The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #48703 Message #736115
Posted By: Joe Offer
24-Jun-02 - 07:34 PM
Thread Name: Origins: In Chinaland there lived a great man
Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN CHINAMAN'S APPEAL
1 American, now mind my song, If you would but hear me sing, And I will tell you of the wrong, That happened untilunto "Gee Sing," In "fifty-two" I left my home -- I bid farewell to "Hong Kong" -- I started with Cup Gee to roam To the land where they use the "long tom".
CHORUS: O ching hi ku tong mo ching ching, O ching hi ku tong chi do, Cup Gee hi ku tong mo ching, ching Then what could Gee or I do?
2 In forty days I reached the Bay, And nearly starved I was, sir, I cooked and ate a dog one day - I didn't know the laws sir - But soon I found my dainty meal Was against the city order. The penalty I had to feel - Confound the old Recorder.
3 By paying up my cost and fines, They freed me from the locker, And then I started for the mines - I got a pick and rocker. I went to work in an untouched place, I'm sure I meant no blame sir - But a white man struck me in the face And told me to leave his claim, sir.
4 'Twas then I packed my tools away And set up in a new place, But there they would not let me stay - They didn't like the cue race. And then I knew not what to do, I could not get employ, The Know Nothings would bid me go - 'Twas tu nah mug ahoy.
5 I started then for Weaverville Where Chinamen were thriving, But found our China agents there In ancient feuds were driving. So I pitched into politics, But with the weaker party; The Canton's with their clubs and bricks Did drub us out "right hearty."
6 I started for Yreka then; I thought that I would stay there, But found for even Chinamen The "diggings" wouldn't pay there. So I set up a washing shop, But how extremely funny, The miners all had dirty clothes, But not a cent of money.
7 I met a big stour Indian once, He stopped me in the trail, sir, He drew an awful scalping knife, And I trembled for my tail, sir. He caught me by the hair, it's true, In a manner quite uncivil, But when he saw my awful cue, He thought I was the devil.
8 Oh, now my friends I'm going away From this infernal place, sir; The balance of my days I'll stay With the Celestial race, sir. I'll go to raising rice and tea; I'll be a heathen ever, For Christians all have treated me As men should be used never. Lyrics in Lingenfelter & Dwyer, Songs of the American West, page 302 Also take a look at John Chinaman, My Jo in the Digital Tradition.