Up on Cripple Creek

The Band

About Up on Cripple Creek

"Up on Cripple Creek" is the fifth song on The Band's eponymous second album, The Band. It was released as an (edited) single on Capitol 2635 in November 1969 and reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Up on Cripple Creek" was written by Band guitarist Robbie Robertson, with drummer Levon Helm singing lead vocal. A 1976 live performance of "Up on Cripple Creek" appears in the Band's concert film The Last Waltz, as well as on the accompanying soundtrack album. In addition, live performances of the song appear on Before the Flood, which records the Band's 1974 tour with Bob Dylan, as well as on the 2001 expanded edition of Rock of Ages, originally released in 1972. "Up on Cripple Creek" is notable as it is one of the first instances of a Hohner clavinet being played with a wah-wah pedal. The riff can be heard after each chorus of the song. The clavinet, especially in tandem with a wah-wah pedal, was a sound that became famous in the early to mid-1970s, especially in funk music. The Band performed the song on the Ed Sullivan Show in November 1969. 


Year:
1994
95 

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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 George, Louisiana
Little Bessie, girl that I once knew
And she told me just to come on by
If there's anything she could do

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

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

Odds were in my favor
I had him five to one
When that nag came around the track
Sure enough we had won

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

I took up all of my winnings
And I gave my little Bessie half
And she tore it up and blew 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

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

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 fall
To the bottom of my feet
And I swore and I took another pull
My Bessie can't be beat

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

As a flood out in California
And up north it's freezing cold
And this living off 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 kinda tempted
To go and see my sweet Bessie again

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

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The Band

The Band were a Canadian-American roots rock group that originally consisted of Rick Danko (bass guitar, double bass, fiddle, trombone, vocals), Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, vocals), Garth Hudson (keyboard instruments, saxophones, trumpet), Richard Manuel (piano, drums, baritone saxophone, vocals) and Robbie Robertson (guitar, vocals). The members of the Band first came together as they joined rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins's backing group, The Hawks, one by one between 1958 and 1963. more »

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Written by: Robbie Robertson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


17 facts about this song

Origins of the Song
"Up on Cripple Creek" is a song by The Band and was released on their 1969 album, "The Band." - While Bob Dylan is noted for his collaborations and close relationship with The Band, he did not perform on the original studio recording of "Up on Cripple Creek." - The song was written by Band member Robbie Robertson, capturing the essence of rootsy, Americana rock that characterizes both The Band's and Dylan's music output.
Performance and Popularity
"Up on Cripple Creek" was oftentimes performed during the tours of Bob Dylan and The Band. - The song reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. - It was The Band's highest charting single as a group, and their only Top 30 hit in the U.S. - The song’s distinctly catchy organ riff helped it to become one of the band's most famous and enduring songs.
Live Performance
"Up on Cripple Creek" is a staple of The Band's live performances. - One of its most famous live performances was at "The Last Waltz," The Band's farewell concert, which was filmed by director Martin Scorsese and released as a documentary of the same name.
Lyrics and Interpretations
The song tells the story of a hard-living man's love for a woman named Bessie. - The lyrics carry a heavy dose of humor and sarcasm, encapsulating a uniquely rural, blue-collar perspective.
Musical Techniques
The song is unique for its use of a "clavinet," a type of electric keyboard instrument. The Band's Garth Hudson mastered this instrument to generate an iconic drawl sound. - Additionally, the song is also known for the use of ‘instruments-augmented drum kit’ played by Levon Helm, which added a unique layer to the rhythm section.
Cover Versions
Several artists have covered the song, including Gomez and Black Crowes. These attest to the song's continuing resonance and influence in rock and pop music.
Influence and Legacy
The song remains an enduring symbol of The Band's distinctive take on American roots music. - "Up on Cripple Creek" is regarded as one of the finest examples of The Band's ability to blend rock, country, and folk influences into a distinct and influential sound. - The song, like many of The Band's best works, redefined the idea of what rock and roll could be, making it an enduring classic.
Band Composition
"Up on Cripple Creek" is a song performed by Bob Dylan and The Band. The Band, originally known as The Hawks, were Dylan's backup band during his 1966 world tour.
Song Origin
The song was first released by The Band in 1969 on their second album, "The Band".
Composer Attribution
While The Band was known for its collaborative compositions, "Up on Cripple Creek" was written solely by the group's drummer, Levon Helm, and keyboardist, Robbie Robertson.
Popularity Ranking
"Up on Cripple Creek" was considered one of The Band's biggest successes, becoming the group's only top 30 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
Unique Sound Element
The song is notable for the use of the clavinet, a keyboard instrument, that featured a distinctive 'twanging' sound. Garth Hudson, The Band's organist, played the clavinet.
Song Inspiration
The lyrics of the song, while somewhat cryptic, center around a man's appreciation for simple pleasures and seem to draw from traditional Appalachian folk themes, with references to nature and moonshine.
Bob Dylan's Contribution
As their former frontman, Bob Dylan was influential on The Band and their musical style. However, his direct contribution to "Up on Cripple Creek" wasn't as pronounced as in some of their other collaborations.
Live Performance
"Up on Cripple Creek" was one of The Band's signature songs in their live performances.
Featured in Film
The song was highlighted in The Band's farewell concert, which was filmed by director Martin Scorsese and turned into a documentary, "The Last Waltz".
Cultural Impact
In 2004, "Up on Cripple Creek" was ranked no. 399 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," demonstrating its lasting impact and popularity.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1970

    Billboard #25


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