Sweet Betsy from Pyke

saxy_jag | 17:40 Tue 01st May 2007 | Music

2 Answers

Does anyone know anything about the origin of this song?

statuus quo

what song is it and who sings it????

Answers

1 to 2 of 2

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by saxy_jag. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.

dundurn

The words are American and written pretty much at the time people were travelling West to Oregon and California - c1850. There are lots of variations to the verses but the general progress of the song is fixed. Ike and Betsy start out from the East, meet many hazards, get fed up and want to go home but make it West eventually. Then they split up! It is usually described as traditional/ folk song by an unknown writer. The tune is English, however. It's usually called Villikins and his Dinah - from a Romeo and Juliet tale of star-crossed lovers who die by poison and which is accordingly set to a jolly little tune you can dance to!

saxy_jag

Question Author

Thanks, dundurn. We play a version at band, and it's always nice to give a little bit of blurb to the audience - this is just the sort of informatin I'm looking for.

Cheers

1 to 2 of 2

Do you know the answer?