There Was An Old Man Lived Under the Hill- Williams (WV) 1924 Woofter; Combs C
[There Was An Old Man Lived Under the Hill is a titled used for Child 277 as well. This is Combs C version from 1967 edition of Folk Songs of the Southern United States edited by Wilgus. Combs A and B also contributed by Carey Woofter are in the collection but have not been published (except one stanza from A).
Woofter has come under scrutiny for some of his contributions which appear to be re-writes of existing ballads. Wilgus has expressed it this way, "A number of Woofter contributions merit distrust." I've found the same thing to be true and also will include Woofter's student collecting friend Patrick Gainer. (See Child 275 Old John Jones) The problem is, one can not be certain, since many of the contributions are authentic. This version seems authentic to me.
R. Matteson 2013]
C. "There was an old man lived under the hill." 8. Albert williams, De Kalb, Gilmer Co., W.Va., 1924' Contributed by--Carey Woofter. This version differs from the usual story of the ballad in that the wife does not get Past the gates of hell.
There was an old man lived under the hill,
And if he ain't dead yet he lives there still.
One day this old man went out for to plow,
Along came the old devil saying, "And how are you now?"
"I didn't come for your oldest son,
But to take your old woman for to have some fun."
He shouldered her up all across his back,
And walked off as thiugh she were an old meal-sack.
But when he got a right smart piece up the road
He grunted and said, "Old woman, you sure are a load."
He set her down on a big old stump to rest;
She picked up a stick and hit him her best.
He toted her on, all the way to hell's open gate,
But when he got there it was all too late.
So this old, man he had to keep his wife,
And keep her he did for the rest of his life.