The Devil's Song- Cobb (KY) 1956 Roberts
From: In the Pines; Roberts 1978
32. The Devil's Song
It has much more vigor and variation in America. Coffin lists about 70 references and sets up seven story types. It has been collected in Nova Scotia. Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania, West Virginia (FSS, no: 30); Virginia (TBW, no. 66; MTBV, no. 40, 23 texts in all); North Carolina (SharpK, no. 40; NCF, II, IV, no. 45; BB, no. 50); Missouri (BSM, pp. 94-97, 2 texts); Ozarks, Oklahoma (BFSW, no. 53, one printed of 35); Texas, and Utah. Lawless lists 45 in print. The ballad has not flourished in Kentucky. There is one text in BB, no. 60; one in Ritchie's Singing Fannily (pp. 143-144), and I have two. The present text.
with its unusuai cowboy refrain, was turned in without music by Mary Ellen cobb in 1956, who says that she had it from Herbert cobb, both of Knox County.
l. The old Devil come sneaking through the field,
There is one in the family that I'm going to steal.
It's neither your daughter, nor your oldest son,
But it's the old woman for the crime she has done.
REFRAIN: Come a Tie-y-yeppy, yeppy I yeppy aye,
Come a Tie-y-yeppy yeppy aye.
2. The Devil come along, and put her in a sack,
He looked like a peddler with a pack on his back;
He took her home and throwed her down,
And nine little devils come slipping around.
REFRAIN
3. Nine little devils all tied up in chains,
She up with a shovel, split out seven of their brains.
One little devil peeped over the wall,
Says, "Take her home, Daddy, she's going to kill us all."
REFRAIN
4. Now you see what woman can do,
They can out-do the devil,
And their husband too.
REFRAIN