Bluegrass Messengers

The Devil's Nine Questions- Creighton (KY) 1962 Foss

[From Southern Folk Ballads Volume II; McNeil 1988. Cf. Chase version (VA) 1946.

R. Matteson 2014]

 The Devil's Nine Questions- sung by Mildred Creighton; Carrie, Kentucky 1962, collected by George Foss.

1. If you can't answer my questions nine,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
Oh, you're not God's, you're one of mine,
And you're not the weaver's bonny.

2 Oh what is higher than the tree?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is deeper than the sea?
And you're not the weaver's bonny.

3 Oh Heaven is higher than the tree,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
And Hell is deeper than the sea,
And I am the weaver's bonny.

4 Oh what is whiter than the milk?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is softer than the silk?
And you're not the weaver's bonny.

5 Oh snow is whiter than the milk,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
And down is softer than the silk,
And I am the weaver's bonny.

6. Oh what is louder than the horn?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is sharper than the thorn?
And you're not the weaver's bonny.

7 Oh thunder is louder than the horn,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
And hunger's sharper than the thorn
And I am the weaver's bonny.

8 Oh what is heavier than the lead?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is better than the bread?
And you're not the weaver's bonny.

9 Oh grief is heavier than the lead,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
God's blessing's better than the bread,
And I am the weaver's bonny.

10 Now you have answered my questions nine,
Sing ninety nine and ninety, 
Oh you are God's, you're none of mine.
And you are the weaver's bonny.