Sweet Betsy from Pike
Journey of Love and Loss: Sweet Betsy's Wagon Trail Tale
Lyrics
Oh, don't you remember
Introduction, addressing the listener's memory.
Sweet Betsy from Pike?
Reference to Sweet Betsy from Pike.
She crossed the wide mountains
Describes Betsy crossing mountains with Ike, oxen, dog, rooster, and hog.
With her lover Ike and one yoke of oxen
Details about the journey companions.
And big yeller dog a tall Shanghai rooster
Further description of the animals accompanying them.
And one spotted hog
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
Repetitive refrain, likely for rhythm or emphasis.
Do lang-fall, did ay
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
-Do lang-fall, did ay out on the prairie
Setting the scene on the prairie.
One bright starry night
Narrative shift to a starry night.
They broke out the whiskey
Betsy becomes intoxicated with whiskey.
And Betsy got tight she sang and she shouted
Describes Betsy's enthusiastic singing and dancing.
And danced o're the plain
-Made a great show for the whole wagon train
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
Repetition of the refrain.
Do lang-fall, did ay
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
-Do lang-fall, did ay
-They soon reached the desert
Betsy's exhaustion in the desert, Ike's concern.
Where Betsy give out and down in the sand
-She lay rolling about ike in great terror
-Looked on in surprise saying, "Betsy get up
-You'll get sand in your eyes"
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
Repetition of the refrain with a wagon tipping incident.
Do lang-fall, did ay
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
-Do lang-fall, did ay the wagon tipped over
-With a terrible crash and out on the prairie
Consequences of the wagon tipping over.
Rolled all sorts of trash
-A few little baby clothes done up with care
Details about suspicious-looking baby clothes.
They looked rather suspicious
-Though it was all on the square
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
Repetition of the refrain.
Do lang-fall, did ay
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
-Do lang-fall, did ay
-The Shanghai ran off and the cattle all died
Various misfortunes, including the Shanghai running off.
The last piece of bacon
-That morning was fried
-Poor Ike got discouraged and Betsy got mad
-The dog wagged his tail
-And looked wonderfully sad
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
Repetition of the refrain.
Do lang-fall, did ay
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
-Do lang-fall, did ay
-One morning they climbed up a very high hill
Describes reaching a high hill and seeing Placerville.
And with great wonder
-Looked into old Placerville
-Ike shouted and said
-As he cast his eyes down
-"Sweet Betsy, my love
-Will you come to Hangtown?"
Repetition of the refrain with Ike inviting Betsy to Hangtown.
Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
-Do lang-fall, did ay
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
-Do lang-fall, did ay
Transition in the story.
Long Ike and sweet Betsy attended a dance
Depicts Ike and Betsy attending a dance.
Ike wore a pair of his pike County pants
-Sweet Betsy was covered
-With ribbons and rings
-Said, "Ike, you're an angel
-But where are your wings?"
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
Repetition of the refrain.
Do lang-fall, did ay
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
-Do lang-fall, did ay
-Long Ike and sweet Betsy
Describes Ike and Betsy getting married, then divorcing.
Got married of course
-But Ike, getting jealous obtained a divorce
-And Betsy, well satisfied said, with a shout
-"Goodbye, you big lummox
-I'm glad you backed out"
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
Repetition of the refrain, Betsy bidding farewell to Ike.
Do lang-fall, did ay
-Doodle-ang-fall, di-id-all
-Do lang-fall, did ay
-
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