Sweet Betsy from Pike

Do you ever remember Sweet Betsy from Pike, Who crossed the wide prairies with her lover Ike, With two yoke of cattle, and one spotted hog, A tall Shanghai rooster, and old yeller dog. They soon reached the desert, where Betsy gave out, And down in the sand she lay rolling about. While Ike, half distracted, looked on in surprise, Saying, “Betsy, get up, you'll get sand in your eyes.” Sweet Betsy got up in a great deal of pain. She declared she'd go back to Pike County again. Ike gave a sigh, and they fondly embraced, So they traveled along with his arm round her waist. They swam the wide rivers and climbed the tall peaks, And camped on the prairie for weeks upon weeks. Starvation and cholera, hard work and slaughter-- They reached California 'spite of hell and high water. A miner said, “Betsy, will you dance with me?” She answered “I will that, if you don't make too free. I can't dance too hard, do you want to know why? Because I'm so full of that strong out cooli This Pike County couple got married, of course, But Ike became jealous, and obtained a divorce. Betsy, well-satisfied, said with a shout, “Goodby, you big lummox, I'm glad you backed out!”