John Chinaman's Appeal

1
American now mind my song,
		If you would but hear me sing,
And I will tell you of the wrong,
		That happened until "Gee Sing,"
In "fifty-two" I left my home --
		I bid farewell to "Hong Kong" --
I started with Cup Gee to roam
		To the land where they use the "long tom".

CHORUS:

O ching hi ku tong mo ching, ching
		O ching hi ku tong chi do,
Cup Gee hi ku tong mo ching, ching
		Then what could Gee or I do?

2
In forty days I reached the Bay,
		And nearly starved I was sir,
I cooked and ate a dog one day,
		I didn't know the laws sir.
But soon I found my dainty meal
		Was 'gainst the city order,
The penalty I had to feel --
		Confound the old Recorder.

3
By paying up my cost and fines
		They freed me from the locker,
And then I started for the mines --
		I got a pick and rocker.
I went to work in an untouched place,
		I'm sure I meant no blame sir.
But a white man struck me in the face
		And told me to leave his claim sir.

4
'Twas then I packed my tools away
		And set up in a new place,
But there they would not let me stay--
		They didn't like the cue race.
And then I knew not what to do,
		I could not get employ,
The Know Nothings would bid me go --
		'Twas tu nah mug ahoy.

5
I started then for Weaverville
		Where Chinamen were thriving,
But found our China agents there
		In ancient feuds were driving.
So I pitched into politics,
		But with the weaker party;
The Canton's with their clubs and bricks
		Did drub us out "right hearty."

6
I started for Yreka then;
		I thought that I would stay there,
But found for even Chinamen
		The "diggings" wouldn't pay there.
So I set up a washing shop,
		But how extremely funny,
The miners all had dirty clothes,
		But not a cent of money.

7
I met a big stour Indian once,
		He stopped me in the trail, sir,
He drew an awful scalping knife,
		And I trembled for my tail, sir.
He caught me by the hair, it's true,
		In a manner quite uncivil,
But when he saw my awful cue,
		He thought I was the devil.

8
Oh, now my friends I'm going away
		From this infernal place, sir;
The balance of my days I'll stay
		With the Celestial race, sir.
I'll go to raising rice and tea;
		I'll be a heathen ever,
For Christians all have treated me
		As men should be used never.