The Scolding Wife- Lewellen (MS) 1936 Hudson B
FOLKSONGS OF MISSISSPPI- Hudson 1936
THE FARMER'S CURST WIFE
(Child, No. 278)
Two texts of this ballad have been found in Mississippi, each exhibiting distinctive features. The A text contains, with reference-to the old woman, a homely touch about the "pipe she'd left in a crack," which I have not found in other American texts. [The phrase is not that unsual; the use of the word "pipe" is. Perhaps it was misheard or has morphed into pipe.] The B text is notable for beginning as if the story is to be told in the first person. The first line is presumably addressed to the devil, and such a beginning, without stage directions, is characteristic of the traditional ballad; but the rhyming line, "The devil came after my oldest son," seems to put the story in the mouth of the farmer. Both texts are probably closer to Child A than to B. For further discussion of them, see p. 59.
Other American variants are to be found in Barry, No. 49; Campbell and Sharp, No.34; Cox, No. 30; Davis, No. 46. Both Cox and Davis list numerous other American references.
B. "The Scolding Wife." Communicated by Miss Ethel Lewellen, Central Academy, also the source of the B text of "Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight."
1 "Lord, have mercy, what have I done?"
Fal dol to mi diddle li day
The devil came after my oldest son.
Sing wacka fi lo to mi diddle li day.
2 My scolding wife you can take right along,
If you can't carry her I'll lend you my cart."
3 He carried her down to the gates-of hell;
He opened the gate, and in she fell.
4 Three little devils came flying along;
She picked up a stick and killed them every one.
5 Four little devils came flying along;
Says, "Dad, take her back or she'll kill us every one."
6 He picked her up all on his back,
Like a darned old fool came wagging her back.
7 Says, "Here's your wife, both sound and well;
If I'd kept her there long, she'd a torn up all hell."
8 That good old man went whistling 'cross the field:
"If the devil won't have you, I don't know who will."