| lyric | 1. Oh, don't remember sweet Betsy from Pike,
Who crossed the big mountains with her lover Ike,
With two yoke of catlle, a large yellow dog,
and a tall Shanghai rooster and one spotted hog?
Ref.: Sying farewell Pike County,
Goodbye for a while.
We’ll come byck again
when we’ve panned out our pile.
2. On an cvc’ning quite early they camped on the Platte,
near by the road on a green, shady flat,
There Betsy, quite tired lay down to repose,
while with wonder Ike gazed on his Pike County Rose.
3. They soon reached the desert, where Betsy gave out
And down in the sand she lay rolling about;
While Ike very tearful looked on in surprise,
Saying ”Betsy, get up, you’ll get sand in your eyes.
4. Then Betsy got up with a great deal of pain,
And swore she’d go back to Pike County again.
Then Ike heaved a sigh, while they fondly embraced,
And she travelled along, with his arm ’round her waist.
5.The Shanghai flew off, -- the cattle all died,
The last piece of bacon that morning was fried;
Ike, he got discouraged, while Betsy got mad
And the dog wagged his tail, looking awfully sad.
6. Next morning they climbed up a very high hill,
Looking down in wonder on Old I’laccrville;
Ike shouted and said, as he cast his eyes down,
“Sweet Betsy, my darling, we’ve got to Hangiown.”
7. Long Ike and sweet Betsy they attended a dance,
Ike, he wore a pair of his best Sunday pants
Sweet Betsy was decked out with ribbons and things,
Said Ike, ”You’re an angel, but where are your wings”?
8. A miner said, ”Betsy, will you dance with me? ”
Said Betsy, ""I will, if you don’t get too free;
Don’t dance me too hard. Do you want to know why?
Doggone you, I’m chock full of strong Alkali.”
9. They married, and afterwards got a divorce,
And Ike left her everything including his horse;
Sweet Betsy, quite satisfied, said with a shout,
”Goodby, you big lummox, I’m glad you backed out.""
Letzter Refrain:
Saying good-bye, dear Isaac,
Farewell for a while.
Be sure and come back
To replenish my pile. |