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Sweet Betsy From Pike

Chords

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

GNow don't you remember Sweet D7Betsy from GPike
Who crossed the big mountains with A7her lover D7Ike
GTwo yoke of oxen Ca big yeller Gdog
A tall Shanghai rooster and D7one spotted Ghog
One evenin' quite early they D7camped on the Gplat
Down by the road on a A7green shady D7flat
GWhere Betsy got tired and Clay down to Grepose
And Ike he just gazed on his D7Pike County GRoad
Well they soon reached the desert where D7Betsy gave Gout
Down in the sand she lay A7rollin' D7about
GWhile Ike in great tears Clooked on in Gsurprise
Said Betsy get up you'll get D7sand in your Geyes
Well the Shanghai ran off and the D7cattle all Gdied
The last piece of bacon that A7mornin' was D7fried
GIke got discouraged and CBetsy got Gmad
The dog wagged his tail and looked D7wonderfully Gsad
Well a miner said Betsy will D7you dance with Gme
I will now ol' hoss if you A7don't make to D7free
GBut don't dance me hard do you Cwant to know Gwhy
Doggone you I'm chalked full of D7strong alkaGli
Ike and Sweet Betsy got D7married of Gcourse
But Ike gettin' jealous A7obtained a D7divorce
GBetsy well satisfied Csaid with a Gshout
Good-bye you big lummox I'm D7glad you backed Gout

All chords in this song (4)

The story behind the song

Johnny Cash was known for his deep, calm, bass-baritone voice and a musical style that often explored themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption. His concerts often featured a distinctive train-like chugging guitar rhythm from his backing band, the Tennessee Three. This song, appearing on an album focused on the ballads of the true West, fits into his exploration of American narratives. It plays like a classic folk tale, brought to life by a master storyteller.

AI-written from these sources:Johnny Cash — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Sweet Betsy From Pike

by Johnny Cash

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

G D7 G

Now don't you remember Sweet Betsy from Pike

A7 D7

Who crossed the big mountains with her lover Ike

G C G

Two yoke of oxen a big yeller dog

D7 G

A tall Shanghai rooster and one spotted hog

D7 G

One evenin' quite early they camped on the plat

A7 D7

Down by the road on a green shady flat

G C G

Where Betsy got tired and lay down to repose

D7 G

And Ike he just gazed on his Pike County Road

D7 G

Well they soon reached the desert where Betsy gave out

A7 D7

Down in the sand she lay rollin' about

G C G

While Ike in great tears looked on in surprise

D7 G

Said Betsy get up you'll get sand in your eyes

D7 G

Well the Shanghai ran off and the cattle all died

A7 D7

The last piece of bacon that mornin' was fried

G C G

Ike got discouraged and Betsy got mad

D7 G

The dog wagged his tail and looked wonderfully sad

D7 G

Well a miner said Betsy will you dance with me

A7 D7

I will now ol' hoss if you don't make to free

G C G

But don't dance me hard do you want to know why

D7 G

Doggone you I'm chalked full of strong alkali

D7 G

Ike and Sweet Betsy got married of course

A7 D7

But Ike gettin' jealous obtained a divorce

G C G

Betsy well satisfied said with a shout

D7 G

Good-bye you big lummox I'm glad you backed out

About Sweet Betsy From Pike Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play Sweet Betsy From Pike by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Sweet Betsy From Pike chords”, “Sweet Betsy From Pike guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash 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, D7, A7, C, A.

FAQ — Sweet Betsy From Pike by Johnny Cash

How do I play "Sweet Betsy From Pike" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Sweet Betsy From Pike" by Johnny Cash 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 Johnny Cash free?

Yes. The chords for "Sweet Betsy From Pike" by Johnny Cash 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 Johnny Cash with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Johnny Cash below.

What key is "Sweet Betsy From Pike" in?

The chords for "Sweet Betsy From Pike" show the original chord names (including G, D7, A7, C, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.