14 AM

"You have nothing to lose but your Marbles..."

Truer words wus never spoke.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 03:45 AM

Never mind Bobby Darin's version! The definitive version must surely be the one delivered by that true folk legend Huckleberry Hound. Does anyone out there know the source of Huck's version?

Subject: RE: Origins/Lyrics: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: GUEST,Adith
Date: 14 Apr 12 - 11:46 AM

Could U tell me the moral value of this song, please?

Subject: RE: Origins/Lyrics: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 14 Apr 12 - 12:10 PM

About 35 cents.

Subject: RE: Origins/Lyrics: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 14 Apr 12 - 12:39 PM

Yeah, but that's in 1860s dollars. It's almost five bucks today!

Subject: RE: Origins/Lyrics: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 01:35 AM

For some reason, there was a strong trend in the 19th Century to write parlor songs where some man was in love with some damsel, who soon died.

Let's see:

When you and I were young, Maggie.
Colorado Trail
Listen to the Mockingbird
Annie Gray, Laura Gray? Nellie Gray? by Stephen Foster

"Clementine" is a parody of those songs.

Subject: RE: Origins/Lyrics: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: GUEST, Joel at Thinkwalks
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 01:36 AM

I think there's interesting hidden historical and moral value in this song: I haven't been able to confirm that H.S. Thompson ever visited the west, but if the wisdom of the versions one generation later is true ("miner 49er") then yes! And if he did, then that makes my case 100% foolproof.

My case? I believe I have strong evidence that this 1863 song was written as a description of an actual drowning, among hundreds or even thousands who drowned in a series of 1861-62 superstorms in the west that were called the Noachian Deluge.

That would explain its timing during the war, the final line about drowning (abnormal situation to drown due to wet weather) and its minstrel references to Digby Pine. (Slaves were fed smoked herring from Digby Nova Scotia, because it was cheap protein, and it came packed in pine boxes the size of a large shoe.)

Please use that link to let me know your comments, since I don't know that I'll notice them here--not a regular Mudcatter.

Subject: RE: Origins/Lyrics: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: mg
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 11:21 PM

Ive also heard it was based on a true story.

Subject: RE: Origins/Lyrics: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 16 Oct 17 - 07:53 PM

See, it's right here in this thread:

I was trying to find the parody with Frankenstein in it.

I used the Mudcat search engine, and couldn't find Frankenstein.

So I searched using Clementine, and here you are...

Subject: RE: Origins/Lyrics: Oh, My Darling Clementine
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Dec 21 - 05:33 PM

Clementine, as sung by Lani Herrmann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnzFoDEPO1U