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