Did you ever hear tell of Sweet Betsy from Pike, Who crossed the wide prairies with her lover Ike And two yoke of cattle, a large yaller dog, A tall, shanghai rooster, and one spotted hog. Chorus Saying, "Good-bye, Pike County, farewell for a while; We'll come back again when we've panned out our pile." One evening quite early they camped on the Platte. 'Twas near by the road on a green shady flat Where Betsy, quite tired, lay down for repose While with wonder Ike gazed on his Pike County rose. They soon reached the desert where Betsy gave out. And down on the sand she lay rolling about; While Ike in great terror looked on in surprise, Saying, "Betsy, get up, you'll get sand in your eyes." Chorus Saying, "Good-bye, Pike County, farewell for a while; I'd go back tonight, if it was but a mile." Sweet Betsy got up in a great deal of pain And declared she'd go back to Pike County again. Then Ike heaved a sigh and they fondly embraced, And she traveled around with his arm round her waist. The Injuns came down in a wild yelling horde, And Betsy was skeered they would scalp her adored. Behind the front wagon wheel Betsy did crawl, And there she fought Injuns with musket and ball. 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." The wagon tipped over with a terrible crash, And out on the prairie rolled all sorts of trash: A few baby clothes done up with great care Looked rather suspicious, but 'twas all on the square. The shanghai ran off and the cattle all died; 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. They swam the wide rivers and crossed the tall peaks, And camped on the prairie for weeks upon weeks. Starvation and cholera and hard work and slaughter. They reached California spite of hell and high water. Long Ike and sweet Betsy got married of course, But Ike getting jealous obtained a divorce. And Betsy well satisfied, said with a shout: "Good-bye, you big lummox, I'm glad you backed out!" Chorus Saying, "Good-bye dear Isaac, farewell for a while, But come back in time to replenish my pile." |