SACRAMENTO GALS
[Air-Bobbin' Around]

The Sacramento gals are some,
Nipping 'round, around, around;
They're down on men who live on rum,
As they go nipping 'round.

They're pretty gals, I must confess,
Nipping 'round, around, around;
And "Lordy-massy" how they dress,
As they go nipping 'round.

On J street they are to be found,
Nipping 'round, around, around,
Their bustles lift them off the ground,
As they go nipping 'round.

Their hoops will reach around a dray,
Nipping 'round, around, around;
They're "airy" on a windy day,
As they go nipping 'round.

There's many a gal from Ar-kan-saw,
Nipping 'round, around, around,
Who well remembers hollowing "haw,"
As she went nipping 'round.

Their faces covered with paint and chalk,
Nipping 'round, around, around;
Their hoops take up the whole sidewalk,
As they go nipping 'round.

They're here and there, like Santa Anna,
Nipping 'round, around, around;
They're fresh and mellow as a ripe banana,
As they go nipping 'round.

Give me a rosy country gal,
Nipping 'round, around, around;
No matter if her name is Sal,
As she goes nipping 'round.

But of all the gals I ever see,
Nipping 'round, around, around;
The Sacramento gals for me,
As they go nipping 'round.

* as spelled in the "Songster."
John A. Stone, 1858, "Put's Golden Songster," pp. 21-22. Appleton & Co., San Francisco.
Based on the popular song, "Bobbin' Around," by W. J. Florence, 1850(?), 2nd. ed. 1855. Levy Sheet Music, Bobbin' Around

Taken from Q's post in the Gold Mining songs thread.

Tune and lyrics in Dwyer & Lingenfelter, The Songs of the Gold Rush, pp. 129-130

Click to play (joeweb)

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Old Swiggs came out of his house early one morning, and was much in want of a swig of cider. Thought he - How shall I get it? Seeing his neighbor's horse quietly grazing in a lot adjoining his cottage, a thought struck him. He went and drove the animal out into the road; then taking a gallon jug, he led the horse by the mane down a few rods to the owner's house. "Hello," said he, "here's your hoss."
Neighbor - "Well, what are you doing with him?"
Swiggs - Why, nothing, only I cotched him in my beans this morning, and so I thought if you was a mind to fill this 'ere jug with cider, I'd call it even."
The jug was filled, and the horse went to grass again.

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