Mena (/miːnə/ MEE-nə) is a city in Polk County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the county seat of Polk County. The population was 5,637 as of 2000 census.
Mena is included in the Ark-La-Tex socio-economic region. Surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, Mena is a gateway to some of the most visited tourist attractions in Arkansas.
Mena was founded by Arthur Edward Stilwell during the building of the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad (now the Kansas City Southern), which stretched from Kansas City, Missouri to Port Arthur, Texas. Train service to Mena began in 1896.
Stilwell named the town in honor of Folmina Margaretha Janssen-De Goeijen, the wife of his friend and financier Jan De Goeijen, whom Mr. De Goeijen affectionately called Mena. Janssen Park in the center of Mena is also named for her.
Mena was settled in 1896, and incorporated on September 18, 1896.
In 1897, the Bank of Mena was founded. The following year, the county seat was moved from nearby Dallas, Arkansas to Mena.
I MADE A ROCK'N'ROLL
WHEN I TRIED GIVIN' IN, TO MAKE MONEY HAD TO TURN DOWN LOW
THEY SAID, "WHY BE PROUD, DON'T PLAY SO LOUD, BE LIKE US
AND GET A SOUND THAT'S REAL THIN
WEAR A POLYESTER SUIT, ACT HAPPY, LOOK CUTE, GET A HAIRCUT
AND BUY SMALL GEAR"
THAT'S WHEN I TURNED TO THEM AND SAID, HOLD IT, RIGHT THERE
WELL IT'S MORE TO ME THAN JUST A JOB, AND WHILE I'M PLAYIN'
YOU WON'T GET ROBBED
NOBODY TELLS A MAN HOW TO PLAY, IT JUST AIN'T THAT WAY
HEY, HEY, HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME SAY
ALL MEN PLAY ON TEN, NEVER GONNA TURN DOWN AGAIN
ALL MEN PLAY ON TEN, NEVER GONNA TURN DOWN AGAIN
I'M JET FUEL HONEY, PLUG ME INTO 220, STEP BACK AND LET
MY FINGERS FLY
WHILE I'M BURNING UP MY GEAR, THERE'S A FIRE IN YOUR EAR
THAT WON'T STOP UNTIL THE DAY YOU DIE
I REALLY PUT IT TO THE FLOOR WHEN I HEAR THE CROWD ROAR
OH, IT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS WHEN THEY SCREAM
THEN I RUN BACK THE POWER RACK AND DECK, ALL OF MY GEAR
WELL IT'S MORE TO ME THAN JUST A JOB, AND WHILE I'M PLAYING
YOU WON'T GET ROBBED
NOBODY TELLS A MAN HOW TO PLAY, IT JUST AIN'T THAT WAY
HEY, HEY, HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME SAY
ALL MEN PLAY ON TEN, NEVER GONNA TURN DOWN AGAIN
ALL MEN PLAY ON TEN, NEVER GONNA TURN DOWN AGAIN
WELL IT'S MORE TO ME THAN JUST A JOB, AND WHILE I'M PLAYING
YOU WON'T GET ROBBED
NOBODY TELLS A MAN HOW TO PLAY, IT JUST AIN'T THAT WAY
HEY, HEY, HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME SAY
ALL MEN PLAY ON TEN, NEVER GONNA TURN DOWN AGAIN