“Up on Cripple Creek” is a classic Americana song by The Band, featured on their 1968 album Music from Big Pink. Known for its upbeat rhythm and catchy melody, the song captures the spirit of the American South with lyrics reflecting both a sense of adventure and romance. The song has been covered many times over the years and is a true testament to The Band’s musical influence. If you’re looking for “Up on Cripple Creek lyrics,” this guide will provide you with the song’s meaning and an understanding of its essence.
Up on Cripple Creek Song Details
- Artist: The Band
- Album: Music from Big Pink
- Released: 1968
- Songwriters: Robbie Robertson
- Genre: Rock, Americana
Up on Cripple Creek Song Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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, girl that I once knew
She told me just to come on by
If there’s anything she could do[Chorus]
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[Verse 2]
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
The odds were in my favor
I had ’em five to one
When that nag to win came around the track
Sure enough, she had won[Chorus]
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[Verse 3]
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 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
He-he![Chorus]
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[Verse 4]
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 throb
To the bottom of my feet
And I swore as I took another pull
My Bessie can’t be beat[Chorus]
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[Interlude]
No-no, hu-hu
Lodl-lodl-lodl-uh-hu
No-no-hu
Lodl-lodl-lodl-uh-hu[Verse 5]
Now there’s a flood out in California
And up north it’s freezing cold
And this living on the road is getting pretty old
So I guess I’ll call up my big mama
Tell her I’ll be rolling in
But you know deep down, I’m kind of tempted
To go and see my Bessie again[Chorus]
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[Outro]
No-no, hu-hu
Lodl-lodl-lodl-uh-hu
No-no-hu
Lodl-lodl-lodl-uh-hu
No-no-hu
Lodl-lodl-lodl-uh-hu
No-no-hu
Lodl-lodl-lodl-uh-hu
Up on Cripple Creek Official Video Link
Watch the official video here:
“Up on Cripple Creek” is an iconic song that mixes rock with a Southern folk vibe. The Band’s ability to capture the essence of Americana through their music and storytelling makes this track unforgettable. For anyone who loves classic rock and American folk, this song is a must-listen. For more songs with their meanings and translations, check out Nimupedia.
