Oh My Darling, Clementine facts for kids

"Oh My Darling, Clementine" is a very famous American folk song from the Old West. It's often sung in movies and TV shows. Most people think Percy Montrose wrote it in 1884, but some say Barker Bradford did. The song might even be based on an older tune called "Down by the River Liv'd a Maiden" from 1863. This song is so well-known that the Western Writers of America group picked it as one of the Top 100 Western songs ever!

What is "Oh My Darling, Clementine" about?

The song tells a sad story about a girl named Clementine. She is the daughter of a "miner forty-niner," which means her dad was a gold miner during the California Gold Rush around 1849. The singer of the song is Clementine's lover.

One day, while Clementine was doing her daily chores, she had a terrible accident. She tripped and fell into a fast-moving, salty river. Her lover was there but couldn't swim well enough to save her. Sadly, Clementine drowned in the river. The song is a sad reminder of her story and the dangers of life in the old mining towns.

See also

In Spanish: Oh My Darling, Clementine para niños