SWEET BETSY FROM PIKE
Sweet Betsy
D Did you ever hear A7 tell of Sweet D Betsy from Pike,
who crossed the wide Bm* mountains with A her lover Ike,
two Bm* yoke of cattle, F#m and a G large yeller D dog,
A tall Shanghai D rooster, and a one-spotted hog.
Singing too-ra-li- A oo-ra-li- D oo-ra-li-ay.
1. Did you ever hear tell of Sweet Betsy from Pike,
who crossed the wide mountains with her lover Ike,
two yoke of cattle, and a large yeller dog,
A tall Shanghai rooster, and a onespotted hog.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
2. They swam the wide rivers and crossed the tall peaks,
And camped on the prairie for weeks upon weeks.
Starvation and cholera, hard work and slaughter–
They reached California ‘spite of hell and high water.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
3. One evening quite early they camped on the Platte,
Twas near by the road on a green shady flat.
Betsy, sore-footed, lay down to repose–
With wonder Ike gazed on that Pike County rose.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
4. The Injuns came down in a thundering horde,
And Betsy was scared they would scalp her adored.
So under the wagon-bed Betsy did crawl
And she fought off the Injuns with musket and ball.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
5. The wagon broke down with a terrible crash,
And out on the prairie rolled all sorts of trash.
A few little baby-clothes, done up with care,
Looked rather suspicious, but all on the square.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
6. They stopped at Salt Lake to inquire of the way,
When Brigham declared that Sweet Betsy should stay.
Betsy got frightened and ran like a deer,
While Brigham stood pawing the ground like a steer.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
7. The alkali desert was burning and bare,
And Isaac’s soul shrank from the death that lurked there.
Dear old Pike County, I’ll go back to you”
Says Betsy, “You’ll go by yourself if you do!”
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
8. They soon reached the desert, where Betsy gave out,
And down in the sand she lay rolling about.
Ike in great wonder looked on in surprise,
Saying, “Betsy, get up, you’ll get sand in your eyes.”
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
9. Sweet Betsy got up in a great deal of pain.
She declared she’d go back to Pike County again.
Ike gave a sigh, and they fondly embraced,
And they traveled along with his arm round her waist.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
10. The Shanghai ran off, and the cattle all died,
That morning the last piece of bacon was fried.
Ike got discouraged, Betsy got mad,
The dog drooped his tail and looked wonderfully sad.
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
11. They suddenly stopped on a very high hill,
With wonder looked down upon old Placerville.
Ike said to Betsy, as he cast his eyes down,
Sweet Betsy, my darling, we’ve got to Hangtown.”
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
12. Long Ike and Sweet Betsy attended a dance.
Ike wore a pair of his Pike County pants.
Betsy was covered with ribbons and rings.
Says Ike, “You’re an angel, but where is your wings?”
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
13. A miner said, “Betsy, will you dance with me?”
I will that, old hoss, if you don’t make too free.
Don’t dance me hard, do you want to know why?
Doggone you, I’m chock-full of strong alkali.”
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
14. This Pike County couple got married, of course,
But Ike became jealous, and obtained a divorce.
Betsy, well-satisfied, said with a shout,
Goodby, you big lummox, I’m glad you backed out!”
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay