Lyr Add: Way Down in Arkansas

Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN IN THE ARKAN
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 14 Nov 05 - 11:32 AM

I have not heard this one though I live just a few miles from Big Flat and from the Little Red River. The are on opposite sides of the county. Is this related to "DOWN IN THE ARKAN"?

I had a cow that slobbered bad
Down in the Arkansas
I took her to my great granddad
Way down in the Arkansas
I asked him what to do for it
Down in the Arkansas
Grandpa said teach that cow to spit
Way down in the Arkansas

CHORUS: Down in the Arkan, down in the Arkan
Down in the Arkansas
The sweetest girl I ever saw
Was down in the Arkansas

When I was just a little lad
Down in the Arkansas
My ma got married to my dad
Way down in the Arkansas
Grandpa got mad and cussed a while
Down in the Arkansas
Till grandma said it's the latest style
Way down in the Arkansas

I had a gal and her name was Lil
Down in the Arkansas
I hugged that gal all over the hill
Way down in the Arkansas
Her pa ran up and called me son
Down in the Arkansas
He tied the knot with his rifle gun
Way down in the Arkansas

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Way Down in Arkansas
From: Amos
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 11:09 PM

Way Down in Rackensack is reported as performed by May Kennedy McCord:

Way Down in Rackensack, Ozark Folksongs. Volume III, Humorous & Play-Party Songs, University of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 35/#350

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Way Down in Arkansas
From: Amos
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 11:06 PM

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

Subject: Lyr Add: Way Down in Arkansas
From: chico
Date: 13 Nov 05 - 09:41 PM

       G           A7                     D
  Way down in Arkansas, way down in Arkansas
                               G    
  That's where I've been, I'm going again
       A7           D
  Way down in Arkansas
  
     D                    G
  Oh I had a mule and he worked on fool
   A7                 D
  Best mule you ever saw
  I heard him say "I think I'll stay, 
  Way down in Arkansas
  
  I had a wife a joy of my life
  And I had a mother-in-law
  I both laughed and cried the day they died
  Way down in Arkansas
  
  I was going down the road
  Coming from Big Flat
  I swear I saw a horse fly
  Can you imagine
  
  Now the strangest sight I ever saw
  Was down in Little Rock
  Right out there, in the open air,
  I saw a boardwalk
  
  We'll tell you things you won't believe
  Before this song is sung
  The Little Red River has a mouth
  My wagon's got a tongue
  
  [New Christy Minstrels]