Barrel House Bessie

I was up in the Klondike a-diggin' for gold
A-braving the storms and shivering cold
When I stepped in a bar to get myself warm
Not thinkin' nothing 'bout feminine charm
When I heard a piano a-playing the Honky Tonk blues

Well, I gandered around to have me a look
And right there she sat just like in a book
Her hair was all red and so was her lips
She was covered with diamonds from shoulders to hips
It was Barrelhouse Betsy, my gal from Baltimore town

When I nodded hello she just rolled her eyes
And pounded the keys then winked at some guys
So I wandered across to where she was sittin'
I says, "I know you 'cause I ain't forgettin'
You were Barrelhouse Betsy, my gal from Baltimore town"

Well, she kept right on playing but soon she looked up
She picked up her glass and took a wee sup
And says, "Yes, I'm the gal you jilted before
I followed you here to settle the score
Yes, I'm Barrelhouse Betsy, the flame of Baltimore town"

Now the music was stopped and everyone stared
As she looked at me her glassy eyes glared
She held in her hand a 44 gun
I froze to the floor unable to run
From Barrelhouse Betsy, my gal from Baltimore town

Well, that's about all of my little yarn
'Cause I'm full of slugs from her shootin' iron
I'll be in a wheelchair the rest of my life
But I'm taken care of by my little wife
I mean Barrelhouse Betsy, my sweetie from old Baltimore