Question
In a cavern, in a canyon
Excavating for a mine
Dwelt a miner forty-niner
And his daughter, Clementine
Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
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(Does the front part of the lyric mean #1 or #2?)
1. A miner forty-niner and his daughter, Clementine dwelt in a cavern,in a canyon excavating for a mine.
2. A miner forty-niner and his daughter, Clementine dwelt in a cavern,in a canyon while they were excavating for a mine.
(Q2: Which one is grammatical, 'dreadfully sorry' or dreadful sorry'?)
Excavating for a mine
Dwelt a miner forty-niner
And his daughter, Clementine
Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
------------------
(Does the front part of the lyric mean #1 or #2?)
1. A miner forty-niner and his daughter, Clementine dwelt in a cavern,in a canyon excavating for a mine.
2. A miner forty-niner and his daughter, Clementine dwelt in a cavern,in a canyon while they were excavating for a mine.
(Q2: Which one is grammatical, 'dreadfully sorry' or dreadful sorry'?)
Answers
Ms. Sue
2 is better, but grammatically it should be "dreadfully." However, many old folk songs pay no attention to grammar rules.
By the way, "forty-niner" refers to people who went to California in 1849 to find gold.
By the way, "forty-niner" refers to people who went to California in 1849 to find gold.