The Devil out of Hell- Graham (CA) 1938 REC Crowell
[Two recordings, the last verse was addded in the second recording.
Dust jacket notes: Most of the song recorded on AFS 3813 B1; a verse is added on AFS 3813 B2.
WPA Field Report notes: "This is the old English ballad, 'The scolding wife,' -- she was carted off to Hell by the Devil at her husband's request, but even the devils in Hell couldn't stand her so her husband had to take her back (Mr. Graham doesn't approve of such freedom in language in a song and offered this with many apologies)."
George Vinton Graham, vocals and guitar.
Recorded by Sidney Robertson Cowell in San Jose, California on December 3, 1938.
Forms part of a group of field materials documenting George Vinton Graham performing Anglo-American songs on October 12, 1938, December 3 and 7, 1938, July 9, 1939, and August 16, 1939, collected by Sidney Robertson Cowell in San Jose, California.]
Sidney Robertson Cowell [md] collector
George Vinton Graham; [md] singer
Asmussen, Ella [md] transcriber of text
Recorded at San Jose, California
December 1938
UC-WPA Disk No. 5E-B1
The Devil out of Hell (Scolding Wife)
There was an old man lived down at the barn.
(whistles)
He had no horses to plow up his corn.
Come-a-tou-ra-nan-nan-nan-neer-o.
He saddled his hogs all ready to plow,
(whistles)
And turned up the furrow; the devil knows how.
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.
He turned up the furrow, the devil knows how.
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.
The old Devil himself he did appear
(whistles)
"'Tis one of your family that I must have now."
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.
"I know it, I know it, I am not-dumb
(whistles)
I fear it is my oldest son."
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.
"Oh. no, it ain't your oldest son,
(whistles)
But 'tis your darn old scolding wife."
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.
"Go, take her, go, take her, with all my heart,
(whistles)
I hope you two devils may never part."
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.
He shouldered her up all on his back,
(whistles)
And like an old fool he went packing his pack.
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou- c.
And when he got back to hell again,
(whistles)
He opened the gates and bid her go in.
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.
Four little devils peeped over the chain;
(whistles)
She picked up the-shovel and beat out their brains.
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.
Four more devils peeped over the wall,
(whistles)
"Oh, take her back home or she'll murder us all!"
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.
He shouldered her up all on his back,
(whistles)
And like an old fool he went packing her back.
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.
"Here is your darned old scolding wife;
(whistles)
She ain't fit for heaven, we wouldn't have her in hell."
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.
Seven years gone and seven years back,
(whistles)
She asked for the scrapin's she left in the pot.
Refrain: [md] Come-a-tou c.