Farmer's Curst Wife- Anon. ( ) pre-1959 Eskin
[Sam Eskin, folksinger-collector, lived from 1898 to 1974. No date place or informant given.]
"Farmer's Curst Wife"- Singer, anonymous. LC/AAFS, rec. No. 11,714(B1) Collected by Sam Eskin.
1. O the devil he came to the farmer's gate
Whistle
Saylng, One of your family I must take
Singing too-ra la loo
Singing too-ra la loo.
2. Old wifie, old wifie, what have we done?
Whistle
The devil has come for our eldest son
Singing too-ra la loo
Singing too-ra la loo.
3. It's not your eldest son I crave
Whistle
But your scolding wife I'm bound to have
Singing too-ra la loo
Singing roo-ra la loo.
4. O take her, O take her with all my heart,
Whistle
May she and the devil never part
Singing too-ra la loo
Singing too-ra la loo.
5. The devil he threw her across his back
Whistle
And off to Hell went clickety clack
Singing too-ra la loo
Singing too-ra la loo.
6. And when he came to Hell's great gate,
Whistle
There sat the king in his robes of state
Singing too-ra-la loo
Singing too-ra la loo.
7. There sat the king in his robe of chains
Whistle
And she took up a club and she beat out his brains
Slngtng too-ra la loo
Singing roo-ra la loo.
8. O the devil he threw her across his back
Whistle
And back to the farmer went clickety clack
Singing too-ra la loo
Singing roo-ra la loo.
9. O farmer, O farmer, we treatcd her well,
Whistle
If we kept her, she'd kill all the devils in Hell
Singing too-ra la loo
Singing too-ra la loo.