Collected by Billy Whitfield Sung by Mr. Otis Williams
and Steve Butler Wesley, Arkansas
For M. C. Parler December 27, 1959
Reel 328, Item 10
Devil and Farmer's Wife
The devil he came to the farmer one day (Hi-ho-hay)
Saying one of your flock I must take away - come father all (Diddle-o-day)
Then cried the farmer, I'm undone (Hi-ho-hay)
For now you've come for my eldest son - come father all (Diddle-o-day)
'Tis not your eldest son that I crave (Hi-ho-hay,
But your old scolding wife and she must have - come father all
(Diddle-o-day)
Take her, oh take her with all my heart (Hi-ho-hay)
And I hope from you, she never will part - come father all (Diddle-o-day)
One little devil cried, lift me up higher (Hi-ho-hay)
She up with her foot and kicked him in the fire - come father all (Diddle-o-day)
Another little devil peeped over the wall (Hi-ho-hay)
Crying take her away or she'll brain us all - come father all
(Diddle-o-day)
The devil put her all into his sack (Hi-ho-hay
And like a whipped curry came packing her back - come father all (Diddle-o-day)
And then he said I'll be hung (Hi-ho-hay)
If I didn't get the wrong one - come father all (Diddle-o-day)
Ozark Folksong Collection
