The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #48703   Message #736120
Posted By: Joe Offer
24-Jun-02 - 07:47 PM
Thread Name: Origins: In Chinaland there lived a great man
Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN CHINAMAN
I found part of this song on a Public Broadcasting System site, and the whole text here (click). Again, not the song requested - but it certainly shows the racism of the era.
-Joe Offer-


JOHN CHINAMAN - Anonymous Song

John Chinaman, John Chinaman,
But five short years ago,
I welcomed you from Canton, John-
But I wish I hadn't though;

For then I thought you honest, John,
Not dreaming but you'd make
A citizen as useful, John,
As any in the State.

I thought you'd open wide your ports
And let our merchants in
To barter for their crapes and teas,
Their wares of wood and tin.

I thought you'd cut your queue off, John,
And don a Yankee coat,
And a collar high you'd raise, John,
Around your dusky throat.

I imagined that the truth, John,
You'd speak when under oath,
But I find you'll lie and steal too-
Yes, John, you're up to both.

I thought of rats and puppies, John
You'd eaten your last fill;
But on such slimy pot-pies, John,
I'm told you dinner still.

Oh, John, I've been deceived in you,
And in all your thieving clan,
For our gold is all you're after, John,
To get it as you can.


Lyrics in Lingenfelter & Dwyer, Songs of the American West, page 299

Original: California Songster, (David Appleton, 1855) p. 44