Now don't you remember
Sweet Betsy from Pike?
Who crossed the big mountains
With her lover Ike
Two yoke of oxen
A big yeller dog
A tall Shanghai rooster
And one spotted hog
One evening quite early
They camped on the plat
Down by the road
On a green shady flat
Where Betsy got tired
And lay down to repose
And Ike, he just gazed
On his Pike County rose
Well, they soon reached the desert
Where Betsy gave out
Down in the sand
She lay rolling about
While Ike in great tears
Looked on in surprise
He said, "Betsy, get up
You'll get sand in your eyes"
Well, the Shanghai ran off
And the cattle all died
The last piece of bacon
That morning was fried
Ike, he got discouraged
And Betsy got mad
The dog wagged his tail
And looked wonderfully sad
Well, a miner said, "Betsy
Will you dance with me?"
"I will now, old hoss
If you don't make too free
But don't dance me hard
Do you want to know why?
Doggone you, I'm chocked
Full of strong alkali"
Ike and sweet Betsy
Got married ofcourse
But Ike getting jealous
Obtained the divorce
Betsy well satisfied
Said with a shout
"Goodbye, you big lummox
I'm glad you backed out"