Clementine )
Bobby Darin Lyrics

In a cavern down by a canyon
There was a mine being excavated in a dark area near a deep gorge.

Excavatin' for a mine
The purpose for which the workers searched the specific area was to extract precious metals or minerals.

There lived a miner from North Carolina
A man from North Carolina resided at the mining site and was responsible for overseeing the work.

And his daughter, chubby Clementine.
The miner had a daughter named Clementine who was plump and cheerful.

Now every mornin', just about dawnin'
Every day, Clementine would wake up early in the morning, right before daybreak.

A'when the sun begins to shine
At the start of sunrise, as sun rays were starting to fall on the land.

You know she would rouse up, wake all a dem cows up
Clementine would wake up all the cows from their sleep and get them ready for the day.

And walk 'em down to her Daddy′s mine.
She would lead the cows towards her father's mine so that they could graze around it.

A'took the foot bridge, way 'cross the water
To reach the other side of the water stream, Clementine used a footbridge.

Though she weighed two-ninety nine.
Despite being overweight, she walked steadily on the bridge.

The old bridge trembled and disassembled
Suddenly, the abandoned bridge became unstable, started shaking, and came apart.

(Oops!) dumped her into the foamy brine.
Due to the bridge's collapse, Clementine fell into the frothy water beneath it.

Hey, crackle like thunder, (ho, ho) she went under
A loud noise was heard, just like the sound of thunder, as Clementine plunged into the water.

(Ho, ho) blowin bubbles (bubble sound) down the line.
The bubbles formed because Clementine was struggling to breathe underwater and her body was floating along with the water in the stream.

Hey, I'm no swimmer but were she slimmer
Bobby Darin expresses that he himself is not a good swimmer, but if Clementine was thin, he might have saved her from drowning.

I might'a saved that Clementine.
The songwriter imagines how he could have helped Clementine if he was a better swimmer.

(Ho) broke the record, way under water
Clementine stayed underwater for a long time, which might have broken a record for that particular location.

I thought that she was doin' fine.
Initially, the artist thought that Clementine was alright, and she could come out of the water on her own.

I wasn't nervous yeah, until the service
The songwriter wasn't worried until the moment when a funeral service was held for Clementine.

That they held for Clementine.
A funeral service was organized to pay respects for Clementine, who lost her life.

Hey you sailor (ho, ho) way out in your whaler
The singer addresses a sailor who's out in the ocean on a whaling expedition.

With a harpoon, your trusty line.
The artist refers to the harpoon and line that whalers use to capture marine animals.

If she shows now, yo, there she blows now,
If the sailor sees a whale blowing air out of their blowhole, it might be Clementine in another life, according to the songwriter's fanciful imagination.

It just may be chunky Clementine.
Bobby Darin reiterates that the floating whale seen by the sailor could resemble Clementine's plump frame in another life.

Oh my darlin', oh my darlin', oh my darlin'
The artist recalls the sweet memories he had of Clementine.

Oh my darlin', oh my darlin' sweet Clementine
Bobby Darin believes that Clementine was one of the loveliest people he had ever met.

You may be gone
Although Clementine has passed away, she will always live on in their hearts.

But you're not forgotten,
Although Clementine is dead, people will always remember her.

Fare thee well, so long, Clementine
The artist bids farewell to Clementine, wishing her well in the afterlife.

Bye!
The song ends on a cheery note, in which the artist says goodbye to Clementine lovingly.