Sweet Betsy and Ike

From pike county in Missouri, women had it hard in the 1800's moving west across the prairies and deserts, this is one story from Johnny Cash.


Now don't you remember sweet Betsy from Pike,
She crossed the big mountains with her lover Ike,
With two yolk of oxen a big yeller dog,
A tall Shanghai rooster and one spotted hog.

One evening quite early the camped by the Platte,
Down by the road on a green shady flat,
Where Betsy got tired and lay down to repose,
And Ike he just gazed at his pike county rhone.

They soon reached the desert where Betsy gave out,
Down in the sand she lay rolling about,
While Ike with big tears looked on in surprise,
Said Betsy get up you'll get sand in your eyes.

The Shanghai ran off and the cattle all died,
The last piece of bacon that morning was fried,
Ike got discouraged and Betsy got mad,
The dog wagged his tail and looked wondrously sad.

A miner said Betsy will you dance with me,
She said yes I will if you don't make too free,
But don't dance me hard, do you want to know why,
Coz I'm so chocked full of strong alcholi.

Ike and sweet Betsy got married of course,
But Ike getting jealous obtained a divorce,
Betsy well satisfied said with a shout,
Goodbye ya big lummox, I'm glad you backed out.

Re: Sweet Betsy and Ike

I you're interested in western country stories this CD is brill, a lot of the numbers are narrated and not sung, they're on "ballads of the west" by Johnny cash.