Farmer's Curst Wife- Eskin (SC) 1950 REC (Eskin called it, The Devil and the Farmer's Curst Wife, at the end of the recording)
From: Ben Gray Lumpkin Digital Folk Music Collection
Listen: http://stream.coalliance.org/coduhw.php?collection=UCB&stream=UCB00503
The Devil and the Farmer's Curst Wife- Sam Eskin, coastal region of South Carolina; 1950 REC
The devil he came to the farmer's gate,
(Whistle)
The devil he came to the farmer's gate
Saying: One of your family I must take
Singing Tru-ra-la-loo, singing Tru-ra-la-loo
Wifey, oh wifey, what have we done?
(Whistle)
Wifey, oh wifey, what have we done?
The devil has come for eldest son,
Singing Tru-ra-la-loo, singing Tru-ra-la-loo
It's not your eldest son I crave,
(Whistle)
It's not your eldest son I crave,
But your scolding wife I'm bound to have,
Singing Tru-ra-la-loo, singing Tru-ra-la-loo
Take her, oh take her with all me[1] heart
(Whistle)
Take her, oh take her with all me heart,
May she and the devil never may part
Singing Tru-ra-la-loo, singing Tru-ra-la-loo
The devil he heisted [2] her on his back,
[text upcoming]
1. my pronounced me
2. hoisted