Well, I left my home and my one true love East of the Ohio River My father said we'd never wed For I had me no gold nor silver But my darling dear, please shed no tears But I think that it's fair to warn you That I return to claim your hand As the King of California Over deserts hot and mountains cold I traveled the Indian country Whispering your name under lonesome skies Remembering my only company But my darling dear, please have no fear For I think that it's fair to warn you That I return to claim your hand As the King of California I went up from Sacramento town To the Sierra gold fields And I worked my stake on a riverbank Dreaming just how a rich man feels Now my darling dear, listen here For I think that it's fair to warn you That I return to claim your hand As the King of California Now, the dead man's lying at my feet Who tried to steal my earnings Yet, I still recall your tender kiss Though this bullet in my chest is burning But my darling dear, please have no fear For I think that it's fair to warn you That I return to claim your hand As the King of California That I return to claim your hand As the King of California