Sweet Besty From Pike Songtext
von Rosemary Clooney

Who the damn for did I know, who damn for the day
(Who the damn for did I know, who damn for the day)

Oh, don′t you remember sweet Betsy from Pike
Who crossed the big mountains with her lover Ike
With two yoke of cattle, a large yeller dog
A tall Shanghai rooster, and a one-spotted hog
(A tall Shanghai rooster, and a one-spotted hog)

One evening quite early they camped on the Platte
'Twas nearby the road on a green shady flat
Where Betsy, sore-footed, lay down to repose
With wonder, Ike gazed on that Pike County rose
(With wonder, he gazed on that Pike county rose)


The Shanghai ran off, and their cattle all died
That morning the last piece of bacon was fried
Poor Ike was discouraged, and Betsy got mad
The dog drooped his tail and looked wondrously sad
The dog drooped his tail and looked wondrously sad

They soon reached the desert, where Betsy gave out
And down in the sand, she lay rolling about
While Ike half distracted looked on in surprise
Saying, "Betsy, get up, you′ll get sand in your eyes"

Sweet Betsy got up in a great deal of pain
She declared she'd go back to Pike County again
But Ike gave a sigh, and they fondly embraced
And they traveled along with his arm round her waist

Who the damn for did I know, who damn for the day
Who the damn for did I know, who damn for the day