There is a variant of this song called "Down in Rackensack" in which the narrator asserts that Arkansas was called Rackensack long before it was called Arkansas.

The purdiest gal I ever saw
Whack fal diddle-eye-ayyy
She said "I live in Arkansas"
Whack fal diddle-eye-ayyy

So I'm goin' down into Rackensack
Whack fal diddle-eye-ayyy
If I find that girl I ain't a-comin' back
Whack fal diddle-eye-ayyy

CHO: Git outta the way, the fiddler,
Outta the way, the fiddler,
Outta the way, the fiddler, boy,
Goin' down into Rackensack.

Well I came to a river an' I couldn't get across
Whack fal diddle-eye-ayyy
So I paid five dollars fer a swayback hoss
Whack fal diddle-eye-ayyy
Wal, I rode him in and he couldn't swim
Whack fal diddle-eye-ayyy
Had to pay five dollars jes' to pull him out agin
Whack fal diddle-eye-ayyy

CHO: Git outta the way, the fiddler,
Outta the way, the fiddler,
Outta the way, the fiddler, boy,
Goin' down into Rackensack.


A