The Steam Navigation Thieves
[Air: Walk Ye In]

1
The only legal swindle which the people cannot sever,
Is the steamboat imposition on the Sacramento river,
It would surely be a blessing if the company would fail;
Then should any other organize, ride them on a rail.

Chorus:
Remember now! remember now! remember what I say;
Keep your hands upon your money, or they'll rob you on the way-
If you don't believe it, try it, either to or from the Bay.

2
They have robbed a world of people, still there's none that say a word,
For if ever they were passengers, they'd be thrown overboard;
If they start an opposition, then eight out of every nine
Will support the imposition of the combination line.

Chorus:

3
When you start from Sacramento and get stuck upon the sand,
All you have to do is jump ashore and foot it up by land.
If the devil ever gets them, he will Put them every soul,
In the lowest pits of purgatory, there to shovel coal.

Chorus:

Put's Golden Songster, p. 61
Tune and lyrics in Dwyer & Lingenfelter, The Songs of the Gold Rush, pp. 138-139
Music: Walk Ye In, or History of the World, Minstrel Songs.

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Click to play (pdmusic.org)

[Tune notes by Artful Codger]
No composer has been listed for "De History ob de World", also known as "Walk in[to] de Parlor"; E.P. Christy claimed author credit (as he did with many songs he bought from writers like Stephen Foster)—the Levy site has sheet music dated 1847. A score may also be found in Minstrel Songs, Old and New, compiled by Stephen Collins Foster [scan of an 1882 edition, p. 70].

Sheet music in the Lester S. Levy Collection: History ob de World, Walk in[to] the Parlor.
Mudcat thread: Sunday School (see msgs by Richie and Q)
Mudcat thread: Ship Margaret Evans, songs (possible origin for "Let the Bulgine Run")

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