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Sweet Betsy from Pike
Burl Ives
Popularity ยท Low
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๐ฌ๐ง English ยท Original
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Lyrics
Original
Translation
Bilingual
The West offered many rewardsโgold, land, and freedomโ
But the difference between the dream and the reality was so great
only a humorous song could it into words.
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Do you remember sweet Betsy from Pike?
Crossed the big mountains with her lover Ike,
With two yoke of oxen, a big yaller dog,
A tall Shanghai rooster, and one spotted hog.
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Hoodle dang, fol de di do,
Hoodle dang, fol de day.
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They soon reached the desert where Betsy give out,
Down on the sand she lay rollinโ about.
Ike, he gazed at her with sobs and with sighs,
Quoth he, โGet up, Betsy, you'll get sand in your eyes.โ
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Hoodle dang, fol de di do,
Hoodle dang, fol de day.
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The Shanghai run off, and the cattle all died,
The last piece of bacon that morninโ was fried,
Ike got discouraged and Betsy got mad,
The dog wagged his tail and looked wonderfully sad.
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Hoodle dang, fol de di do,
Hoodle dang, fol de day.
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Long Ike and sweet Betsy attended a dance;
Ike wore a pair of his Pike County pants;
Sweet Betsy was dressed up in ribbons and rings;
Quoth Ike, โYouโre an angel, but where are your wings?โ
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Hoodle dang, fol de di do,
Hoodle dang, fol de day.
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A miner come up, says, โWill you dance with me?โ
โI will, you old hoss, if you donโt make too free,
And I'll tell you the reason, do you want to know why?
Dawgone you, Iโm chuckful of strong alkali.โ
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Hoodle dang, fol de di do,
Hoodle dang, fol de day.
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