Old Farmer- Goodell (ME) pre1929 Young; Barry A
[No title- my full title would be: There Was an Old Farmer.]
BRITISH BALLADS FROM MAINE- THE CHILD BALLADS; 1929
THE FARMER'S CURSED WIFE
(Child 278)
From Barry and all: All these texts are characteristically English; but Prof. F. E. Pierce of Yale University notes that in his boyhood an Irish farmhand of his father's sang an Irish song which was much like this.
If we were to piece together the different texts above, we should probably make out a story something like this. The old farmer, who has no oxen to plow his land, has made a bargain with the Devil for help. When the Devil comes to demand the pledge of the soul of one of the family, the farmer is fearful that either he himself or his eldest son will be taken, and is much relieved when he finds Satan willing to take his old scolding wife. Apparently the farmer, in the D-text, cares for his wife, but considers her capable of holding her own even against the Devil, who in the end has to acknowledge himself beaten for once and brings her back in order to get rid of her. The closing lines in most texts are only a moral added, not a part of the original story.
Tales like this were not uncommon in old New England. We recall one of a farmhand who worked for a woman in the next town to us, who had a reputation fully equal to that of the cursed wife. One day the hired men came down to breakfast, appearing tired and listless, and refused to eat. Madam Shepherd's curiosity was aroused and she asked the reason. He said that he preferred not to tell her. Then she demanded an explanation, which he still declined. Her curiosity knew no bounds, and he finally told her reluctantly what a bad dream he had had; how he had died and went to Hell. Nothing was stirring, no one about except guards, who were fast asleep. He explored the place at his leisure, but every imp he saw was sound asleep. Finally, parting the curtains of a great high-post bedstead, he found Satan himself--asleep. Roused from his slumber, Satan responded: "Lie right down anywhere, get all the comfort you can; we've just got word that old Ma'am Shepherd is coming here tomorrow, and after that there'll be no rest or peace for any of us!" The cursed wife may be regarded as a stock character of medieval stories; but this particular ballad is probably steeped more deeply in demonology than appears from the fragments we have left of the tale.
A. [Old Farmer] No title. contributed by Mr. George H. Goodell, Hampden, by the kindness of Mrs. Susie Carr Young.
1 There was an old farmer, he hired a farm,
Fi-diddle, fi-lay!
There was an old farmer, he hired a farm,
He had no oxen to carry it on,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
2 He yoked op his hogs in order to plow,
Fi-diddle, fi-lay!
He yoked tp his hogs in order to-plow,
They went this way and that, and the devil knows how,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
3. He had not plowed more than a furrow or so,
Fi-diddle, fi-lay!
He had not plowed more than a furrow or so,
When the Devil he met half-way on his row,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
Then cries the old man: "I'm surely all done!"
Fi-diddle, fi-lay!
Then cries the old man: "I'm surely all done;
For the Devil has come for my oldest son,"
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
"Oh, no! oh no! it's your old scolding wife!"
Fi-diddle, fi-lay!
"Oh, no! oh, no! it's your old scolding wife!"
"Oh, take her! oh, take her!" the old man cried
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
The old Devil he shouldered her on his back,
Fi-diddle, fi-lay!
The old Devil he shouldered her on his back,
Just like an old Scotchman a-carrying his pack,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
He carried her oyer some fields or moor,
Fi-diddle, fi-lay!
He carried her over some fields or moor,
Until he came to Lucifer's door,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
And there sat Lucifer bound in chains,
Fi-diddle, fi-lay!
And there sat Lucifer bound in chains,
She up with her feet and kicked out his brains,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
And the little devils peeped out of the wall,
Fi-diddle, fi-lay!
And the little devils peeped out of the wall,
Thev cried: "Take her away or she'll brain us all!"
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
He shouldered her again upon his back,
Fi-diddle, fi-lay!
He shouldered her again upon his back,
And, like a dam fool went carrying her back,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down, [1]
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
"The old man cried: "She was born for a curse,"
Fi-diddle, fi-lay!
"The old man cried: "She was born for a curse,"
"She's been through hell and she's ten times worse,"
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down,
Fi-lay, fi-liddle fi-lay, derry down.
1. You'd think Barry et all would know how to spell damn.