My name is Sanford Barnes,

voice; fiddles; banjosCollected by Merlin Mitchell Transcribed by Mary C. Parler Booth Campbell Cane Hill, Ark. November 25, 1950 Reel 84, Item 7 The State of Arkansas My name is Sanford Barnes, I've come from a noble town, I've traveled this wide world over, I!ve traveled this wide world round, I"ve had my ups and downs in life, And better days I've saw, But I never knew what misery was Till I reached Arkansas. I landed in St. Louis With ten dollars and no more; I read the morning paper Till my eyes were sore; I was lookin' for a advertisement, Until at last I saw: A thousand men are wanted In the State of Arkansaw. I started to the agent, They called him Billy Hughes, I saw a jolly bummer Carrying around the news; I gave him five dollars, Though it gave my heart a shock, I was going to that city — They called it Little Rock. I landed in Fort Smith One sultry afternoon, I stepped across from the depot, Went into a saloon, Up stepped a living skeleton And handed me his paw; Invited me around to the best hotel In the State of Arkansaw. I followed my conductor Unto his dwelling place; There was poverty despatched In his melancholy face; His bread it was corn dodgers, His meat you couldn't chaw, That's the kind of a hash I got in the State of Arkansaw. -more- The State of Arkansaw Reel 84, Item 7 Continued I started out next mornin' To catch the early train; He says, You'd better work for me; I have some land to drain; I'll pay you fifty cents a day, Tour washing, and all; You'll find yourself a different man When you leave Arkansaw. I worked six weeks for the son of a gun, Jess Herrin was his name; He was six feet long in his stocking feet, Looked like a crane; His bread it was corn dodgers, His meat I couldn't chaw; That's the kind of a hash I had In the State of Arkansaw. Farewell to the swamp angels, The canebrake and chills, Farewell to sage and sassafras, And to corn dodger pills, I'll go to the Indian Nation And marry me a squaw; (tape ran out)Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation