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, and she mends me
I don't have to speak, and 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
Up on Cripple Creek, she sends me
If I spring a leak, and she mends me
I don't have to speak, and she defends me
A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one
So I pick 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 a fall
To the bottom of my feet
And I swore as I took another pull
My Bessie can't be beat
Up on Cripple Creek, she sends me
If I spring a leak, and she mends me
I don't have to speak, and she defends me
A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one
Well 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 love to see
That's when that little sweet thing of mine
Dips her dough nut in my tea
Up on Cripple Creek, she sends me
If I spring a leak, and she mends me
I don't have to speak, and she defends me
A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one
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
And tell her I'll be rolling in
But you know deep down, I was kinda tempted
To go and see my Bessie again
Up on Cripple Creek, she sends me
If I spring a leak, and she mends me
I don't have to speak, and she defends me
A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one