Video
Chinese History Camp Song
Transcript
The Many, Many Stories of the Chinese in Yosemite
Ladies and gentlemen, gentlefolk and gentle people, come one, come all.
Listen, listen, did you hear? Have you heard of the stories of the Chinese in Yosemite?
No? Well, come gather, come close, and I’ll spill the tea.
Because; you see, there are many, many stories that need to be told,
Of the Chinese in Yosemite, and this, this is how the story goes.
1
“Way, wayy down in Yosemite where everybody goes
There were many, many Chinese immigrants, and they, they built the roads”
1
With pickaxes and shovels, through the winter, through the snow,
They built Wawona Road, Great Sierra Wagon Road...
Seriously, they built almost *all* of the roads.
They went *thud* *thud* (x2)
2
“But wait, wait, there’s more
I’ll say it now, and I’ve said it before,
That was just one of the many, many stories that need to be told.
Of the Chinese in Yosemite, and this is how the story goes.”
2
1
They built the roads. They went *thud thud*
And they also ironed the clothes.
With eight pound irons, they worked day and night.
They washed, they scrubbed, they made those linens and clothes clean and white.
And they ironed the clothes. They went *shhhh shhhhh* (x2)
They folded the clothes. They went *clap clap* (x2)
They built the roads. They went *thud thud*
2
1
They cooked on stoves.
With pans and woks, and trays and pots,
They made soups and stews, sauces and roux,
With the likes of Chef Tie Sing, Ah Louie and Ah You.
And so they cooked on stoves, they went *shhh shhhh* (x2)
And they cut the cloves, they went *ctctcctctct* (x2)
And they ironed the clothes. They went *shhhh shhhhh* (x2)
They folded the clothes. They went *clap clap* (x2)
They built the roads. They went *thud thud*
2
1
They tended the groves.
With time and toil, they tilted the soil.
They planted herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
Supplying the Wawona Hotel, I’ll dare say they’re one of the original farm to tables
And they tended the groves.
They went *snip snip* mmmmmm (x2)
And so they cooked on stoves, they went *shhh shhhh* (x2)
And they cut the cloves, they went *ctctcctctct* (x2)
And they ironed the clothes. They went *shhhh shhhhh* (x2)
They folded the clothes. They went *clap clap* (x2)
They built the roads. They went *thud thud*
And so I’ll end my story here, alas, I have no more.
But I’ll say it now, and I’ve said it before.
These are just some of the many, many stories and they need to be told.
So I charge you all to be brave, be bold
To tell them to anyone who will listen, whether they’re young or old.
And ask them, ask them, hey! Did you hear? Have you heard of the Chinese in Yosemite?
No? Well, come gather, come close, and I’ll spill the tea.
Because these are the many, many stories that need to be told,
Of the Cantonese Chinese in 優勝美地, and this, this is how the story goes.
Description
Join Ranger Connie Lau in an interactive camp song as she shares about the rich history of Chinese immigrants in Yosemite's History. This video was made possible by a grant from the National Park Foundation.
Date Created
12/02/2024
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