Did you ever hear tell of Sweet Betsy from Pike
Who crossed the wide mountains with her lover Ike
Two yoke of cattle, a large yeller dog
A tall Shanghai rooster, and a one-spotted hog
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
They swam the wide rivers and crossed 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
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
One evening quite early they camped on the Platte
Twas near by the road on a green shady flat
Betsy, sore-footed, lay down to repose
With wonder Ike gazed on that Pike County rose
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
Out on the prairie one bright, starry night
They broke out the whiskey, and Betsy got tight
She sang and she shouted and she danced o'er the plain
And she showed her bare arse to the whole wagon train
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
The Injuns came down in a thundering horde
And Betsy was scared they would scalp her adored
So under the wagon-bed Betsy did crawl
And she fought off the Injuns with musket and ball
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
The wagon broke down with a terrible crash
And out on the prairie rolled all sorts of trash
A few little baby-clothes, done up with care
Looked rather suspicious, but all on the square
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
They stopped at Salt Lake to inquire of the way
When Brigham declared that Sweet Betsy should stay
Betsy got frightened and ran like a deer
While Brigham stood pawing the ground like a steer
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
The alkali desert was burning and bare
And Isaac's soul shrank from the d**h that lurked there
"Dear old Pike County, I'll go back to you!"
Says Betsy, "You'll go by yourself if you do!"
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
They soon reached the desert, where Betsy gave out
And down in the sand she lay rolling about
Ike in great wonder looked on in surprise
Saying: "Betsy, get up, you'll get sand in your eyes"
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
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
And they traveled along with his arm round her waist
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
The Shanghai ran off, and the cattle all died
That morning the last piece of bacon was fried
Ike got discouraged, Betsy got mad
The dog drooped his tail and looked wonderfully sad
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
They suddenly stopped on a very high hill
With wonder looked down upon old Placerville
Ike said to Betsy, as he cast his eyes down:
"Sweet Betsy, my darling, we've got to Hangtown!"
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
Long Ike and Sweet Betsy attended a dance
Ike wore a pair of his Pike County pants
Betsy was covered with ribbons and rings
Says Ike: "You're an angel, but where is your wings?"
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
A miner said: "Betsy, will you dance with me?"
"I will that, old hoss, if you don't make too free
Don't dance me hard, do you want to know why?
Doggone you, I'm chock-full of strong alkali!"
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay
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!"
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay