Whimsical lyrics added on whim

LITTLE ROCK — The signature tune of the Pulaski County chapter of the Rackensack Folklore Society is surely “Down in the Arkansas.” The song typically ends the monthly meeting with all hands invited to join in. Author unknown, says Brode Morgan, it has numerous verses. He supplied a copy with about 30 separate verses.

At the March meeting, there was at least one verse that sounded so topical as to have been written that day. Such is the nature of folk music, Morgan said.

Here are some of the lyrics. The musically and poetically inclined can write more.

Well, I had a cow that slobbered bad, down in the Arkansas.

I took her to see my great grandpa, way down in the Arkansas.

I asked him what to do for it, down in the Arkansas.

He said just teach that cow to spit, down in the Arkansas.

Down in the Arkan-, down in the Arkan-, down in the Arkansas.

The prettiest gal I ever saw was down in the Arkansas.

I had a gal her name was Lil, down in the Arkansas.

I hugged that gal all over them hills, down in the Arkansas.

Her Pa run up and called me son, down in the Arkansas.

Tied the knot with his rifle gun, down in the Arkansas.

Refrain

I picked up a girl for a date one night, down in the Arkansas.

First thing she did was hit me with a right, down in the Arkansas.

She said from all I’ve heard about you, down in the Arkansas.

That’s for everything you’re going to do, down in the Arkansas.

Refrain

Fifteen chicks and a big fat sow, down in the Arkansas.

A lop-eared mule and a milking cow, down in the Arkansas.

And 10 of us in a tworoom shack, down in the Arkansas.

Three - if you count the one out back, down in the Arkansas.

Refrain

We had a cow that run away, down in the Arkansas.

Wasn’t milked for 14 days, down in the Arkansas.

Paw said he didn’t give a darn, down in the Arkansas.

She exploded and whitewashed the barn, down in the Arkansas.

Refrain