Oh, the times are hard and the wages low,
Oh, sailor, where you bound to?
The Rocky Mountains are my home,
Across the western ocean.

We are going away from friends and home,
Oh, sailor, where you bound to?
We're going away to search for gold,
Across the western ocean.

Fathers, mothers, say goodbye,
Oh, sailor, where you bound to?
Sisters, brothers, don't you cry,
O'er the western ocean.