Twas' a cold morning in California,

January 24, 1848,

When James Marshall came a runnin'

Calling for a tin plate

He had walked by the river

And saw in a ditch,

something quite exciting

That might make him rich.

He all of the sudden

Made such a clatter,

As everyone ran over

To see what was the matter

Marshall showed everyone

A rock that did shine,

And he belted to everyone

That he found a gold mine

Little did he know

How his discovery would unfold,

As people came by the thousands

In search for a new life in gold

The rush continued

90,000 people in two years,

They traveled cross-country

Having few fears

Most came not to settle

But to take their own share.

They searched for adventure

And adventure was there

They were called the 49ers

 From near and from far,

But remember it was the 1800's-

They couldn't travel by car

By boat, by foot,

Thousands trudged through the land,

Months at a time

Without much of a hand

It paid off for some

But others had less luck,

For their fortunes hardly grew

And their lives were now amuck

"It was not a great living,"

a miner once said

"We go to camp, eat our supper,

and then go to bed"

Soon enough

the gold became rare,

and none of the men

were willing to share

Murder became common

Along with other crimes, too.

All for more wealth

Sutter's Hill became blue.

The impact of the rush

Will never be let down,

It's importance not forgotten

From a once lonely town