The Arkansas Traveler (song)

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The Arkansas Traveler (song)

Overview
The Arkansas Traveler, also called The Arkansaw Traveler, is an American folk song. It was first published in 1863 by Mose Case, a New York humorist and guitarist. The tune comes from an older Arkansas tune by Sandford C. Faulkner. The story behind the song is a famous tale of a traveler meeting a stubborn squatter in a rough cabin.

Origins
The legend says Sandford C. Faulkner, a wealthy planter from Chicot County, Arkansas, got lost in the hills. He found a shabby cabin and a fiddler living there. Faulkner, who liked to fiddle, played the tune and won the squatter’s hospitality for the night. The encounter became the basis for the Arkansas Traveler story.

Publication and recordings
- The original tune appeared in 1847 as The Arkansas Traveller and Rackinsac Waltz, published by W. C. Peters.
- Mose Case published the song in 1863 as "The Arkansas Traveler."
- The story was also told in recitations and recordings, including Len Spencer in 1902 and 1908, Don Richardson in 1916, and Eck Robertson in 1922.
- Eck Robertson’s 1922 version is one of the first fifty recordings named to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

Official status and lyrics
- The song was the Arkansas official state song from 1949 to 1963, and has been the state historic song since 1987.
- The official lyrics were created by a committee in 1947. There are several versions of the lyrics, some older than the state’s version.
- The tune has even inspired other songs, including the children’s song "Baby Bumblebee."

Lyrics (summary)
In a well-known version, a traveler on a rainy day meets a stubborn squatter who fiddles in his leaking cabin. The traveler suggests fixing the roof on a dry day, but the squatter replies that the cabin never leaks when it doesn’t rain. The exchange highlights humor, weather, and a lesson about preparation.

Notes
The song has many versions and has been performed and recorded by numerous artists over the years.