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.
Seeing the Elephant
[AIR—Boatman Dance.]
When I left the States for gold,
Everything I had I sold:
A stove and bed, a fat old sow
Sixteen chickens and a cow.
Chorus:
So leave, you miners, leave, oh, leave, you miners, leave,
Take my advice, kill off your lice, or else go up in the mountains;
Oh no, lots of dust, I'm going to the city to get on a "bust,"
Oh no, lots of dust, I'm going to the city to get on a "bust."
Off I started, Yankee-like,
I soon fell in with a lot from Pike;
The next was, "D—n you, back, wo-haw,"
A right smart chance from Arkansaw.
So leave, you miners, etc.
On the Platte we couldn't agree,
Because I had the di-a-ree,
We there split up, I made a break,
With one old mule for the Great Salt Lake.
So leave, you miners, etc.
The Mormon girls were fat as hogs,
The chief production, cats and dogs;
Some had ten wives, others none,
Thirty-six had Brigham Young.
So leave, you miners, etc.
The d—d fool, like all the rest,
Supposed the thirty-six the best;
He soon found out his virgin dears
Had all been Mormons thirteen years.
So leave, you miners, etc.
Being brave, I cut and carved,
On the desert nearly starved;
My old mule laid down and died,
I had no blanket, took his hide.
So leave, you miners, leave, oh leave, you miners leave, etc.
The poor coyotes stole my meat,
Then I had nought but bread to cat;
It was not long till that gave out,
Then how I cursed the Truckee route!
So leave, you miners, leave, oh, leave, you leave, etc.
On I traveled through the pines,
At last I found the northern mines;
I stole a dog, got whipt like h—ll,
Then away I went to Marys'ville.
So leave, you miners, leave, oh, leave, you miners, leave, etc.
There I filled the town with lice,
And robbed the Chinese of their rice;
The people say, "You've got the itch,
Leave here, you lousy son of a b——."
So leave, you miners, leave, oh, leave, you miners, leave, etc.
Because I would not pay my bill,
They kicked me out of Downieville;
I stole a mule and lost the trail,
And then fetched up in Hangtown Jail.
So leave, you miners, leave, oh, leave, you miners, leave, etc.
Canvas roof and paper walls,
Twenty horse-thieves in the stalls;
I did as I had done before,
Coyoted out from 'neath the floor.
So leave, you miners, leave, oh, leave, you miners, leave, etc.
I robbed a black of a dollar,
And bought unguent to grease my collar;
I tried a pint, not one had gone,
Then it beat the d—l how I daubed it on,
So leave, you miners, leave, oh, leave, you miners, leave, etc.
The people threatened hard my life,
Because I stole a miner's wife;
They showed me a rope, to give me signs,
Then off I went to the southern mines.
So leave, you miners, leave, oh, leave, you miners, leave, etc.
I mined a while, got lean and lank,
And lastly stole a monte-bank;
Went to the city, got a gambler's name
And lost my bank at the thimble game.
So leave, you miners, leave, oh, leave, you miners, leave, etc.
I fell in love with a California girl;
Her eyes were gray, her hair did curl;
Her nose turned up to get rid of her chin—
Says she, "You're a miner, you can't come in."
So leave, you miners, leave, oh, leave, you miners leave, etc.
When the elephant I had seen,
I'm d—d if I thought I was green;
And others say, both night and morn,
They saw him coming round the Horn.
So leave, you miners, leave, oh, leave, you miners, leave, etc.
If I should make another raise,
In New York sure I'll spend my days;
I'll be a merchant, buy a saw,
So good-bye, mines and Panama.
So leave, you ininer. leave, oh, leave, you miners leave, etc.
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.