Farmer’s Curst Wife

1. There was an old man who bought him a farm
Saying low-land tickle O lay.
There was an old man who bought him a farm
And he had no team to carry it on.
Saying low-land tickle O laddie,
Low-land tickle O lay.

(Follow pattern of the first verse)

2. So he yoked up his dog beside his sow
He yoked up his dog beside his sow
And he went walloping ‘round the Devil knows how.

3. But he met the old Devil on one certain day.
He met the old Devil on one certain day
Saying: “One of your family I’ll carry away.”

4. “O,” out cries the old man, “I am undone!”
Out cries the old man, “I am undone!
The Devil has come For my oldest son!”

5. “No, it is not your son,” the Devil did say,
“’Tis not your son,” the Devil did say
“But your scolding old wife – I’ll carry away.”

6. “O take her, O take her with all of my heart!
Take her, O take her with all of my heart
And I hope and pray You will never part!”

7. So the old Devil swung her across his back
The old Devil swung her across his back
And up to Hell’s door he went clickerty-clack.

8. There was one little Devil preparing the chains,
There was one little Devil preparing the chains,
While she up with her foot and she kicked out his brains.

9. Then one little Devil said, “Hitch her up higher!
Another little Devil said, “Hitch her up higher!”
For she up with her foot and she kicked nine in the fire..

10. Then another little Devil peeked over the wall,
Another little Devil peeked over the wall;
“Carry her back, master Devil, she will kill us all!”

11. So the old Devil he swung her across his back,
The old Devil he swung her across his back
And like a darn little fool he went tugging her back.

12. And the Old Devil he throwed her down on the floor
The Old Devil he throwed her down on the floor
Saying, “Got to stay here – go to Hell no more!”

13. Then out cried the old man, “You were born for a curse!”
Out cried the old man, “You were born for a curse
You’ve been to Hell now you’re a whole lot worse!”