Willie seems to have grafted a bit of Diamond Joe onto it and I think it works well.

The last verse of H.o.M. in the Renegades' version mentions Arkansas:

Well I drew my last wages and northward I did go,
Rolling cross the Rio Grand(ee) and made for Arkansas,
When I reached my destination there was no one I did know,
It was almost bleak and barren as those hills of Mexico.
(that's the way I hear the words)