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Sweet Betsy from Pyke

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saxy_jag | 16:40 Tue 01st May 2007 | Music
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Does anyone know anything about the origin of this song?
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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!
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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

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