Up on Cripple Creek [Before the Flood]

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 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 I bet on one horse to win And Bessie 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Now, it's hot out 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 sorta tempted To go and see my Bessie again 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