Devil and the Farmer's Wife- Jepson (UT-VA) 1874 Hubbard B
[From: Ballads and Songs from Utah; Hubbard. This version uses the form of "Nickety-nackety now" which is closely related and used ocassionally in "Wife Wrapt" which is Child 277.]
THE FARMER'S CURST WIFE
The A version in Child, No. 278, which includes a chorus of whistlers instead of a refrain is similar to the A text from Utah. Compare the A text from Michigan in Gardner and Chickering, pp. 373-378, and the A and B texts from Florida in Morris, pp. 323-325. For additional texts, references and discussion, see Davis, pp. 505-515; Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth, pp. 325-333; Sharp, I, 275-281, 421; Betden, pp. 94-97: Brewster, pp. 155-156; Randolph, I, 189-193; Owens, pp. 54-56.
B. "The Devil and the Farmer's Wife." Sung by James Jepson of Hurricane, Sept. 17, 1947. He learned it in 1874 from Horace Owens, a brick mason, living in Virginia. The refrain is repeated after each Stanza.
There was an oid farmer, he lived in a barn,
Nagity nagity now, now, now,
He had no oxen to plow his corn,
Singing whack full a latterdy, whack full a latterdy,
Whack full a latterdy, tura li aye.
He yoked up his pig and his old cow,
And called for his wife to hold the plow.
They hadn't got more than three time round
Before the old devil came into the corn.
"Now," says the old man, "I am undone;
The devil's come after my oldest son."
" 'Tis not your oldest son I want;
It's your old scolding wife and her I will have."
He picked her up on his old back,
And down to hell she went clickety clack.
When they got down to hell's gate,
She cried for the mush that she left an the plate.
"Now," says the old devil, "we'll boost her up higher."
She picked up a club and knocked nine in the fire.
"Now," says the old devil, "we'll let her down lower,"
She picked up the poker and killed nine more.
Two little Devils peeped over the wall,
Saying, "Dad, take her away or she'll murder us all."
He picked her up on his old back,
And like an old fool he went packing her back.
They were two years going and more coming back,
She inquired for the comb that she left in the crack.
When she got home her old man was in bed,
She picked up the chamber and lathered his head.
"Now," says the old man, "she was born for a curse;
She's been to hell and she's ten times worse."