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 the lake charles, louisiana, little bessie, girl that i once knew
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, so to the race track i did go
i bet on one horse to win and bessie bet on another to show
the odds were in my favor, you know i had 'em five to one
that nag to win came around the track, me and little bessie had won
Going up on cripple creek where 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
I took up all of my winnings, and i gave my little bessie half
she tore it up and threw it in my face, just for a laugh
now that just made my heart throb, to the bottom of my feet
and i swore and i took another pull, my bessie can't be beat
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 do love to see
as that little sweet thing of mine, puts her doughnut in my tea
I'm going 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 there's a flood out in california and up north it's freezing cold
and this living off of the road is getting pretty old
so i guess i'll call up my big mama, and tell her i'll be rolling in
but you know, deep down, i'm sort of tempted
to go and see my bessie again
And i'm going 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