Cripple Creek
Buffy (Buffy Sainte-Marie) Lyrics
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Goin' up to see her about two times a week
Kiss her on the mouth, sweet as any wine
Wrap herself around me like a sweet potato vine
Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin' on a run
Goin' up Cripple Creek to have a little fun
Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin' in a whirl
Now the girls up Cripple Creek about half-grown
Jump on a boy like a dog on a bone
Roll my britches up to my knees
Wade old Cripple Creek whenever I please
Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin' on a run
Goin' up Cripple Creek to have a little fun
Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin' in a whirl
Goin' up Cripple Creek to see my little girl
Now, Cripple Creek's wide and Cripple Creek's deep
Wade old Cripple Creek before I sleep
Hills are steep and the roads are muddy
And I'm so dizzy that I can't stand steady I'm
Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin' on a run
Goin' up Cripple Creek to have a little fun
Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin' in a whirl
Goin' up Cripple Creek to see my little girl
The lyrics to Buffy's "Cripple Creek" are fairly straightforward, detailing a man's travels up to see his girl at the head of the creek. He describes kissing her on the mouth, which he finds as sweet as any wine, and her wrapping herself around him like a sweet potato vine. The chorus, "Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin' on a run / Goin' up Cripple Creek to have a little fun / Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin' in a whirl / Goin' up Cripple Creek to see my little girl," is repeated after each verse.
In the second verse, the man describes the girls up Cripple Creek as being "about half-grown" and "jump[ing] on a boy like a dog on a bone." He also mentions rolling up his britches to wade in the creek whenever he pleases. The final verse describes the creek itself as wide and deep, with steep hills and muddy roads. The man feels so dizzy that he can barely stand, but he's still determined to make the journey up to see his little girl.
Overall, the song has a light-hearted and playful tone, conveying the joy and excitement of traveling up to Cripple Creek to see the singer's love interest. The reference to the girls jumping on boys like dogs on bones is a bit puzzling, but it may be suggesting that the singer is just one of many suitors chasing after the girls of Cripple Creek.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, I got a girl at the head of the creek
I have a girlfriend who lives at the start of Cripple Creek
Goin' up to see her about two times a week
I visit her twice a week
Kiss her on the mouth, sweet as any wine
I kiss her deeply, it feels intoxicating
Wrap herself around me like a sweet potato vine
She embraces me just like the way a sweet potato vine coils around its support
Now the girls up Cripple Creek about half-grown
The young women of Cripple Creek are still in their adolescence
Jump on a boy like a dog on a bone
They pursue boys with ferocity
Roll my britches up to my knees
I fold the bottom of my pants up to my knees
Wade old Cripple Creek whenever I please
I cross Cripple Creek whenever I desire
Now, Cripple Creek's wide and Cripple Creek's deep
The creek is wide and deep.
Wade old Cripple Creek before I sleep
I want to cross the creek before going to sleep.
Hills are steep and the roads are muddy
The hills are difficult to climb and the roads are slippery.
And I'm so dizzy that I can't stand steady I'm
I'm so unsteady that I'm dizzy.
Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin' on a run
I'm heading to Cripple Creek for a wild escapade
Goin' up Cripple Creek to have a little fun
I'm going to have small joyous moments there
Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin' in a whirl
I'm off to Cripple Creek for a dizzying experience
Goin' up Cripple Creek to see my little girl
I'm going there to see my beloved girlfriend.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Buffy Sainte Marie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NoorAlHaqiqa
I love this song now almost more than I did back in the 1960's.
@EcstaticMomentzHereFirst
YES, she demonstrates the Mouth Bow in another one. She's amazing how she can get the rhythms & sounds from a bow.
@nomadmarauder-dw9re
Well, it's in Godfather 3.
@bluemicrodot
I have the old record of this, and I grew up on it...For many years, the only recording of this I could find was the Sesame St version. I am happy I can find more than one, now. That means that Buffy is becoming more important and meaningful to people.
@raymondcrooke
Thanks for sharing this wonderful recording of one of my favourite singers, Max. I've subscribed to this channel immediately. So glad you drew my attention to it.
@Zhawq
It's great to hear those songs again. I haven't heard them in maybe 25 years. And thanks for displaying the lyrics too. It is much appreciated, This is one of the songs I never understood in detail. I understood the general story in the song but couldn't hear what words she sang. Very frustrating back then. Uncle Joe is like that too. No matter how closely I listened I only got a general idea of what the song is about,while the individual words kept escaping me. Wonderful to finally catch up :)
@therealzilch
This is a masterpiece. Thank you Buffy.
cheers from sunny Vienna, Scott
@joekraft5913
Cheers from North Idaho brother <3 - Joe
@therealzilch
@@joekraft5913 I've never been further north than Twin Falls. I hear there's some beautiful country up your way.
@joekraft5913
I live near boundary county Idaho in Sandpoint a stones throw from the Canadian border, it is truly beautiful country up this way you've gotta see it! :)