My name is John Johanna. I came from Buffalo town.
For nine long years I've traveled this wide, wide world around
Through ups and downs and mis'ries, and some good days I saw,
But I never knew what mis'ry was 'till I went to Arkansas.
I went up to the station, the operator to find,
Told him my situation and where I wanted to ride.
Said: "Hand me down five dollars, lad. A ticket you shall draw
That'll land you safe by railway in the state of Arkansas."
I rode up to the station and chanced to meet a friend.
Alan Catcher was his name although they called him Cain.
His hair hung down in rat tails below his under jaw.
He said he run the best hotel in the state of Arkansas,
I followed my companion to his respected place,
Saw pity and starvation was pictured on his face.
His bread was old corn dodgers. His beef I could not chaw.
He charged me fifty cents a day in the state of Arkansas.
I got up that next morning to catch that early train.
He says: "Don't be in a hurry, lad. I have some land to drain.
You'll get your fifty cents a day and all that you can chaw.
You'll find yourself a different lad when you leave old Arkansas."
I worked six weeks for the son of a gun. Alan Catcher was his name.
He stood seven feet two inches, as tall as any crane.
I got so thin on sassafras tea, I could hide behind a straw.
You bet I was a different lad when I left old Arkansas.
Farewell, you old corn rabbits, also you dodger pills,
Likewise you walking skeletons, you old sassafras heels,
If you ever see my face again, I'd hand you down my paw.
I'd be looking through a telescope from home to Arkansas.
For nine long years I've traveled this wide, wide world around
Through ups and downs and mis'ries, and some good days I saw,
But I never knew what mis'ry was 'till I went to Arkansas.
I went up to the station, the operator to find,
Told him my situation and where I wanted to ride.
Said: "Hand me down five dollars, lad. A ticket you shall draw
That'll land you safe by railway in the state of Arkansas."
I rode up to the station and chanced to meet a friend.
Alan Catcher was his name although they called him Cain.
His hair hung down in rat tails below his under jaw.
He said he run the best hotel in the state of Arkansas,
I followed my companion to his respected place,
Saw pity and starvation was pictured on his face.
His bread was old corn dodgers. His beef I could not chaw.
He charged me fifty cents a day in the state of Arkansas.
I got up that next morning to catch that early train.
He says: "Don't be in a hurry, lad. I have some land to drain.
You'll get your fifty cents a day and all that you can chaw.
You'll find yourself a different lad when you leave old Arkansas."
I worked six weeks for the son of a gun. Alan Catcher was his name.
He stood seven feet two inches, as tall as any crane.
I got so thin on sassafras tea, I could hide behind a straw.
You bet I was a different lad when I left old Arkansas.
Farewell, you old corn rabbits, also you dodger pills,
Likewise you walking skeletons, you old sassafras heels,
If you ever see my face again, I'd hand you down my paw.
I'd be looking through a telescope from home to Arkansas.