If I Die in Arkansas

DESCRIPTION: "If I die in Arkansas (x2), Ship my body to my mother-in-law." "If my mother refuses me, ship it to my paw." "If my paw refuses me, ship it to my girl." "If my girl refuses me, shove it in the sea, Where the fishes... make a fuss over me."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1938 (recording by Bill Atkins)
KEYWORDS: death corpse burial family rejection humorous
FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE,So)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Randolph 351, "If I Die in Arkansas" (1 text)
Brown/Belden/Hudson-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore3 495, "If I Die in Tennessee" (1 text)

Roud #7628
File: R351

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography

The Ballad Index Copyright 2024 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.