Cat. #0701 (MFH #) - As sung by Virgil Lance, Mountain Home, Arkansas on April 15, 1969
VERSE 1
My name it ti's Bill Stafford
I was borned in Buffalo Town
For twelve long years all over
I roamed this wide world round
Many ups an' downs an' trials
N' many hardships saw
But I never knew what misery was
Till I struck Arkansas
VERSE 2
I landed in Saint Louis
With six dollars an' no more
I read th daily paper
Till my eyes were get'in sore
From Billy Hughes, th agent
A ticket I did draw
He passed me down th railroad
To state of Arkansas
VERSE 3
He passed me down th railroad
I never received a shock
So safely I was landed
In th town of Little Rock
Up stepped a walk'in skeleton
With his long an' lengthy jaw
Invited me to his hotel
Th best in Arkansas
VERSE 4
Foll'd my conductor
Up to his board'in place
His poverty was pictured on
His mal-in-caly-face
He fed me on corn-dodgers
His beef I couldn't chaw
He taxed me fifty cents a meal
In th state of Arkansas
VERSE 5
I 'rose next morn'in early
To catch an early train
Says he, young man you'd better stay
I have some land t' drain
I'll give you fifty cents a day
Your wash an' board an' chaw
Be-gods you'll be a different lad
When you leave Arkansas
VERSE 6
I worked six months for this galoot
George Nelson was his name
He stood six seven in his boots
As slim as any Crane
His hair it hung in rat-tails 'round
All o'er his lengthy jaw
He's a photo-type of all th gents
In th state of Arkansas
VERSE 7
He fed me on corn-dodgers
As hard as any rock
My teeth they all begin loose
My knees begin t' knock
I got so thin on sassyfrass tea
I could hide behind a straw
Be-gods I was a different lad
When I left Arkansas
VERSE 8
Th day before I left there
Forget her h'er I will
I shook th boots right off my feet
With an' ole Ar-kansas chill
I staggered down to the saloon
An' I called for whisky raw
Got as drunk as a son-of-a-gun
Then I left Arkansas
VERSE 9
Farewell to all swamp angels
Th cane break an' th chills
Farewell t' sage an' sassyfrass tea
An' corn-dodgers pills
If ever I'm in this land again
I'll hand you my paw
T'will be thru a telescope
From Hell to Arkansas