Clementine

The lyrics of folksongs have always intrigued me. Who came up with these--usually sad--tales? Are they rooted in truth? Many of them have really dark undertones (check out "The Wind and Rain" which has many versions, all of which involve a girl being pushed into the river to drown, being fished out and turned into a fiddle--even with somewhat graphic descriptions of which of her body parts made which parts of a grisly instrument. WHAT). Anyway, the commonly known version of the folksong "Clementine" leaves out the last verse, which goes like this:

How I missed her! How I missed her,
How I missed my Clementine,
But I kissed her little sister,
I forgot my Clementine.

When I first learnt about this mysteriously omitted last verse, it occurred to me that this unfaithful lover of Clementine's was more likely the reason for her untimely demise than "hitting her foot against a splinter." Suicide! Scandal! Treachery!

I pay tribute to two of my favourite songs in this text, both of which are called "Clementine". One is by a band called The Decemberists, the other by Elliot Smith. I also incorporated a lot of the original text, since it's quite poignant, and I want to play on the original folk tune Nico-style.
Instrumentation thus far: soprano, alto, baritone; viola, guitar, horn, trombone, and whistling.
Here goes.

Clementine
In a canyon, in a cavern...

Sang Clementine, sang mine, sang forty-nine
Sang me sandals made of boxes
And 18 karat golden thread
You told me I was beautiful,
You came into my bed

Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Clementine...

I saw your eyes on her face
I thought so, but I didn't say so
Drank myself into slow-mo
And then, and then, oh
You bereft me of house and home
And left me in a canyon, in a cavern, alone

BRIDGE

Drove her ducklings to the water
Oh where, oh where does your soul reside?
Every morning just at nine
Is it in your eyes or between your thighs?
Hit her foot against a splinter
I told you I loved you, but you didn't hear
Fell into the foaming brine
If I fall in, I could disappear!

How I missed her! How I missed her,
How I missed my Clementine,
But I kissed her little sister,
I forgot my Clementine.

Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine!
Thou art lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

Dreadful sorry, Clementine
Oh my darling Clementine