Clementine
Bobby Darin Lyrics

In a cavern down by a canyon
There was a mine being excavated in a cavern at the bottom of a canyon.

Excavatin' for a mine
Mining was underway at the site.

There lived a miner from North Carolina
A miner who hailed from North Carolina resided there.

And his daughter, chubby Clementine
This miner had a daughter named Clementine who was a little overweight.

Now every mornin', just about dawnin'
Early each morning at dawn.

A'when the sun began to shine
When the sun started to rise.

You know she would rouse up, wake all a dem cows up
She would wake up and get all the cows up.

And walk 'em down to her Daddy's mine
She would then walk them down to her father's mine.

A'took the foot bridge, way 'cross the water
She crossed a foot bridge over some water.

Though she weighed two-ninety nine
Even though she was quite heavy, weighing 299 pounds.

The old bridge trembled and disassembled
The foot bridge shook and came apart.

(Oops!) dumped her into the foamy brine
She fell into the water, which was foamy and salty.

Hey, crackle like thunder, (ho, ho) you know she went under
She went under the water with a loud noise, sounding like thunder.

(Ho, ho) blowin' bubbles down the line
As she sank deeper into the water, she blew bubbles, which floated upwards.

Hey, I'm no swimm'a but were she slimm'a
Although he wasn't a great swimmer, he wondered if he could have saved her if she had been slimmer.

I might'a saved that Clementine
If she were slimmer, he could have saved her from drowning.

(Ho) broke the record, way under water
She set a record for being underwater for a long time.

I thought that she was doin' fine
He initially thought she was doing well underwater.

I wasn't nervous ya until the service
He wasn't nervous until the funeral.

That they held for Clementine
They had a funeral for Clementine.

Hey you sailor (ho, ho) way out in your whaler
Addressing a sailor who is out on a whaling vessel.

With your harpoon, your trusty line
Asking the sailor about his equipment, specifically his harpoon and line.

If she shows now, yo, there she blows now
If Clementine appears, he might see her blowing water out of her mouth like a whale through its blowhole.

It just may be chunky Clementine
If they see something in the water, it might be Clementine who was quite heavy.

Oh my darlin', oh my darlin', oh my darlin'
Addressing Clementine with terms of endearment.

Oh my darlin' , oh my darlin' sweet Clementine,
He is acknowledging that Clementine was a sweet person.

You may be gone
She may have passed away.

But you're not forgotten,
She has not been forgotten by those who knew her.

Fare thee well
Goodbye.

So long, Clementine
This is his final goodbye to Clementine.

Bye
A casual way to say goodbye.