[Verse 1] Once there was a 49er Carried ‘round a piece of brass! He was just your typical miner ‘Cept for a soul-bitten love of jazz! [Verse 2] Oo he never could be knowin’ If his claims would ever pay! Only thing that kept him goin’ Was how every night he’d play! [Verse 3] Wasn’t what you’d call lucky Like so many who could say the same Spending weeks crawlin’ ‘round the muck He didn’t have a penny left to his name [Verse 4] Out of supplies, cursin’ his lot And only one thing left to sell If he wanted to shoot his shot He’d have to give up, what he loved so well [Bridge] He got as much as he could ask for But how he wept for what he sold Had to give up his precious brass for Whistling, whistling prayin’ for gold [Verse 5] Well I’m sad I’m sad to say That’s where our story comes to an end Ain’t nobody who can say Where he got to, or how, or when [Verse 6] But under a cold and lonely moon They say you can hear him still You can hear his mournful tune Whistling, whistling through the hills