The Devil and Scolding Kate- Cole (CO-KS) 1880s Lumpkin; Bronson 16
From: Colorado Folk Songs
by Ben Gray Lumpkin
Western Folklore, Vol. 19, No. 2 (Apr., 1960), pp. 77-97
"The Devil and Scolding Kate" (a version of Child 278) is the most complete traditional British ballad in my collection. Ira Cole, who sang it for me, said that a Dutch rancher and cattle dealer named Pete Rascopfs, of Bazine, Kansas, sang it during the late 1880's and taught it to him. He explained that Rascopfs was frequently in Colorado in connection with his cattle business. Cole good-naturedly pointed out that he himself is not a singer; but he sang the ballad as nearly as he could remember the way he and Pete used to sing it "just for fun":
THE DEVIL AND SCOLDING KATE
There was an old man liv'd in yonder hill
And he had no oxen to go to the mill;
REFRAIN:
(whistle------------)
Sing doddle ding day,
Sing doddle ding, doddle ding, doddle ding day.
So he hitched his hogs, all four in a row;
The Devil came up and stood by the plow.
(Repeat nonsense refrain after each two-line stanza.)
Said the old man, "What are you after now?
It must be my youngest or oldest son."
"It's neither your youngest or oldest son;
It's your scolding old wife-oh, she's the one."
"Take her along, Devil, with all of my heart;
I'll go along with you to give her a start."
So he gathered her up, all onto his back;
And with her old pipe, she gave him a whack.
He took her along into his yard gate,
And introduced her there as Scolding Old Kate.
Three little devils tied tight with chains-
She up with her foot and kicked out their brains.
Some more little devils looked over the wall;
"Oh, take'r back, Devil; she'll murder us all."
He gathered her up again onto his back
And like a danged fool he came wagging her back.
So you see that the women are worse than the men;
They've been to Hell and back agen.
This version sung by Cole bears a general resemblance to the British versions reported by Francis J. Child and to American versions recorded by Belden, Randolph, and a host of American collectors conveniently listed by Tristram P. Coffin;" but the refrain is certainly unusual if not unique.