Oh My Darling Clementine (1884)

A lilting mazurka with nonsensical appeal.

words and music by Percy Montrose
published by Oliver Ditson & Co.

sung by sheet music singer, Fred Feild
piano according to the sheet music

1. In a cabin, in a canyon
An excavation for a mine
Dwelt a miner, a Forty-niner
And his daughter Clementine

Chorus:
Oh my darling, Oh my darling
Oh my darling, Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

2. She drove her ducklets to the river
Every morning just at nine
She stubbed her toe against a sliver
And fell into the foaming brine

3. I saw her lips above the water
Blowing bubbles soft and fine
Alas for me, I was no swimmer
And so I lost my Clementine

This fun, witty "gang" song was one of the first vaudeville songs (vaudeville theater started in 1883). It didn't start out funny, though. The text first appeared in an obscure 1863 song "Down By the River Lived a Maiden" by H.S. Thompson. It was also held by publisher Oliver Ditson of Boston. Coming during the civil war it was serious, not comic. It has her boyfriend, instead of her father, unable to swim and watching the girl drown. The famous 1884 version is a rollicking comedy piece. Many verses were added. It was included in collections of college songs, in community songbooks, and Boy Scout books. It became the vehicle for many spoof and parodies.

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