Songwriter Kay Swift, born in 1897, remembered hearing this in New York in 1916:

"I got the railroad blues, I got the railroad blues, but I ain't got the railroad fare
I got the railroad blues, but I ain't got the railroad fare
If my shoes hold out I surely will get there
I was standing on the corner, I was standing on the corner, with my shoes and stockings in my hand
I was standing on the corner with my shoes and stockings in my hand
Looking for a woman who ain't got no man
If the river was booze, if the river was booze, and the sea was claret wine
If the river was booze and the sea was claret wine
I'd get drunk and stay drunk all the time
If I should die, if I should die, if I should die in Tennessee
If I should go and die in Tennessee
Ship my bones, ship 'em C.O.D.
If I should die, if I should die, if I should die in Arkansas
If I should go and die in Arkansas
Ship my bones, ship 'em to my mother-in-law
If she don't want 'em, if she don't want 'em, just throw 'em in the sea
If she don't want 'em just throw 'em in the sea
So she fishes and crabs'll have a mighty good time on me"