Old Farmer- Robbins (ME) 1929; Barry D
[My title, no title given- my full title would be: There Was an Old Man Who Was A 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.
D. [Old Farmer] No title. Taken down from the singing and recitation of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin F. Robbins, Northeast HarLow, August, 1929. Melody recorded by Mr. George Herzog. The lines of the refrain, as recited, do not fit the air.
There was an old man who owned a small farm,
Scratch-a-fillee, fillee, filiddle, filum,
And he had no oxen to carr-y it on,
Scratch-a-fillee, fillee, filiddle, filum.
He yokes his hogs right onto the plow,
And down comes the devil, saying, "How are you now?"
"Devil, O Devil, are you after my life?"
"O, no, I'm after your darned ugly wife."
"Take her, O take her, with all of my heart,
And I hope to the Lord you never part."
The Devil he slung her acrost his back
And to Hell he went flipperty crack.
She saw the Devil preparing his chains,
And she up with her foot and kicked out his brains.
A little wee devil looked over the wall
And said, "Take her away, or she'll murder us all."
The Devil he slung her acrost his back,
And, like an old fool, went carrying her back.
He carried her right to the man with the plorv,
And said, "You dumb beast, I won't have you now."
"My dear old wife, you have done well,
Scratch-a-fillee, fillee, filiddle, filum
For you've kiiled all the devils and rent [1] over hell,"
Scratch-a-fillee, fillee, filiddle, filum.
1 reigned