In a cavern, in a canyon, Excavating for a mine Dwelt a miner forty niner, And his daughter Clementine Chorus: Oh my darling, oh my darling, Oh my darling, Clementine! Thou art lost and gone forever Dreadful sorry, Clementine Light she was and like a fairy, And her shoes were number nine, Herring boxes, without topses, Sandals were for Clementine. --Chor. Drove she ducklings to the water Ev'ry morning just at nine, Hit her foot against a splinter, Fell into the foaming brine. -- Chor. Ruby lips above the water, Blowing bubbles, soft and fine, But, alas, I was no swimmer, So I lost my Clementine. -- Chor. How I missed her! How I missed her, How I missed my Clementine, But I kissed her little sister, I forgot my Clementine. -- Chor. ---OR--- How I missed her! How I missed her, How I missed my Clementine, Till I kissed her little sister, and forgot my Clementine. -- Chor. ---OR--- How I missed her, how I missed her How I missed my Clementine. So I kissed her little sister, And forgot my Clementine. ---OR--- In a churchyard on a hillside Where the flowers grow and twine There grow roses amongst the posies Flowers for my Clementine. -- Chor. ---OR--- Then the miner forty-niner He began to weep and pine For his darling little daughter Now he's with his Clementine—Chor. ---OR--- In a churchyard on a hillside Where the flowers grow and twine There grow roses amongst the posies On the grave of Clementine—Chor. ---OR--- In a corner of the churchyard, Where the myrtle boughs entwine, Grow the roses in their poses, Fertilized by Clementine. -- Chor. ---OR--- Then the miner forty niner, He began to peak and pine, Thought he oughta join his daughter Now he's with his Clementine. -- Chor. ---OR--- In my dreams she still doth haunt me, Robed in garments soaked in brine. Though in life I used to hug her, Now she's dead, I'll draw the line.[1] -- Chor. ---OR--- Now you Boy Scouts, there's a moral To this little tale of mine. Artificial respiration, Would have saved my Clementine. -- Chor. [edit]Alternative lyrics In the centre of a golden valley, Dwelt a maiden all divine, A pretty creature a miner's daughter, And her name was Clementine. Chorus: Oh my darling, oh my darling, My darling Clementine, You are lost for me forever, Dear sweet darling, Clementine. Her noble father was the foreman Of ev'ry valued mine, And ev'ry miner and ranchman, Was a brother to Clementine. -- Chor. The foreman miner, an old forty niner, In dreams and thoughts sublime, Lived in comfort with his daughter, His pretty child Clementine. -- Chor. When far away, he would often pray, That in his sunny clime, No harm might overtake her, His favorite nugget, Clementine. -- Chor. When the day was done and the setting sun, Its rays they ceased to shine, Homeward came the brawny miner, To caress his Clementine. -- Chor. None was nearer, none was dearer, Since the days of forty-nine, When, in youth, he had another, Who was then his Clementine. -- Chor. She led her ducks down to the river, The weather it was fine, Stubbed her toe against a sliver, Fell into the raging brine. -- Chor. He heard her calling: "Father, father!" Her voice was like a chime, But alas he was no swimmer, So he lost his Clementine. -- Chor. How I missed her, how I missed her, How I missed my Clementine, Till I kissed her little sister, Bouyon my Clementine. -- Chor. [edit]Additional verse I took her, on a picnic, Oh, how the Sun did shine. But she’s 'llergic to bee stings To the doctor, Clementine—Chor.