‘The Ballard of Sweet Betsy from Pike’

‘The Ballard of Sweet Betsy from Pike’

Gold Rush
California
Women

‘Sweet Betsy from Pike’ is an American ballad about a pioneer named Betsy and her lover Ike who migrated from Pike County to California during the gold rush. There are Pike Counties in both Missouri and Illinois from where many gold seekers began their journeys. The lyrics are sung to a tune of Irish origin thought to have been brought to America by Irish migrants fleeing the potato famine. The ballad describes the challenges of the long journey - injury, starvation, Indian attacks, raging rivers, burning deserts, cholera, etc. - and the strain that these put on Betsy and Ike’s relationship. Betsy proves to be a strong character and is not dismayed when, once they have reached their destination, Ike choses to leave her, believing her to be unfaithful.

Unknown

Video and soundtrack at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr03En-8fH8

Lyrics at:
http://twain.lib.virginia.edu/roughingit/map/wombetsy.html

Background information from:
http://www.balladofamerica.com/music/indexes/songs/sweetbetsyfrompike/index.htm

Versions of this ballad are known to have been published from 1847 to 1870.

The ballad is included in a songbook ‘Put’s Golden Songster’ published in 1858 by John A. Stone, a San Francisco based entertainer.

An 1870 version of the lyrics was published in The Western Women’s Reader, eds. Schissel, L. and Lavender, C. (Harper Perennial, New York)2000.

Many other versions of the lyrics also exist.

Margaret Minchin

None – a mutable folk song

English

Aural – ballad

19th century California