River of Fools

Meh, back in 1849 there was a gold rush in California

Many men went out to test their lucks

In the fine waters of the Sierra Nevadas

This is one man's story

Floating down the river of fools

A gold man ain't got no rules

Trade my life for a shiny jewel

Floating down the river of fools

And it's a hard place for one to be

But the sunlight's shining down on me

It's whiskey when I'm drying out

And God's gold in the ground

Floating down the river of fools

A gold man ain't got no rules

Trade my life for a shiny jewel

Floating down the river of fools

While many men sought to make their fortunes on the gold specimen

The men that made the most money were those that sold supplies

To all the hopeful miners

And it's Brannan up at Sutter's Fort

Charging us out the old back door

They'll call me king when I strike it big

And blow it all in the town

Floating down the river of fools

A gold man ain't got no rules

Trade my life for a shiny jewel

Floating down the river of fools