THE DEVIL & THE FARMER'S WIFE

Traditional (arr. NDG & GG)
Nancy: vocals
Gary Gallier: udu, guiro, bodhrán & shaker

 

I once knew a family living near hell di diddly diddly di
They've not gone away and they're living there still with a whack folay follackity foldalum lay

The devil he came to the man at the plow
He said, "One of your family I must take now"

"Oh, no," says the farmer, "I am undone.
You surely have come for my eldest son."

"Oh, no," says the devil, "I've come for your wife.
I hear she's a plague and tormenting your life."

So the devil he hoisted her up on his hump
And down to hell with her he did jump

He carried her on till they came to his hill
She cried as much tears as would turn a mill

He carried her on till he came to his wall
And there she did stutter and stammer and bawl

There were two little devils a playing with chains
She off with her shoe and she knocked out their brains

There were two other devils a playing head ball
Said take her away daddy she'll murder us all

So the devil he hoisted her up on his hump
And back to earth with her he did jump

It was nine days going and one coming back
His head did ache and his spine it did crack

"Good sir," says the devil, "your wife's safe and well
But she couldn't be kept not even in hell."

"Now I've been a devil most of my life
But I ne're was in hell till I met with your wife"

Some say women are better than men
For they go down to hell and they come out again