“I Often Think of Writing Home”

Description

Singer, a California miner, often thinks of writing to his family, but seldom does; he's half a mind to tell them he's coming home. "For it keeps a man a-hunting round to keep up with the times And pen and ink is very scarce for people in the mines...."

Historical references

• 1848 - gold found in Sutter's Mill, California.
• 1849 - multitudes of easterners emigrate west, hoping to "make their pile"

Cross references

• cf. "My Irish Molly-O" (tune)

Recordings

• Logan English, "I Often Think of Writing Home" (on LEnglish02)