The Miner's Dream
[Air: Nelly Bly]

1
The miner when he goes to sleep, soon begins to snore;
Dreams about his friends at home, whom he may see no more;
A lovely wife or sister dear he may have left behind;
Perhaps a father old and gray, a mother good and kind.

Chorus:
Now will you, say will you, listen while I sing
A song that's called the miner's dream?
'Twill joy and comfort bring.

2
His boyhood years return again, his heart is filled with joy-
Is rolling hoops or playing ball as when he was a boy.
'Tis winter time- he's skating now, of which he was so fond;
'Tis summer now- he's swimming in the old familiar pond!

Chorus:

3
His boyhood days are past and gone, for now he is a man-
Is going to California to try the pick and pan;
Bright visions now of happiness are dancing o'er his mind;
Disturb him not, but let him dream so long as he's inclined.

Chorus:

4
His mind is home among the fields of wheat and yellow corn-
Sits down beneath an apple tree, all shady in the morn;
But morning comes- and at his door a neighbor gently knocks;
He wakes and finds himself in bed among the hills and rocks.

Chorus:

Put's Golden Songster, p. 59
Tune and lyrics in Dwyer & Lingenfelter, The Songs of the Gold Rush, p. 168.
Music: Nelly Bly, Minstrel Songs, Stephen Collins Foster.

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Click to play (pdmusic.org)

[Tune notes by Artful Codger]
Written by Foster by 1849.
Sheet music [PDF] in the Lester S. Levy Collection.
Digital Tradition: Nelly Bly (with MIDI and score)

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