Miners during the Gold Rush were not always yelling Eureka! It was downright hard work which was more times than not unsuccessful. While some men became successful merchants and "mined the miners" -- hiking up prices of common goods because demand was so high others found success in unconventional ways. Old Put arrived in California via an overland trip early in the Gold Rush, possibly around 1850. He tried his luck in the goldfields of the Sierra Nevada's but was more-or-less unsuccessful. Adopting the pseudonym of "Old Put" he began traveling the mining towns as a composer/minstrel. He achieved success quickly because he would adopt well known tunes and change the lyrics to reflect whathe witnessed among the mining towns. He formed a company of minstrels called The Sierra Nevada Rangers and received payment in the form of gold dust. In 1855 Old Put published the first of two books. Put's Original California Songster featured two-dozen of his songs as well as short quips and passages. His second book Put's California Golden Songster was published in 1858 and featured over 30 more of his works.
These songs reflect a very important time in California's history -- a time of great success and utter failure, of devastation and construction, of kind acts and greedy deeds. While the songs were "originally commenced to relieve the tedium of a lonely cabin life" Old Put has portrayed "Life in California at a time when the restraints of society had to some extend become released" (Golden, preface).
p.s. -- to the 49ers and the following onslaught of argonauts (gold miners), the phrase "Seeing the Elephant" meant going to the goldfields. In encompassed the cost of the endeavor - the expenses incurred to get there and leaving their family behind. It also symbolized all of the possibilities one could encounter on their journey to California. Above all, it represented the unequaled adventure every argonaut would get just making the trip.
The lyrics are the original printed versions and might contain obnoxious comments, outrageous remarks, derogatory phrases, and, in most cases, improper English. The Gold Rush took place during an era of time where there were distinct classifications of rank on the social ladder based on skin color, nationality, religion, etc. These lyrics are included for historical accuracy and do not reflect the opinions of Groundspeak, us, or any sane person.
Sources:
Silber, Irwin - ed. "Coming Around the Horn." Songs of the American West. 1st ed. N.p.: Dover Publications, 2012. 27-29. Print.
Stone, John A. Put's Golden Songster: Containing the Largest and Most Popular Collection of California Songs Ever Published. San Francisco: D. E. Appleton &, 1858. Print.
Stone, John A. Put's Original California Songster: Containing the Largest and Most Popular Collection of California Songs Ever Published. San Francisco: D. E. Appleton &, 1855. Print.
When I went off to Prospect.
[AIR—King of the Cannibal Islands]
I heard of gold at Sutter's Mill,
At Michigan Bluff and Iowa Hill,
But never thought it was rich until
I started off to prospect.
At Yankee Jim's I bought a purse.
Inquired for Iowa Hill, of course,
And traveled on, but what was worse,
Fetched up in Shirt-tail Cañon.
Chorus:
A sicker miner every way
Had not been seen for many a day;
The devil it always was to pay,
When I went off to prospect.
When I got there, the mining ground
Was staked and claimed for miles around,
And not a bed was to be found,
When I went off to prospect,
The town was crowded full of folks,
Which made me think 'twas not a hoax;
At my expense they cracked their jokes,
When I was nearly starving.
Chorus:
A sicker miner evry way
Had not been seen for many a day;
The devil it always was to pay
When I went off to prospect.
I left my jackass on the road,
Because he wouldn't carry the load;
I'd sooner pack a big horn toad,
Whcn I went off to prospect.
My fancy shirt, with collar so nice,
I found was covered with body-lice;
I used unguentum once or twice,
But could not kill the grey-backs
Chorus:
A sicker miner every way
Had not been seen for many a day;
The devil it always was to pay,
When I went off to prospect.
At Deadwood I got on a tight—
At Groundhog Glory I had a fight;
They drove me away from Hell's Delight,
When I off to prospect.
From Bogus-Thunder I ran away—
At Devil's Basin I wouldn't stay;
My lousy shirt crawled off one day,
Which left me nearly naked.
Chorus:
A sicker miner every way
Had not been seen for many a day;
The devil it always was to pay,
When I went off to prospect.
Now all I got for running about,
Was two black eyes, and bloody snout;
And that's the way it did turn out,
When I went off to prospect.
And now I'm loafing around dead broke,
My pistol and tools are all in soak,
And whisky bills at me they poke—
But I'll make it right in the morning.
Chorus:
A sicker miner every way
Had not been seen for many a day;
The devil it always was to pay,
When I went off to prospect.
Path is on a busy street, please exercise caution when going for the caches. There is NOparking along the route. Best to walk or use your bike.