Sweet Betsey From Pike
Air: Villikins and his Dinah 
Put's Golden Songster:
containing the largest and most popular collection of California songs ever published
by John A Stone
San Francisco : D.E. Appleton & Co., 1858
- Oh, don't you remember sweet Betsey from Pike,
Who crossed the big mountains with her lover Ike,
With two yoke of cattle, a large yellow dog,
A tall Shanghai rooster and one spotted hog.
CHORUS
Tooral lal looral lal looral lal la,
Tooral lal looral, &c.
- One evening quite early they camped on the Platte,
'Twas near by the road on a green shady flat,
Where Betsey, sore-footed, lay down to repose-
With wonder Ike gazed on that Pike County rose.
CHORUS
- Their wagons broke down with a terrible crash,
And out on the prairie rolled all kinds of trash;
A few little baby clothes done up with care-
'Twas rather suspicious, though all on the square.
CHORUS
- The shanghai ran off, and their cattle all died;
That morning the last piece of bacon was fried;
Poor Ike was discouraged, and Betsey got mad,
The dog drooped his tail and looked wondrously sad.
CHORUS
- They stopped at Salt Lake to inquire the way,
When Brigham declared that sweet Betsey should stay;
But Betsey got frightened and ran like a deer,
While Brigham stood pawing the ground like a steer.
CHORUS
- They soon reached the desert, where Betsey gave out,
And down in the sand she lay rolling about;
While Ike, half distracted, looked on with surprise,
Saying, "Betsey, get up, you'll get sand in your eyes."
CHORUS
- Sweet Betsey got up in a great deal of pain,
Declared she'd go back to Pike County again;
But Ike gave a sigh, and they fondly embraced,
And they travelled along with his arm round her waist.
CHORUS
- They suddenly stopped on a very high hill,
With wonder looked down upon old Placerville;
Ike sighed when he said, and he cast his eyes down,
"Sweet Betsey, my darling, we've got to Hangtown."
CHORUS
- Long Ike and sweet Betsey attended a dance;
Ike wore a pair of his Pike County pants;
Sweet Betsey was covered with ribbons and rings;
Says Ike, "You're an angel, but where are your wings?"
CHORUS
- A miner said, "Betsey, will you dance with me?"
"I will that, old hoss, if you don't make too free;
But don't dance me hard; do you want to know why?
Dog on you! I'm chock full of strong alkali!"
CHORUS
- This Pike County couple got married of course,
And Ike became jealous- obtained a divorce;
Sweet Betsey, well satisfied, said with a shout,
"Good-by, you big lummux, I'm glad you've backed out!"
CHORUS
Score from the Library Of Congress
Score from the Lester S Levy Collection
MIDI file of "Sweet Betsey From Pike" from Contemplator.com.