Bound to California

When I was one and twenty,
I joined the Black Ball Line;*
I signed away the title,
And I sailed to Singapore.

Refrain
Goodbye, my lads, goodbye,
You need not ask me why,
For we’re bound to California
For to reap the shining gold.

*The Black Ball Line brought passengers and mail back and forth between Liverpool and New York in the 19th century. They were known for scheduling their trips instead of waiting until they were full to start out.