Here is the version I just recorded. I paticularly like the final chorus. ---------------------------- [V.1] I'm old Tom Moore from the bummer's shore In the good old golden days. They call me a bummer and a gin sot, too But what care(s) I for praise I wander ‘round from town to town Just like a roving sign, And the people all say, " There goes Tom Moore From the days of '49.” The days of '49.” ---------------------------------------- [V.2] My comrades, they all loved me well, A jolly saucy crew, A few hard cases, I’ll admit, But they were brave and true ; They ne'er would flinch, whate’er the pinch They ne’er would fret or whine — Like good old bricks, they stood the kicks In the days of '49. The days of '49. ------------------------------------- [CHORUS 1] For the days of old, for the days of gold How oft-times I repine For the days of old when we dug up the gold In the days of'49. In the days of'49. ------------------------ [V.3] There was Black Jack Bill , one of the boys He was always in for a game No matter he lost or whether he won, To him ‘twas all the same He’d ante up and draw his cards He’d go a hatful blind But in a game with death, Bill lost his breath, In the days of '49 The days of ‘49 ------------------------------- [V.4] There was New York Jake, a butcher's boy, He was fond of getting tight But every time that he got drunk He was spoiling for a fight Then Jake ran up against a knife In the hands of old Bob Klein And over Jake, we held a wake In the days of '49 The days of ‘49 -------------------------- [V.5] Another chap from New Orleans Big Reuben was his name, On the plaza there, on a sardine box He opened a faro game, He dealt so fair, a millionaire He became in the course of time, Till Death stepped in and called the turn In the days of '49. The days of ‘49. -------------------------- [CHORUS 1] -------------------- [V.6] There was old Lame Jess, a hard old cuss, Who never would repent ; He was never known to miss a drink Nor ever spend a cent; But old Lame Jess,like all the rest, To Death, he did resign In all his bloom, went up the flume In the days of '49. The days of ‘49 -------------------- [V.7] There was "Monte" Pete , I‘ll n’er forget The luck he always had He’d deal for you, both day and night As long as you had a scad One night a pistol "laid him out" His last "lay out" so fine … It caught Pete sure, right in the door In the days of '49. The days of ‘49. -------------------- [V.8] There was roaring Bill, from Bullafo I never will forget … He’d roar all day, and he’d roar all night And I guess he's roaring yet ; One night he fell in a prospect hole ‘Twas a roaring bad design ; And in that hole, roared out his soul In the days of '49. The days of ‘49. --------------------- [CHORUS 1] -------------------- [V.9] Of all the comrades that I had There's none left here to boast ; I'm all alone in my misery Like some poor wandering ghost ; And as I pass from town to town They call me the ramblin’ sign — "There goes Tom Moore, a bummer sure, From the days of '49. The days of ‘49." -------------------- [FINAL CHORUS] Oh, I miss the boys, and all the noise, And the gold that once was mine ; I’m battered and old, but our hearts were bold, In the days of'49. In the days of'49. =======================
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