My darling clementine
Various Artists Lyrics


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In a cavern
in a canyon
excavating for a mine

lived a miner
forty niner
and his daughter Clementine.
Oh my Darling
oh my Darling
oh my Darling Clementine

you are lost and gone forever dreadful sorry
Clementine.

Light she was and like a fairy
and her shoes were number nine.
Herring boxes without topses sandals were for Clementine.

Oh my Darling ...

Drove she ducklings to the water every morning just at nine

stubbed her too against a splinter
fell into the foaming brine.

Oh my Darling ...

Ruby lips above the water
blowing bubbles soft and fine

but
alas
I was no swimmer
so I lost my Clementine.

Oh my Darling ...

How I missed her
how I missed her
how I missed my Clementine

till I kissed her little sister and forgot my Clementine.





Oh my Darling ...

Overall Meaning

"My Darling Clementine" is a traditional American folk song with an unknown author. The song tells the story of a miner, known as a "forty-niner" because of his involvement in the California Gold Rush in 1849, who lives with his daughter Clementine in a cavern in a canyon. The miner's daughter, Clementine, is described as being light and fairy-like, with a love for taking her ducklings to the water every morning. Unfortunately, one day Clementine becomes injured after stubbing her toe on a splinter, falling into the water and drowning as her father watches helplessly. In the final verse, the singer laments how much he misses his dear Clementine, until he kisses her little sister and forgets about her.


The lyrics to "My Darling Clementine" are simple but imbued with a sense of loss and regret. The image of the miner watching his daughter drown is poignant and tragic, and the final verse where he is able to move on from the loss of his daughter by kissing her little sister is both uncomfortable and suggest a sense of desperation.


Line by Line Meaning

In a cavern
The story takes place in a cave.


in a canyon
The cave is located in a canyon.


excavating for a mine
A miner is digging in the cave looking for minerals.


lived a miner
A miner lived in the cave.


forty niner
The miner may have participated in the California Gold Rush of 1849.


and his daughter Clementine.
The miner had a daughter named Clementine.


Oh my Darling
The singer is addressing Clementine.


oh my Darling
The artist is addressing Clementine.


oh my Darling Clementine
The artist is addressing Clementine.


you are lost and gone forever dreadful sorry
Clementine is dead and the artist is expressing his sorrow.


Light she was and like a fairy
Clementine was light and delicate.


and her shoes were number nine.
Clementine wore size nine shoes.


Herring boxes without topses sandals were for Clementine.
Clementine wore cheap sandals made from herring boxes.


Drove she ducklings to the water every morning just at nine
Clementine had the job of taking ducklings to the water every morning at nine.


stubbed her too against a splinter
Clementine accidentally injured herself on a splinter.


fell into the foaming brine.
As a result of her injury, Clementine fell into the sea.


Ruby lips above the water
Clementine's lips were visible above the water.


blowing bubbles soft and fine
Clementine was blowing bubbles in the water.


but
However,


alas
Unfortunately,


I was no swimmer
The artist was not able to swim.


so I lost my Clementine.
The artist was not able to save Clementine from drowning and she died.


How I missed her
The singer is expressing how much he missed Clementine.


how I missed her
The artist is expressing how much he missed Clementine.


how I missed my Clementine
The singer is expressing how much he missed Clementine.


till I kissed her little sister and forgot my Clementine.
Eventually, the singer found comfort in Clementine's little sister and stopped grieving for Clementine.




Contributed by Wyatt V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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