He's the Man for Me
[AIR-Rosin the Bow]

I've traveled the mountains all over,
And now to the valleys I'll go,
And live like a pig in the clover,
In sight of huge mountians of snow.
In sight of huge mountians of snow,
In sight of huge mountians of snow —
And live like a pig in the clover,
In sight of huge mountians of snow.

2
I'll marry a rich Señorita, And live on a ranch in the west;
Have forty young greasers to greet her,
And fifty, if put to a test.
And fifty, if put to a test,
And fifty, if put to a test —
Have forty young greasers to greet her,
And fifty, if put to a test.

3
I'll wear a "right pee-rt" standing collar,
And smoke cigaritos, of course;
And when I run short of a dollar,
I'll try and obtain a divorce.
I'll try and obtain a divorce,
I'll try and obtain a divorce —
And when I run short of a dollar,
I'll try and obtain a divorce.

4
I'm greatly in favor of mining,
With me, though, it does not agree;
I'd rather be gently reclining,
With Beauty, upon a settee.
With Beauty, upon a settee,
With Beauty, upon a settee,
I'd rather be gently reclining,
With Beauty, upon a settee.

5
I'm not much in favor of thieving,
At all events, just as I feel;
But never will work for a living,
So long as I'm able to steal.
So long as I'm able to steal,
So long as I'm able to steal —
I never will work for a living,
So long as I'm able to steal.

Put's Golden Songster, page 27
Tune and lyrics in Dwyer & Lingenfelter, The Songs of the Gold Rush, p. 131-132

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A Connecticut match-maker puts this postscript to his advertisement of Superior Friction Matches: N. B. - I would here caution the boys not to come to see my darters unless they think of striking up a match. Their time is money, for I keep them to work. I suppose they must get husbands now while they are young, if ever, and therefore you fellers who really want wives, come on. But you who only want to joke and take up the gals' time, stay away from the factory, if you please.

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Click to play (numachi.com)

[Tune notes by Artful Codger]
"Rosin the Bow" is more commonly spelled "Ro[i]sin the Beau". The tune is so ubiquitous, you can find plenty on Mudcat and in the Digital Tradition pages about the tune, the song and the numerous songs that have been set to the same tune. I give only a brief sampling here.

Digital Tradition: Rosin the Beau
Mudcat thread: Help: Rosin the Beau
The Contemplator Irish tunebook: Rosin the Beau (with MIDI)

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