Coll. by M.C. Parler Don Edmondson
Forrest City, Ark.
March 1957
Reel 350, Item 6
The Devil and the Farmer's Wife
Oh the old Devil he came down in the field,
Hi fi di fi diddle fi dum The old Devil he came down in the field Saying, One of your folks I'm bound to steal.
Singin' Hi fidi fididdle fi dum Fi dum fi diddle fi dum.
( The remaining stanzas follow the same pattern of repe tition and refrain.)
Now you can't have my darling son,
For he and me are the working ones.
Now you can have my scolding wife,
But you can't keep her to save your life.
Now the old Devil he packed her on his back,
Just like an old peddler with his sack.
Now when they got to hell they were all in bed,
So she picked up a hammer and started hittin' em in the
head.
Now eight little devils climbin' up the wall,
Sayin', Papa, take her outa hell 'fore she kills us all.
Ozark Folksong Collection
