“Sweet Betsy from Pike”

Description

"Sweet" Betsy and "her lover" Ike set out from Pike County, Missouri for California. On the way they lose much of their livestock and property, but also have some amazing adventures. (They marry, then divorce.)

Cross references

  • cf. "Vilikens and his Dinah (William and Dinah) [Laws M31A/B]" (tune & meter) and references there

Recordings

  • Crockett's Kentucky Mountaineers, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (Crown 3121, 1931)
  • Logan English, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (on LEnglish02)
  • Bradley Kincaid, "Sweet Betsy From Pike" (Bluebird B-5321/Montgomery Ward M-4421, 1934)
  • Ken Maynard, "Sweet Betsey from Pike" (unissued; on StuffDreams1)
  • Harry "Mac" McClintock, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (Victor 23704, 1932; Montgomery Ward M-4324, 1933) [may have been released under the pseudonym 'Radio Mac']
  • Pete Seeger, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (on PeteSeeger31)

References

  1. Laws B9, "Sweet Betsy from Pike"
  2. Belden, pp. 343-345, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text)
  3. Randolph 192, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text plus a fragment, 1 (atypical) tune)
  4. Randolph/Cohen, pp. 193-196, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 192A)
  5. Randolph-Legman I, pp. 300-301, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (4 fragments, 1 tune)
  6. Logsdon 41, pp. 215-218, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
  7. Leach, pp. 750-751, "Betsy from Pike" (1 text)
  8. Friedman, p. 432, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
  9. PBB 112, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text)
  10. Sandburg, pp. 108-109, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
  11. Lomax-FSUSA 53, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
  12. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 424-426, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
  13. Lomax-FSNA 173, "Sweet Betsy" (1 text, 1 tune)
  14. Fife-Cowboy/West 19, "Sweet Betsey from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
  15. Botkin-AmFolklr, pp. 861-863, "Sweet Betsey from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
  16. Hodgart, p. 239, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text)
  17. Darling-NAS, pp. 167-168, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text)
  18. Arnett, p. 57, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
  19. Silber-FSWB, p. 190, "Sweet Betsy From Pike" (1 text)
  20. Fuld-WFM, pp. 603-604, "Vilikens and His Dinah -- (Sweet Betsey from Pike)"
  21. DT 376, SWEETBET*
  22. Roud #3234
  23. BI, LB09

About

Author: claimed by John A Stone (Old Put)
Earliest date: 1858 (Put's Golden Songster, second edition)
Found in: US(Ap,MW,So,SW)