Results
#1. Where is Tom Moore from?
The song opens with “I’m old Tom Moore from the bummer’s shore…”, clearly indicating his origin.
#2. What does Tom Moore wander around doing?
“I wander around from town to town just like a roving sign” describes his roaming lifestyle.
#3. How does Tom feel about praise?
“But what cares I for praise?” shows he doesn’t value recognition.
#4. What is the song’s recurring theme?
The lyrics repeatedly mention digging up gold and “the days of ’49”, referencing the California Gold Rush.
#5. What does New York Jake frequently do?
“He was always getting tight…spoiling for a fight” describes Jake’s behavior.
#6. How is Poker Bill described?
“One of the boys who was always in a game” refers to his gambling habit.
#7. How did Ragshag Bill die?
“One day he fell in a prospect hole…he roared out his soul” indicates his death.
#8. What refrain repeats throughout the song?
This nostalgic refrain anchors the song’s theme.
#9. What does Tom Moore compare himself to at the end?
He says, “They call me a rambling sign.”
#10. What phrase describes his comrades’ resilience?
His comrades “stood the kicks like good old bricks.”
#11. What does “prospect hole” symbolize?
Ragshag Bill’s death highlights the hazards of prospecting.
#12. What tone dominates the final stanza?
Tom Moore laments being “left alone in misery.”
#13. Which phrase describes the camaraderie?
Highlights the loyalty and courage of his crew.
