"Put's Golden Songster, containing the largest and most popular collection of California Songs ever Published," photographer, date unknown. Larger.
Entertainment could be hard to find in early California. That's why many California pioneers created their own.
The overland journey to California was frought with peril, but in the famous ballad "Sweet Betsy fromPike," that peril is treated with entertaining humor. Here are some verses.
Oh don't you remember sweet Betsy from Pike,
Who crossed the wide prairie with her lover Ike,
With two yoke of oxen, a big yellow dog,
A tall Shangai rooster, and one spotted hog?
They swam wild rivers and climbed the tall peaks,
And camped on the prairies for weeks upon weeks,
Starvation and cholera, hard work and slaughter,
They reached Californy, spite of hell and high water.
A miner said, "Betsy, will you dance with me?"
"I will, you old hoss, if you don't make too free.
But don't dance me hard, do you want to know why?
Doggone ye, I'm chock full of strong alkali."
Long Ike and Sweet Betsy got married, of course,
But Ike, getting jealous, obtained a divorce,
While Betsy, well satisfied, said with a shout,
"Goodbye, you big lummox, I'm glad you backed out!"
"Sweet Betry from Pike was included in Put's Golden Songster, a songbook first published in 1858 by John A. Stone.
below to hear radio segment.
