tune page
Starving to Death on my Government Claim
Found in s.zip
(s.abc)
from the José A. Oliveira abc collection

X:15956 T:Starving to Death on my Government Claim C:Trad: Irish Washerwoman S:Digital Tradition, irishwsh D:Recorded by Ives Z:dt:irishwsh M:6/8 L:1/8 Q:3/8=100 W:My name is Frank Bolar, an old bach'lor I am W:I'm keeping old batch on an elegant plan, W:You'll find me out west in the County of Lane W:Starving to death on my government claim. W:My house it is built of the national soil W:The walls are erected according to Hoyle, W:The roof has no pitch, but is level and plane W:And I never get wet till it happens to rain. W: W: Then hurrah for Lane County, the land of the free W: The home of the bedbug, mosquito and flea, W: I'll sing loud her praises and never complain W: While starving to death on my government claim. W: W:My clothes they are ragged, my language is rough, W:My bread is case-hardened, both solid and tough; W:The dough it is scattered all over the room W:And the floor would take fright at the sight of a broom. W:My dishes are dirty, and some in the bed W:Are covered with sorghum and government bread; W:But I have a good time and I live at my ease W:On common-sop sorghum, old bacon and grease. W: W: Then hurrah for Lane County, the land of the West W: Where the farmers and laborers are always at rest; W: Where you've nothing to do but sweetly remain W: And starve like a man on your government claim. W: W:How happy am I when I crawl into bed W:And a rattlesnake rattles a tune at my head; W:And the gay little centipede, void of all fear W:Crawls over my pillow ind into my ear. W:And the nice little bedbug, so cheerful and bright W:Keeps me a-scratching full half of the night, W:And the gay little flea with toes sharp as a tack W:Plays "why don't you catch me?" all over my back. W: W: But hurrah for Lane County, where blizzards arise W: Where the winds never cease and the flea never dies; W: Where the sun is so hot if in it you remain, W: 'Twill burn you quite black on your government claim. W: W:How happy am I on my government claim, W:Where I've nothing to lose and nothing to gain; W:Nothing to eat and nothing to wear, W:Nothing from nothing is honest and square. W:But here I am stuck, and here I must stay W:My money's all gone, and I can't get away; W:There's nothing to make a man hard and profane W:Like starving to death on a government claim. W: W:Then come to Lane County, there's room for you all W:Where the winds never cease and the rains never fall. W:Come join in the chorus, and boast of her fame W:While starving to death on your government claim. W:Now don't get discouraged, you poor hungry men, W:We're all here as free as a pig in a pen; W:Just stick to your homestead and battle your fleas W:And pray to your Maker to send you a breeze. W: W:Now a word to claim holders who are bound for to stay W:You may chew on your hardtack till you're toothless and gray; W:But as for me, I'll no longer remain W:And starve like a dog on my government claim. W:Then farewell to Lane County, farewell to the West W:I'll travel back East to the girl I love best; W:I'll stop in Missouri and get me a wife W:And live on corn dodgers the rest of my life. K:C G|ECC G,C/C/C|ECE G-FE|FDD A,DD|FDF A-GF| ECC G,CC|ECE G3|FEF DGF|ECC C2G| ECC G,CC|ECE G-FE|FDD A,DD|FDF A-GF| ECC G,CC|ECE G2G/G/|FEF DGF|ECC C2c/d/| ecc Gcc|ece e-dc|dBB GBB|dBd d-cB| Acc Gcc|Fcc E2E|FEF DGF|ECC C2||
Alternative sources for this tune:
- trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/mirror/OTIS_Irish_Session/melnets_big_abc_file/12389
- trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/mirror/kirby98.fsnet.co.uk/st/Starving_to_Death_on_my_Government_Claim_1/0000
- trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/mirror/melnets_big_abc_file/12389
- trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/mirror/mucl.de/~mdoering/dt-songs/0197
- trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/mirror/terra.es/personal8/niltoni/s/1262
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