The Six Questions- Holcomb (AR-OK) 1902 Moore B
[From Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwest by Ethel and Chauncey O. Moore; 1964.
According to ancestry.com William H. Holcomb was born September 20, 1887 and died July 2, 1961. His parents were Alwin R Holcomb and Emma Buchmeier.
R. Matteson 2014]
B. "The Six Questions, sung by W. H. Holcomb, Kellyville. Mr. Holcomb was born in Arkansas and came to Oklahoma in 1907. He learned this song, he said, "while in my teens." The words and melody were written down by Mrs. Charles Holcomb of Bristow.
"Go way, go way," says she, "young man,
And don't you seem perplexed;
Before you lie all night with me,
You'll answer questions six.
"Six questions you shall answer,
- And I'll put forth them all,
Before I'll lie all night with you,
Between you and the wall.
"Oh, what is rounder than a ring?
What is deeper than the sea?
What is worse than womankind ?
What is higher than a tree?
"What buds first, and what sings best,
And dew doth on them fall?
And then I'll lie all night with you,
Between you and the wall."
"The earth is rounder than a ring;
Heaven's higher than a tree;
The devil's worse than womankind;
Hell's deeper than the sea.
"The hedge buds first, and the birds sing best,
And the dew doth on them fall;
So now you'll lie all night with me,
Between me and the wall."