The Devil Came to the Farmer's One Day- Waller (IN) 1935 Brewster
From Brewster: Ballads and Songs of Indiana, 1935
24. THE FARMER'S CURST WIFE (Child, No. 278)
One copy only of this ballad has been found in Indiana. It resembles most closely version A of Child. For other American texts, see Barry, No. 28; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, p. 325; Belden, No. 13; Campbell and Sharp, No. 34; Cox, No. 30; Davis, p. 505; Journal, XIX, 298; XXIV, 348; XXVII, 6S; XXX, 329; Hudson, Folksongs, p. 124; Lomax, p. 110; Mackenzie, Ballads, No. 15; Sharp, Folk-Songs of English Origin, II, No. 3; Smith and Rufty, American Anthology, p. 53; PTFLS, X, 164; Creighton, Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, p. 18; Henry, Folk-Songs from the Southern Highlands, p. 125; Randolph, Ozark Mountain Folks, p. 228.
British: Williams, Folk-Songs of the Upper Thames, p. 211; JFSS, II, 184; 111, 131.
"The Devil Came to the Farmer's One Day." Contributed by Mrs. Mayme C. Waller, of Winslow, Indiana. Pike County. Secured from her mother, Mrs. A. W. Corn, of Winslow. June 17, 1935. With music.
1. The devil came to the farmer's one day,
Um-um, Um-hum-hum-hum,
Said, "One of your family I'll carry away."
Sing tyo raddle ding day.
2. "If you won't take my oldest son,"
Um-um, Um-hum-hum-hum,
"I surely will trade you two for the one,"
Sing tyo raddle ding day.
3. "It's not your oldest son I crave,"
Um-um, Um-hum-hum-hum,
"It's your danged old wife I mean for to have."
Sing tyo raddle ding day.
4. He hoisted her on his old back,
Um-um, Um-hum-hum-hum,
And like an old peddler went packing his sack,
Sing tyo raddle ding day.
5. He carried her down to the Gates of Hell,
Urn-urn, Um-hum-hum-hum,
Said, "Kindle the fire, boys, and we'll burn her well,
Sing tyo raddle ding day.
6. There sat a little devil with his red cap,
Um-um, Um-hum-hum-hum,
She up with her foot and she gave him a slap.
Sing tyo raddle ding day.
7. Two little devils sat parching beans;
Um-um, Um-hum-hum-hum,
She picked up a pine-knot and split out their brains.
Sing tyo raddle ding day.
8. Six little devils ran up the wall,
Um-um, Um-hum-hum-hum,
Cried, "Take her back, daddy, or she'll kill us all!"
Sing tyo raddle ding day.
9. He hoisted her up on his old back,
Urn-urn, Um-hum-hum-hum,
And like an old fool went packing her back.
Sing tyo raddle ding day.