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}