Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)

Subject: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF WASHINGTON (Mary Garvey)
From: mg
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:49 PM

here's a Washington version...

same tune and chorus as Rivers of Texas....it is too long so I usually sing 2 verses and then chorus.

RIVERS OF WASHINGTON
(Mary Garvey)

I'm going back to the place I was planted
The place I was formerly taken for granted
Back where the rivers all ripple and wind
And you can come with me if you are inclined

I'll show you the lowlands most likely to flood
Show you the mess left by St. Helen's mud
And if you prove willing and anxious to learn
I'll show you some places where salmon return

In the Coweeman we'll go for a swim
Pick the blackberries when daylight grows dim
Undo our boat and just let it drift
Coweeman is gentle the Toutle is swift

We'll go where the Toutle used to run clear
And look for the track left by muscrat and dear
And think on the mountain before it exploded
The rivers diverted the banks all eroded

If you want to feel better than ever you felt
We'll stand in the Cowlitz go dipping for smelt
You're sure to get cold and you're sure to get wet
But you'll sure have a day you can never forget

And if you're still up for what nature discloses
We'll seek out Kalama's sweet banks of wild roses
You've never smelt Mother Nature's perfume
If you've not smelt the banks of Kalama in bloom

I know you've seen sunsets quite often before
But have you seen one on Columbia's shore
And seen that great river turn into gold
It will give you more beauty than your poor heart can hold

So if you should ask where I'd like to reside
It's right at the point where these waters collide
And if you should ask just how long I'll remain
Just as long as these rivers are fed by the rain

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of other states
From: GUEST,Mark Cohen at the hosp. again
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 12:44 AM

Hey Mary, I went to this thread all ready to tell whoever started it about your song. Guess I don't have to do that, huh? It's a great one.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of other states
From: mg
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 03:40 AM

muchos gracias...I know there are quite a few out there...mg

---

Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF OTHER STATES
From: Deckman
Date: 02 May 01 - 10:15 PM

Another good song Mary ... you've scored again! CHEERS, Bob (deckman) Nelson

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF OTHER STATES
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 03 May 01 - 12:03 AM

Thanks, Mary. I remember hearing you sing this at Seattle Song Circle--I won't tell how long ago! It's even better than I remembered. Sure miss those Sunday nights at Eric and Danna's...

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF OTHER STATES
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 May 01 - 07:25 PM

Then there's always Woody's "Roll On, Colombia, Roll On."

Subject: Lyr Add: THE RIVERS OF VIRGINIA
From: Padre
Date: 25 May 04 - 10:10 PM

Here's Virginia's entry:

THE RIVERS OF VIRGINIA

We crossed the Cowpasture, we forded Rivanna,
We swam the Potomac, we followed the Anna,
The Holston runs rusty, the Nottoway clear,
But down by James River I courted my dear.

The sweet Shenandoah runs glossy and gliding,
The crooked Pamunkey runs weaving and winding,
The slow Rappahannock it courses the plain,
But I never will walk by James River again.

The girls on New River, they're plump and they're pretty,
The Staunton and Roanoke have many a beauty,
Down by the Maury there's girls by the score,
But I never will walk by James River no more.

She hugged me and kissed me and called me her dandy,
The Jackson is muddy, the York River's sandy,
I hugged her and kissed her and called her my own,
But down by James River she left me alone.

Padre

---

Are you the songwriter, Padre?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF OTHER STATES
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 12:06 AM

Does anyone know all of the words to the variant about the rivers of Wisconsin?

Stephen Lee

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET MAIDEN OF PASSAMAQUODDY
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 09:30 AM

It's shocking that no one has posted this fine traditional river song from Maine:

Source: Sweet Maiden of Passamaquoddy, Anonymous
In A NONSENSE ANTHOLOGY edited by Carolyn Wells

SWEET MAIDEN OF PASSAMAQUODDY

Sweet maiden of Passamaquoddy,
Shall we seek for communion of souls
Where the deep Mississippi meanders,
Or the distant Saskatchewan rolls?

Ah no, — for in Maine I will find thee
A sweetly sequestrated nook,
Where the far-winding Skoodoowabskooksis
Conjoins with the Skoodoowabskook.

There wander two beautiful rivers,
With many a winding and crook;
The one is the Skoodoowabskooksis,
The other — the Skoodoowabskook.

Ah, sweetest of haunts! Though unmentioned
n geography, atlas, or book
How fair is the Skoodoowabskooksis,
When joining the Skoodoowabskook!

Our cot shall be close by the waters
Within that sequestrated nook —
Reflected in Skoodoowabskooksis
And mirrored in Skoodoowabskook.

You shall sleep to the music of leaflets,
By zephyrs in wantonness shook,
And dream of the Skoodoowabskooksis,
And, perhaps, of the Skoodoowabskook.

When awaked by the hens and the roosters,
Each morn, you shall joyously look
On the junction of Skoodoowabskooksis
With the soft gliding Skoodoowabskook.

Your food shall be fish from the waters,
Drawn forth on the point of a hook,
From murmuring Skoodoowabskoksis,
Or wandering Skoodoowabskook!

You shall quaff the most sparkling of water,
Drawn forth from a silvery brook
Which flows to the Skoodoowabskooksis,
And then to the Skoodoowabskook!

And you shall preside at the banquet,
And I will wait on thee as cook;
And we'll talk of the Skoodoowabskooksis,
And sing of the Skoodoowabskook!

Let others sing loundly of Saco,
Of Quoddy, and Tattamagouche,
Of Kennebeccasis, and "Quaco,
Of Merigonishe, and Buctouche,

Of Nashwaak, and Magaguadavique,
Or Memmerimmaericook, —
There's none like the Skoodoowabskooksis,
Excepting the Skoodoowabskook!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF OTHER STATES
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 07:07 PM

Gosh, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to dry up another thread.

CN

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF OTHER STATES
From: Deckman
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 07:40 PM

Just in case anyone needs some unique river names, here's a few that are native to Washington state. Knowing Mary Garvy as I do, I suspect that her list of river names will be longer than mine. These are ALL genuine river names. There is a bill in the Washington State Congress that is going make identification of these rivers, and matching them with their appropriate counties, manditory before you can get a driver's license. (you do believe that ... don't you)?
Here we go:
Columbia, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish, Klickitat, Humptullips, Hamma Hamma, Dosewallips, Puyallup, Queets, Clearwater, Dungeness, Grey Wolf, Yakima, Tieton, Naches, Stilliguamish, Pilchuck, Elwha, Physt, Shoalwater, Copalis, Hoh, Raft, Quillayutte, Kalaloch, Taholah, Moclips, Copalis, on and on and on.

Many of this river names came from the local Indian names, and from the trading language, called Chinook jargon, that became common when the whites and the natives started mixing.

Anyone wanna' play scrabble? CHEERS, Bob

Subject: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF WISCONSIN
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 08:03 PM

Stephen, Dan Keding's "Rivers of Wisconsin" is hidden in this thread. Since it probably fits more appropriately here, I'll copy-paste it.
I have to say that Dan completely ignored the scenic and wonderful rivers of Southeastern Wisconsin - the Menominee, the Milwaukee, the Kinnickinnic, and the mighty, mighty Root.

Joe Offer-

---

Thread #7269   Message #44223
Posted By: Dan Keding
04-Nov-98 - 05:05 PM
Thread Name: River Songs

Subject: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF WISCONSIN^^

Joe,
Hope this is what you were looking for.

The Rivers of Wisconsin
(Dan Keding)

I've crossed the broad Flambeau, I've forded the Fox
I swum the Red Cedar, I followed the Black
Sugar is muddy, the St. Croix is clear
Down by the Eau Claire I courted my dear.

Chorus
Li la li lee la lee give me your hand (3x)
There's many a river that waters our land.

The sweet Chippewa it runs glossy and gliding
The crooked Rock River runs weaving and winding
The old Wisconsin courses the plain
I never will walk by the Eau Claire again.

She hugged me she kissed me she called me her dandy
The Wolf is rocky the Plover is sandy
She hugged me she kissed me she called me her own
Down by the Eau Claire she left me a lone.

The girls of the Pestigo they're fair and they're pretty
The Big Rib and Yellow have many a beauty
The Kickapoo flows swiftly passed girls by the score
So down by the Eau Claire I'll wander no more.


All I did was put in Wisconsin rivers and change a word here or there. Let people know I had something to do with it and its all yours.

Enjoy
Dan

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texa
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 08:24 PM

But IS the Wolf rocky? And IS the Plover sandy?

Incidentally, there's a fine version about the rivers of Illinois, too.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texa
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 12:30 PM

Well, Dave, I remember lots of gravel in the Wolf, but not rally any big rocks.

What I remember most is having an eagle fly over my canoe, the first I'd seen.
Oh, and we Scouts went skinny-dipping in the Wolf.

The Illinois song made it into the Digital Tradition: Down by the Embarras.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: mg
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 12:12 PM

great one about Nebraska too.. mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texa
From: Ferrara
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 12:41 PM

Omigosh the Maid of Passamaquoddy is a great treasure! Thanks Charlie. Any tune? (Or can I make one up?)

Padre, I like your Rivers of Virginia, too. How's about tackling the rivers of West Virginia? It will take a few extra verses.... Be sure to include the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac, OK?

Rita

Subject: ADD: Rivers of Nebraska (2 versions)
From: Ferrara
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 12:45 PM

The "official" Rivers of Nebraska is (I tweaked this a little)

RIVERS OF NEBRASKA

We crossed the broad Platte, we forded the Platte,
We swam across the Platte, we followed the Platte
Some places the Platte's rusty, some places it's clear,
But down by the Platte I courted my dear.

But I also like

Oh we crossed the North Platte, we forded the North Platte,
We swam the North Platte, we followed the North Platte,
Then we crossed to the South Platte and started all over,
And we never did get to the Platte at all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texa
From: iancarterb
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 12:55 PM

I heard Monongahela Sal sung by Pete Seeger 40 years ago, and I have rarely heard anyone else sing it I loved it instantly because it was so brash to get the name Monongahela into something that had to scan with some regularity. The only immediate source I have is a tape of myself singing it in 1964, but it may be in Digtrad (click). If it isn't, I'll crank up the old open reel and fill in the gaps in my memory and post it here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: Celtaddict
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 01:31 PM

Ferrara, I love it!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texa
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 07:09 AM

Thanks, Joe.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: GUEST,celtaddict at work
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 12:30 PM

Ed Miller says he was informed by Don Edwards that "Rivers of Texas" was originally Scottish. He never found any Scots version, so he wrote some verses that he sings alternating with the Texas ones (how fitting for a folklorist from Edinburgh who has lived half his life in Austin).

Subject: Lyr Add: THE RIVERS OF WEST VIRGINIA
From: Padre
Date: 11 Apr 05 - 12:28 AM

Rita, this is at your request - but I couldn't fit the NFOSB into it

THE RIVERS OF WEST VIRGINIA
By a native of Kanawha County

We crossed the Ohio, we forded Big Sandy,
We swam the Kanawha, the Tug Fork's a dandy,
The Cheat it runs rusty, the Gauley runs clear,
But down by Elk River I courted my dear.

The sweet Tygart Valley runs glossy and gliding,
The Monongahela runs weaving and winding,
The Little Kanawha it courses the plain,
But I never will walk by Elk River again.

The girls on New River, they're plump and they're pretty,
The West Fork and Williams have many a beauty,
Down by the Greenbrier        there's girls by the score,
But I never will walk by Elk River no more.

She hugged me and kissed me and called me her dandy,
The Guyandotte's muddy, the Cherry is sandy,
I hugged her and kissed her and called her my own,
But down by Elk River she left me alone.

Padre
(Who actually courted by the Elk River at Clendenin)

Subject: Lyr Add: ODE TO PUGET SOUND (Carlton Fitchett)
From: Haruo
Date: 23 May 05 - 03:29 AM

Ode to Puget Sound (Carlton Fitchett, ca. 1944) has quite a few Washington rivers (as well as other placenames) in it; its focus is a bit more northerly than mary garvey's, more like Deckman's:

ODE TO PUGET SOUND
(Carlton Fitchett)

As happy as a butter clam when tides are high I sing,
A grateful ode to Puget Sound, the land of everything;
I love it from Tulalip to Puyallup, Sequim and Pysht,
And to the Dosewallips where many times I've fished.

From Brinnon to the Bogachiel, from Lummi to La Push,
And from the lordly Sol Duc to lovely Duckabush,
From Samish to Sammamish, Suquamish to Quilcene,
The climate is so friendly it's a land that's evergreen.

There's peace on the Skykomish, on the Queets and on the Hoh,
There's calm on the Nisqually, born of ageless ice and snow;
A land that Nature loves so much she stays the whole year 'round -
I'd trade a royal palace for a shack on Puget Sound!

There's Chimacum and Steilacoom, where spouts the geoduck;
The singing Stillaguamish and the swirling Skookumchuck
And Moclips and Copalis, where the razor clams abound -
A little bit of heaven is a shack on Puget Sound.

There's a MIDI at my website (here), as well as an Esperanto version of course.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texa
From: Haruo
Date: 23 May 05 - 03:32 AM

A bit off-topic, but since "Ode to Puget Sound" mentions the geoduck (pronounced "gooey duck", those unfamiliar with this clam may wish to see a couple of them. Or not. They are a bit obscene looking, aren't they?

Haruo

Subject: ADD: THE RIVERS OF NEW YORK CITY
From: Suffet
Date: 24 May 05 - 01:45 AM

THE RIVERS OF NEW YORK CITY
New words by Stephen L. Suffet ©2005

We crossed the Bronx River, we forded the Harlem,
We swam the East River, we followed the Flushing,
Arthur Kill smells real nasty, just like stale beer,
But it's down by the Hudson I courted my dear.

Oy-oy-oy-oy-oy, don't be a jerk,
Oy-oy-oy-oy-oy, don't be a jerk,
Oy-oy-oy-oy-oy, don't be a jerk,
There's many a river that waters New York.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texa
From: open mike
Date: 24 May 05 - 02:56 AM

by the rivers of babylon
where we sat down
when we remembered zion...


oneline i heard about the Platte River in Nebraska
was some thing like: to thick to drink, but to thin
to plow....it is a muddy one!

Subject: ADD: Rivers of New York City
From: Suffet
Date: 24 May 05 - 11:07 AM

RIVERS OF NEW YORK CITY
Tune: Rivers of Texas (traditional)
New words by Stephen L. Suffet ©2005

We crossed the Bronx River, we forded the Harlem,
We swam the East River, we followed the Flushing,
Arthur Kill is all smelly, just like stale beer,
But it's down by the Hudson I courted my dear.

Chorus:
Oy-oy-oy-oy-oy, don't be a jerk,
Oy-oy-oy-oy-oy, don't be a jerk,
Oy-oy-oy-oy-oy, don't be a jerk,
There's many a river that waters New York.

The Hutchinson River floods the parkway in spring,
Above Newtown Creek the bridges do swing,
Richmond Creek clogs with leaves in the fall,
And the Kill Van Kull ain't no river at all.

[Repeat chorus.]

Trade Center wreckage lines the banks of the Fresh Kills,
Alongside the mountains that used to be landfills,
Marine Park Creek runs to the sea shore,
But I'll never walk down by the Hudson no more.

[Repeat chorus.]

She hugged me and kissed me and called me her dandy,
Coney Island Creek is muddy, and Spring Creek is sandy,
I hugged her and kissed her and called her my own,
But down by the Hudson she left me alone.

[Repeat chorus.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 25 May 05 - 12:57 AM

"When the moon shines tonight along the Wabash,
Then I'll dream of my Indiana home."

The first line is: "Back home again, in Indiana..."

That's all of it I remember.                Tw

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: Suffet
Date: 25 May 05 - 06:44 AM

Greetings:

When I wrote Rivers of New York City I presumed that when sung with a heavy New York accent jerk would nearly rhyme with York. Maybe so, but both Joel Landy and Oscar Brand now suggest that I substitute the word dork for jerk so the rhyme is more apparent. Who am I to argue?

Version 1.0.1 of the chorus shall be as follows:

Oy-oy-oy-oy-oy, don't be a dork,
Oy-oy-oy-oy-oy, don't be a dork,
Oy-oy-oy-oy-oy, don't be a dork,
There's many a river that waters New York.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: Suffet
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 03:28 PM

My Rivers of New York City is in The Folk Process section of the new issue of Sing Out!

Thank you, Faith Petric.

--- Steve

Subject: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF KENTUCKY
From: GUEST,JB3
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 11:36 PM

Here's a version I've been working on for the "Rivers of Kentucky."

RIVERS OF KENTUCKY

We crossed the Kentucky, we forded the Brushy,
Swum the Mouth of Buck Creek, we followed Salt River
Big Sandy runs muddy, the Cumberland clear
But down by Short Creek I courted my dear

Li li li lee lee lee, give me your hand
Li li li lee lee lee, give me your hand
Li li li lee lee lee, give me your hand
There's many a river that waters the land

The sweet Green River runs glossy and gliding
The crooked Rockcastle runs weaving and winding
The Tennessee River, it courses the plain
But I never will walk down by Short Creek again

The boys on the Elkhorn, they're handsome and witty
The Salt and the Barren have many a cutie
And down by Rough River, there's boys by the score
But I never will walk by Short Creek no more

He kissed me and called me his sweet sugar-candy
The Ohio is muddy, the Tug Fork is sandy
I hugged him and kissed him and called him my own
But down by Short Creek he left me alone


It's still a work in progress; I have an email I sent to my brother (a geologist who works for the state, with a couple of questions about particular rivers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: GUEST,JB3
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 12:26 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 09:36 PM

Is there a variant for Ohio?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: GUEST,Brutus Buckeye & Chief Wahoo
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 03:32 AM

No......Please leave us alone and go away.

Do not subject us to this bizarre excuse for songwriting. There are a number of nice songs based on the Ohio River including the great trad murder ballad, Banks of the Ohio The other famous river in this state is the Cuyahoga which caught fire several times in the 60's That particular debacle has already been rendered unto history via Randy Newman.......

There's a red moon rising
On the Cuyahoga River
Rolling into Cleveland to the lake

There's a red moon rising
On the Cuyahoga River
Rolling into Cleveland to the lake

There's an oil barge winding
Down the Cuyahoga River
Rolling into Cleveland to the lake

There's an oil barge winding
Down the Cuyahoga River
Rolling into Cleveland to the lake

Cleveland city of light city of magic
Cleveland city of light you're calling me
Cleveland, even now I can remember
'Cause the Cuyahoga River
Goes smokin' through my dreams

Burn on, big river, burn on
Burn on, big river, burn on
Now the Lord can make you tumble
And the Lord can make you turn
And the Lord can make you overflow
But the Lord can't make you burn

Burn on, big river, burn on
Burn on, big river, burn on



Brutus Buckeye, Head Mascot, The Ohio State University
Chief Wahoo, Politically Incorrect Mascot, Cleveland Indians

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 03:42 PM

This poem was ripped off an earlier poem by James Demille who wrote this in the 1880s. It speaks of New Brunswick Canada and all the rivers named in it are real rivers in New Brunswick. Passamaquoddy Bay is part of the Bay of Fundy nestled between NEw Brunswick and Maine off Saint Andrews NEw Brunswick and Eastport Maine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Jul 13 - 10:03 AM

The poem that our last guest referred to as "this poem" was evidently SWEET MAIDEN OF PASSAMAQUODDY, (a.k.a. SWEET MAIDEN OF QUODDY) posted by Charley Noble back on 07 Apr 2005.

It was indeed written by James De Mille (1833-1880), as I found at http://davidcadogan.ca/2010/08/30/sweet-maiden-of-quoddy-2/.

By the way, have you ever wondered why GUESTS so frequently say things like "this poem" or "this song" and are apparently oblivious to the fact that several songs have been mentioned in the thread they are posting to? Or that they ask questions that have already been answered, or answer questions that have already been answered, or post additional, needless, and even inferior copies of lyrics that have already been posted?

It's because they literally have only seen one message, not the whole thread.

My guess is, our guest, a newcomer to Mudcat, was using a search engine like Google to search for lyrics, and happened to land here:

http://www.mudcat.org/Detail.CFM?messages__Message_ID=1454343.

Then without even being aware that there were any other messages related to this one, he clicked on "Post to this Thread" at the bottom of the page.

I think this happens a lot.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of.... (States other than Texas)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 May 20 - 11:30 PM

I understand there's an Alaska version, or maybe it's "Rivers of Yukon," which would be Canada. Anybody got it?

Subject: ADD: Follow the Rivers (Margaret Batt)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jul 20 - 02:06 PM

One more, a version about California sent to me by Carol Holdstock.

Here's what Carol says:

The song I sing , Follow the Rivers, was written by Margaret Batt, who was a 4th grade school teacher in the Bay Area. She was part of a group that sang California songs, and Rivers of California was written to help her students learn about the gold rush and the rivers that were panned. This is the story I got. I don’t know if Margaret is still with us.

FOLLOW THE RIVERS
(lyrics by Margaret Batt, tune from 'Rivers of Texas')

I’ve panned the American
I’ve worked the Mokelumne
I followed the Feather
I dredged in the Tuolemne
There’s nuggets like boulders
Or so I’ve been told
And I’ll follow the rivers
a searching for gold

CHORUS
Lie Lie Lie Lee Lee, the rivers run free
Lie Lie Lie Lee Lee, the rivers run free
Lie Lie Lie Lee Lee , the rivers run free
Down from the mountains and into the sea.

The broad Sacramento
runs glossy and gliding,
The crooked Consumnes
runs weaving and winding
The San Joaquin’s rocky
And the Yuba is cold
But I’ll follow the rivers
searching for gold

I’ll work the Merced
while the weather is fair.
Stanislaus, Calaveras,
and maybe the Bear.
I’m ragged and dirty
and lousy and cold,
But I’ll follow the rivers
searching for gold.