The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #69038   Message #1167612
Posted By: Joe Offer
22-Apr-04 - 01:47 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Off to California
Subject: ADD: Off for California
Riggy got back to me, and pointed out previous discussions on Off to Philadelphia in the Morning which uses the tune for "Off to California." Riggy and Barry's messages say there are no "Off to California" lyrics.

However, I found a song called "Off for California" in Lingenfelter/Dwyer's Songs of the American West:

I'm Off For California
(tune: "O Susannah!)

1
Now, darkies, gather round me—I got a thing to tell;
'Twill make you burst your eyelids, and make your bosom swell;
The white folks all am crazy wid nuffin' in dar mouth,
But de mines ob California—whose a gwan Souff?

CHORUS: Oh, Jerusha! whose gwine to go?
I'm gwine to California, so fotch along de hoe!
Oh, Jerusha! whose gwine to go?
I'm gwine to California, so fotch along de hoe!

2
Now, darkies, just believe me—but you needn't if you like—
I heard from California by de telegraph to-night;
De letter was so heaby, dat dis darkey couldn't hold,
So I took and bust de seal, and found eleben pound of gold.

3
Now, I'll hab a wooden shobel, and I'll hab it made of tin,
And de way I'll scoop de grabel up, it surely am a sin;
And I'll tell de staring white folks, when dey ask us who am we—
We're de famous California Gold Mining Company.

4
Den I'se gwan to work my passage on de telegraph to hire,
'Case dey want a handsome darkie for de greasin' ob de wire;
An' when I get to Mexico, I'll take de charcoal train,
'Till I get to Sally-Gordy, den de telegraph again.

5
Den Daniel Tucker neber want for supper any more;
We'll take de old man back again to old Virginia shore
And dearest Mae, take care yourself, and farewell, Mary Blane—
We're going to California, but we're coming back again.


TEXT: "I'm off for California" (New York: De Marsan, n.d. [broadside])

So, Snuffy, I hope this is proper reparation.
-Joe Offer-