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
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