“Arizona”

Description

"The Devil was given permission one day To select him a land in his own special way." After a long, difficult search, he settles on Arizona, and sets out to make some "improvements": cacti, skunks, heat. He then leaves, thinking that is beats Hell

Notes

This song and "Hell in Texas" clearly are related; one probably suggested and influenced the other. But there is no way to clearly demonstrate which came earlier, so I list them separately. Roud, unsurprisingly, lumps them. - RBW

Cross references

References

  1. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 401-402, "Arizona" (1 text)
  2. Fife-Cowboy/West 27, "Hell in Texas" (3 texts -- one each for Texas (a version of "Hell in Texas"), Arizona , and Alaska, 1 tune)
  3. Roud #5104
  4. BI, LxA401

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1934
Keywords: Devil Hell humorous
Found in: US