Now playing
Sweet Betsy From Pike
Chords
5.012 votes
Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams
[Verse 1]
Did you Gever hear tell of DSweet BetsGy from Pike,
Who crossed the wide Emmountains with Dher lover Ike,
Two yGoke of cattle, a Clarge yeller Gdog
A tall Shanghai Drooster, and a one-spotted Ghog.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 2]
They Gswam the wide rivers and Dcrossed the tall Gpeaks,
And camped on the Emprairie for Dweeks upon weeks.
StarGvation and cholera, Chard work and Gslaughter--
They reached DCalifornia 'spite of hell and high Gwater.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 3]
One eveGning quite early they Dcamped on the GPlatte,
Twas near by the road on a Emgreen shady Dflat.
Betsy, Gsore-footed, lay Cdown to reGpose--
With wonder Ike Dgazed on that Pike County Grose.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 4]
Out on the Gprairie one Dbright, starry Gnight,
They broke out the Emwhiskey, and Betsy got Dtight.
She Gsang and she Cshouted and she danced o'er the Gplain,
And she showed her Dbare arse to the whole wagon Gtrain.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 5]
The GInjuns came down in a Dthundering Ghorde,
And Betsy was scared Emthey would scalp her aDdored.
So uGnder the wagon-bed CBetsy did cGrawl
And she fought off the DInjuns with musket and Gball.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 6]
The wGagon broke down with a Dterrible crGash,
And out on the prairie Emrolled all sorts of Dtrash.
A fGew little baby-clothes, Cdone up with Gcare,
Looked rather susDpicious, but all on the Gsquare.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 7]
They sGtopped at Salt Lake to Dinquire of the Gway,
When Brigham declared that EmSweet Betsy should Dstay.
Betsy got Gfrightened and Cran like a Gdeer,
While Brigham stood Dpawing the ground like a Gsteer.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 8]
The alGkali desert was bDurning and Gbare,
And Isaac's soul sEmhrank from the Ddeath that lurked there.
"Dear old GPike County, I'll Cgo back to Gyou"--
Says Betsy, "DYou'll go by yourself if you Gdo!"
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 9]
They Gsoon reached the desert, where DBetsy gave Gout,
And down in the sand she lay Emrolling aDbout.
Ike in Ggreat wonder looked Con in surGprise,
Saying, "DBetsy, get up, you'll get sand in your Geyes."
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 10]
Sweet GBetsy got up in a Dgreat deal of Gpain.
She declared she'd go back to EmPike County aDgain.
Ike Ggave a sigh, and they Cfondly emGbraced,
And they Dtraveled along with his arm round her Gwaist.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 11]
The ShanGghai ran off, and the Dcattle all Gdied,
That morning the last Empiece of bacon was Dfried.
Ike got disGcouraged, CBetsy got Gmad,
The dog drooped his Dtail and looked Gwoefully sad.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 12]
They Gsuddenly stopped on a Dvery high Ghill,
With wonder looked Emdown upon old PlacerDville.
Ike said to GBetsy, as he Ccast his eyes Gdown,
"Sweet Betsy, my Ddarling, we've got to HangGtown."
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 13]
Long Ike and GSweet Betsy atDtended a dGance.
Ike wore a pair of his EmPike County pDants.
Betsy was cGovered with Cribbons and Grings.
Says Ike, "You're an Dangel, but where is your Gwings?"
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 14]
A miner said, "GBetsy, will you Ddance with Gme?"
"I will that, old hoss, Emif you don't make too Dfree.
Don't Gdance me hard, do you Cwant to know Gwhy?
Doggone you, I'm Dchock-full of strong alGkali."
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 15]
This GPike County couple got Dmarried, of Gcourse,
But Ike became jealous, and Emobtained a Ddivorce.
Betsy, Gwell-satisfied, sCaid with a sGhout,
"Goodby, you big lummox, I'm Dglad you backed Gout!"
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
All chords in this song (4)
🎸 Tips from players
Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.
Chord Book
670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com
Sweet Betsy From Pike
by Misc Traditional
Chords in this song · guitar
G
D
Em
C
[Verse 1]
G D G
Did you ever hear tell of Sweet Betsy from Pike,
Em D
Who crossed the wide mountains with her lover Ike,
G C G
Two yoke of cattle, a large yeller dog
D G
A tall Shanghai rooster, and a one-spotted hog.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 2]
G D G
They swam the wide rivers and crossed the tall peaks,
Em D
And camped on the prairie for weeks upon weeks.
G C G
Starvation and cholera, hard work and slaughter--
D G
They reached California 'spite of hell and high water.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 3]
G D G
One evening quite early they camped on the Platte,
Em D
Twas near by the road on a green shady flat.
G C G
Betsy, sore-footed, lay down to repose--
D G
With wonder Ike gazed on that Pike County rose.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 4]
G D G
Out on the prairie one bright, starry night,
Em D
They broke out the whiskey, and Betsy got tight.
G C G
She sang and she shouted and she danced o'er the plain,
D G
And she showed her bare arse to the whole wagon train.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 5]
G D G
The Injuns came down in a thundering horde,
Em D
And Betsy was scared they would scalp her adored.
G C G
So under the wagon-bed Betsy did crawl
D G
And she fought off the Injuns with musket and ball.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 6]
G D G
The wagon broke down with a terrible crash,
Em D
And out on the prairie rolled all sorts of trash.
G C G
A few little baby-clothes, done up with care,
D G
Looked rather suspicious, but all on the square.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 7]
G D G
They stopped at Salt Lake to inquire of the way,
Em D
When Brigham declared that Sweet Betsy should stay.
G C G
Betsy got frightened and ran like a deer,
D G
While Brigham stood pawing the ground like a steer.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 8]
G D G
The alkali desert was burning and bare,
Em D
And Isaac's soul shrank from the death that lurked there.
G C G
"Dear old Pike County, I'll go back to you"--
D G
Says Betsy, "You'll go by yourself if you do!"
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 9]
G D G
They soon reached the desert, where Betsy gave out,
Em D
And down in the sand she lay rolling about.
G C G
Ike in great wonder looked on in surprise,
D G
Saying, "Betsy, get up, you'll get sand in your eyes."
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 10]
G D G
Sweet Betsy got up in a great deal of pain.
Em D
She declared she'd go back to Pike County again.
G C G
Ike gave a sigh, and they fondly embraced,
D G
And they traveled along with his arm round her waist.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 11]
G D G
The Shanghai ran off, and the cattle all died,
Em D
That morning the last piece of bacon was fried.
G C G
Ike got discouraged, Betsy got mad,
D G
The dog drooped his tail and looked woefully sad.
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 12]
G D G
They suddenly stopped on a very high hill,
Em D
With wonder looked down upon old Placerville.
G C G
Ike said to Betsy, as he cast his eyes down,
D G
"Sweet Betsy, my darling, we've got to Hangtown."
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 13]
G D G
Long Ike and Sweet Betsy attended a dance.
Em D
Ike wore a pair of his Pike County pants.
G C G
Betsy was covered with ribbons and rings.
D G
Says Ike, "You're an angel, but where is your wings?"
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 14]
G D G
A miner said, "Betsy, will you dance with me?"
Em D
"I will that, old hoss, if you don't make too free.
G C G
Don't dance me hard, do you want to know why?
D G
Doggone you, I'm chock-full of strong alkali."
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
[Verse 15]
G D G
This Pike County couple got married, of course,
Em D
But Ike became jealous, and obtained a divorce.
G C G
Betsy, well-satisfied, said with a shout,
D G
"Goodby, you big lummox, I'm glad you backed out!"
[Chorus]
N.C
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li-oo-ra-li-ay.
Get the free app — iPhone: The Chord Book on the App Store · Android: Free Chords on Google Play
Lyrics and compositions © their respective songwriters and publishers. Free for personal practice.
About Sweet Betsy From Pike Chords by Misc Traditional
Learn how to play Sweet Betsy From Pike by Misc Traditional with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Sweet Betsy From Pike chords”, “Sweet Betsy From Pike guitar chords”, or “Misc Traditional Sweet Betsy From Pike chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Sweet Betsy From Pike chords and for experienced players who want accurate Sweet Betsy From Pike lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, D, Em, C, A.
FAQ — Sweet Betsy From Pike by Misc Traditional
How do I play "Sweet Betsy From Pike" by Misc Traditional on guitar?
Open the free chords for "Sweet Betsy From Pike" by Misc Traditional on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.
Are the chords for "Sweet Betsy From Pike" by Misc Traditional free?
Yes. The chords for "Sweet Betsy From Pike" by Misc Traditional are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.
Can I transpose "Sweet Betsy From Pike" to a different key?
Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Sweet Betsy From Pike" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.
Can I see chord diagrams for "Sweet Betsy From Pike"?
Yes. Tap any chord in "Sweet Betsy From Pike" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.
Is "Sweet Betsy From Pike" easy to play on guitar?
Many players learn "Sweet Betsy From Pike" by Misc Traditional with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Misc Traditional below.
What key is "Sweet Betsy From Pike" in?
The chords for "Sweet Betsy From Pike" show the original chord names (including G, D, Em, C, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.