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The State of Arkansaw 
The State of Arkansaw 
Come all ye true-bred Irishmen and listen to my chant; 'Tis all the lamentation of an Irish emigrant Who lately crossed the ocean, for a fortune thought he saw, Five hundred men were wanted in the state of Arkansaw. 
The first I met was Mr. Brown, who came up with a smiling face; He said, "Lad, come along with me; I keep a dacent place.' He fed me on corn dodgers and his beef you couldn't chaw, And he charged me fifty cents a day in the state of Arkansaw. 
The next I met was Mr. Green and a different face had he; He says, "I keep a dacent place, just come along with me: Give to me five dollars and a ticket you will draw, That will put you to work on the railroad in the state of Arkansaw." 
I traveled along the railroad till I came to Little Rock, And every depot I came to, my heart it got a shock, For the divil a one I met that day extended me a paw, Or says, "Pat, you're very welcome to the state of Arkansaw." 
Well, now the railroad's finished, boys, and I am very glad; I leave this part of the counteree, or else I will go mad. I'll go to the Cherokee nation and there I'll marry a squaw, And as sure as hell I'll bid farewell to the state of Arkansaw. 
From Songs of the People, Henry