Farmer's Curst Wife- Tuckwiller (WV) 1971 Boette B
[The title should be: There was an old Farmer. This actually a Virginia version from a manuscript made by the informant's brother. The date is likely much older than 1971- the date Boette's book was published. It's unclear whether Tuckwiller sang this or not--if she sang it I assume she adapted her own melody from her brother's text.]
THE FARMER'S CURST WIFE (B)
Mrs. Tuckwiller couldn't sing the tune to this ballad. It is an interesting variant in that it is a version of the Child Ballad 278 as sung in Greenbrier County.
Margaret Moomaw Tuckwiller is originally from a county in Virginia, a neighboring county to west Virginia. Her ancestors were German and Scotch-Irish. She got the songs from her brother, B. C. Moomau, Jr., of Covington, Virginia. He has made a study of ballads found in Virginia and has published a book containing the words of the songs he has collected. Mrs. Tuckwiller has lived in West Virginia for 43 years and sings for the entertainment of her grandchildren and, at times for community programs.
THE FARMER'S CURST WIFE (B) Words as sung by Margaret Moomaw Tuckwiller
1. There was an old farmer who had a farm,
(Whistle)
He had no horses to carry it on,
Sing, Fol-de-rol-dol-de-rol-di-do.
2. He hitched up his oxen and went to plow,
(Whistle)
The devil came to him, acrossing his brow,
Sing Fol-de-rol-dol-de-rol-di-do.
3. "Now Mr. Devil what will you have?"
(Whistle)
"Your darn old scolding wife I'll have,"
Sing Fol-de-rol-dol-de-rol-di-do.
4. "Now Mr. Devil, I'll tell you a part,
(Whistle )
You may have her with all of my heart,"
Sing Fol-de-rol-dol-de-rol-di-do.
5. The devil he bundled her up in a sack
(Whistle)
And down the road he went clickety-clack,
Sing Fol-de-rol-dol- de-rol-di-do.
6. And when he got to his hall door
(Whistle)
He threw the old woman right down on the floor,
Sing Fol-de-rol-dol-de-rol-di-do.
7. One little devil said, "Take her up higher,"
(Whistle)
She upped with her foot and kicked him in the fire.
Sing Fol-de-rol-dol-de-rol-di-do.
8. One little devil looked over the wall,
(Whistle)
Said, "Take her back Pap, or she'll kill us all,"
Sing Fol-de-rol-dol-de-rol-di-do.
9-The devil he bundled her back in the sack
(Whistle)
And like an old fool he came lugging her back.
Sing Fol-de-rol-dol-de-rol-di-do.
10-Now what are you going to do with the women?
(Whistle)
Won't have them in hell and they can't go to heaven,
Sing Fol-de-rol-dol-de-rol-di-do.