The Curst Wife- Webster (MI) pre1941 Beck
[From Songs of the Michigan Lumberjacks- 1941. Beck certainly assigned the title and likely changed the farmer to woodsman to keep the lumberjack theme-- since no other version has woodsman.]
43. THE CURST WIFE
The woodsmen had their version of what the collectors know as Child 378. I have heard it in the Tennessee hills and have picked up an excellent version in the Missouri Ozarks. The following ballad from the north woods was sung by Thomas E. Webster, of Au Gres.
1 The old Devil he came to a woodsman one day,
Said he, "One of your family I would take away,"
Ti-rum-ti-diddle-dum-dido.
2 " Oh," said the woodsman, "I'm all undone,
For I hate to lose my oldest son."
Ti-rum-ti-diddle-dum-dido.
3 "It's not your oldest son I crave,
But your scolding wife I'm bound to have,"
Ti-rum-ti-diddle-dum-dido.
4 "Oh, take her and welcome with all my heart,
I hope you two never more will part."
Ti-rum-ti-diddle-dum-dido.
5 The Devil he took her upon his back
And off to Hell went clickty-clack.
Ti-rum-ti-diddle -dum-dido.
6 One little devil cried out in his pains;
She picked up a club and knocked out his brains,
Ti-rum-ti-diddle-dum-dido.
7 Another little devil climbed up on the wall,
Saying, "Take her back, Daddy; she'll murder us all,"
Ti-rum-ti-diddle-dum-dido.
8 Another little devil jumped into the well,
Saying, "Take her away, Dad; she'll ruin all Hell.''
Ti-rum-ti-diddle-dum-dido.
9 So the Devil he roped her up in a sack,
And off to the woodsman he carried her back,
Ti-rum-ti-diddle-dum-dido.
10. The woodsman helaughed, for it tickled him well
For to think that his wife was the bully of Hell.
Ti-rum-ti-diddle-dum-dido.