Up on Cripple Creek

When I get off of this mountain

You know where I want to go

Straight down the Mississippi river

To the Gulf of Mexico


To Lake Charles, Louisiana

Little Bessie, a girl that I once knew

And she told me just to come on by

If there's anything she could do


{Refrain}

Up on Cripple Creek she sends me

If I spring a leak she mends me

I don't have to speak she defends me

A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one


Good luck had just stung me

To the race track I did go

She bet on one horse to win

And I bet on another to show


Odds were in my favor

I had him five to one

When that nag to win came around the track

Sure enough he had won


{Refrain}


I took up all of my winnings

And I gave my little Bessie half

And she tore it up and blew it in my face

Just for a laugh


Now there's one thing in the whole wide world

I sure would like to see

That's when that little love of mine

Dips her doughnut in my tea


{Refrain}


Now me and my mate were back at the shack

We had Spike Jones on the box

She said, "I can't take the way he sings

But I love to hear him talk"


Now that just gave my heart a fall

To the bottom of my feet

And I swore as I took another pull

My Bessie can't be beat


{Refrain}


Now, it's hot in California

And up north it's freezing cold

And this living off the road

Is getting pretty old


So I guess I'll call up my big mama

Tell her I'll be rolling in

Bet you know, deep down, I'm kinda tempted

To go and see my Bessie again


{Refrain}