“Prospecting Dream”

Description

The singer dreams a dream of a miner's hard life. His long-tom falls in the river. His supplies are scattered. His girl is far away. His strike comes to nothing. He goes to town, gets drunk, is beaten, loses his equipment, and winds up a thief

Long description

Singer, a prospector, tells of dreaming that he had lost his equipment and provisions, struck a rich lead, written home bragging of his find, and blown all his money on a spree. He hires out as a hardware clerk, gets fired, and is caught stealing. Chorus: "Oh what a miner, what a miner was I/All swelled up with scurvy so I really thought I'd die"

Cross references

Recordings

  • Logan English, "Prospecting Dream" (on LEnglish02)

References

  1. Silber-FSWB, p. 56, "Propsecting Dream" (1 text)
  2. BI, FSWB056

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: c. 1854 ("Put's Original California Songster")
Found in: US