The Digger's Song

Scrape the bottom of the hole: gather up the stuff,
                 Fossick in the crannies, lest you leave a grain
                                   behind,
Just another shovelful and that'll be enough,-
                 Now we'll take it to the bank and see what we can
                                   find,
                 Give the dish a twirl around,
                 Let the water swirl around,
Gently let it circulate, there's music in the swish,
                 And the tinkle of the gravel,
                 As the pebbles quickly travel
Around in merry circles on the bottom of the dish.

Ah, if man could only wash his life, if he only could,
                 Panning off the evil deeds, keeping but the
                                   good,
What a mighty lot of digger's dishes would be sold,
                 Though I fear the heap of tailings would be greater
                                   than the gold,
                 Give the dish a twirl around,
                 Let the water swirl around,
Man's the sport of circumstance however he may
                                   wish,
                 Fortune! are you there now?
                 Answer to my prayer now,
And drop a half ounce nugget in the bottom of
                                   the dish.

Gently let the water lap, keep the corners dry,
                 That's about the place the gold will generally stay,
What was that bright particle that just then
                                   caught my eye?
                 I fear me by the look of things 'twas only yellow
                                   clay,
                 Just another twirl around,
                 Let the water swirl around,
That's the way we rob the river of its golden fish,
                 What's that?  can't we snare a one?
                 Don't say that there's ne'er a one,
Bah, there's not a colour in the bottom of the dish.