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}