About “Oh My Darling Clementine”

“Oh My Darling, Clementine” is a traditional American folk song, commonly credited to Percy Montrose (1884).

The lyrics have changed over time, and what started as a sincere lament became a parody. Clementine is the daughter of a 49er, a miner in the 1849 California Gold Rush. But she drowned. As the song progresses, the changes become evident, with the tone turning tongue-in-cheek. The second verse, for example, mentions the size of Clementine’s feet: so big she wears boxes instead of shoes.

Later, it’s revealed that her death was caused by a splinter in her toe. (In the original song, the splinter referred to a piece of shoring timber.) She trips, then falls and drowns. The song’s close completes the transformation to silly campfire song, saying that after one kiss from Clementine’s little sister, the singer forgets his loss.

“Oh My Darling, Clementine” is likely based on “Down by the River Liv’d a Maiden”, a 19th century minstrel song written by H.S. Thompson. Like “Oh! Susanna” by Stephen Foster, “Down by the River Liv’d a Maiden” is a parody of slave music and speech. Here’s a sample of those original lyrics:

“Her lips were like two luscious beefsteaks

Dipp’d in tomato sauce and brine

And like the cashmere goatess covering

Was the fine wool of Clementine

Now all young men by me take warning

Don’t gib your ladies too much rye wine

Kase like as not in this wet wedder

Dey’ll share de fate ob Clementine"

See the similarities?!