Betty And Dupree

Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional

This is only listed as having been played once by the Dead, in 1966, but was probably played on other occasions then. Robert Hunter drew on it for his lyrics Dupree's Diamond Blues.

Betty told Dupree, honey I will be your wife
Betty told Dupree, honey I will be your wife
Well we will be married, be happy all of our life

Wake up Betty, see what tomorrow brings
Wake up Betty, see what tomorrow brings
Well it might bring sunshine, and then it might bring rain

Betty told Dupree, honey I want a diamond ring
Betty told Dupree, honey I want a diamond ring
Dupree said Betty, honey I'll buy you anything

Betty told Dupree, honey I will be your wife
Betty told Dupree, honey I will be your wife
Well we will be so happy for the rest of our lives

Wake up Betty, see what tomorrow brings
Wake up Betty, see what tomorrow brings
Well it might bring sunshine, and then it might bring rain

It was also recorded by Pigpen with Jorma in 1964 (Jorma on vocals and guitar, Pig on harp).

Jorma/Pigpen version

Oh Betty told Dupree, I want a diamond ring
Now Betty told Dupree, I want a diamond ring
Dupree told Betty, Lord I'll get you most anything

He got himself a pistol, it was a forty-four
He got himself a pistol, it was a forty-four
Now to get that diamond ring, Lord he had to rob that jewellery store

Now the police caught him, carried him back to that county jail
Oh yes the police caught him, carried him back to that county jail
And they said go call your sweetheart, tell her to come and go your bail

Now Betty came to see him, but his face she could not see
Now Betty came to see him, but his face she could not see
And she said, mister jailer, give him this note from me

Oh babe I came to see you, but I could not see your face
Now babe I came to see you, but I could not see your face
You know I love you baby, just can't take your place

For completeness, here is another, fuller, traditional version (see below for the origins of this song).

Traditional version

Betty told Dupree, "I want a diamond ring"
Betty told Dupree, "I want a diamond ring"
Dupree told Betty, "l'Il give you most anything"

He said, "Lie down, little Betty, see what tomorrow brings"
He said, "Lie down, little Betty, see what tomorrow brings"
It may bring sunshine, may bring you that diamond ring

Then he got his pistol, went to the jewelry store
Then he got his pistol, went to the jewelry store
Killed a policeman and he wounded four or five more

Then he went to the post office to get the evening mail
Then he went to the post office to get the evening mail
Sheriff caught poor Dupree and put him in that old Atlanta jail

Dupree's mother said to Betty, "Look here what you done done"
Dupree's mother said to Betty, "Look here what you done done"
Made my boy rob and steal, now he is gonna be hung

Betty went to the jailhouse, she could not see Dupree
Betty went to the jailhouse, she could not see Dupree
She told the jailer, "Tell him these words for me"

I come to see you, baby, I could not see your face
I come to see you, baby, I could not see your face
You know I love you, but I cannot take your place

Sail on, sail on, sail on, Dupree, sail on
Sail on, sail on, sail on, Dupree, sail on
You don't mind sailing, you'll be gone so doggone long

Grateful Dead and Related Recordings
	Date	Album
	studio, 2 Mar 1966	Rare Cuts And Oddities

Origins

I can't do better than give the link to Murder Ballad Monday which has an exhaustive account of the origins of this song.

David Dodd's Annotated Lyrics site has three versions of the traditional lyrics for Betty and Dupree in his entry for Dupree's Diamond Blues (and two of those in his book).

Further Information
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography
For details of every time played, see Grateful Sets