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THE COCKERHAM DEVIL (Pru and Roger Edwards) It is said that in Cockerham the devil did dwell Sing twiddlum, twaddlum and hi-fallee It is said that in Cockerham the devil did dwell So afraid were the people they wished him to hell The people they wished him to hell. They called the school master a wise man and true Sing twiddlum, twaddlum and hi-fallee They called the school master a wise man and true Since he was so clever this task for to do This difficult task for to do. The devil come up to this stout-hearted man Sing twiddlum, twaddlum and hi-fallee The devil come up to this stout-hearted man Saying "Set me three problems to solve if I can Three problems to solve if I can." "Well first, on the thorns, you must count the dew-drops" Sing twiddlum, twaddlum and hi-fallee "Well first, on the thorns, you must count the dew-drops And then count the stalks on yon fine field of crops The stalks on yon fine field of crops." The devil took off and away he did fly Sing twiddlum, twaddlum and hi-fallee The devil took off and away he did fly The tasks he soon solved and returned by and by The devil returned by and by. "You've got one more chance," cried the devil with glee Sing twiddlum, twaddlum and hi-fallee "You've got one more chance," cried the devil with glee "And then my fine feller you're coming with me My fine feller you're coming with me." "Plait a rope of fine sand that you'll find on the moss" Sing twiddlum, twaddlum and hi-fallee "Plait a rope of fine sand that you'll find on the moss "And then you must wash it without any loss Must wash it without any loss". The devil he tried it again and again Sing twiddlum, twaddlum and hi-fallee The devil he tried it again and again And again and again and again and again And again and again and again. The devil he shrieked and he ranted and raved Sing twiddlum, twaddlum and hi-fallee The devil he shrieked and he ranted and raved Says the master "I've won and my soul it is saved I've won and my soul it is saved." If anyone living should need any proof Sing twiddlum, twaddlum and hi-fallee If anyone living should need any proof There's a bridge out at Pilling with the marks of the hoof Where the devil he landed from Cockerham church roof On his way to his home down in hell. I heard this song on a folk programme on the radio about fifteen years ago, sung unaccompanied "in the key of F minor, would you believe, in case you're taking notes" by Bernard Wrigley (solo: lines 1, 3 and 4), and Gary and Vera Aspey and Wilf Darlington (chorus: lines 2 and 5). Cockerham and Pilling are villages on the coast of north Lancashire, mid-way between Lancaster and Blackpool. They are about five miles apart, which gives some idea of how far the devil jumped in the last verse! MU copyright: Pru and Roger Edwards of Pilling, Lancashire @myth @devil filename[ COCKDEVL MU apr97 |
The Cockerham Devil (per Malcolm: The DT text was transcribed from a radio broadcast, and does not credit the writers of this song, who are Pru and Roger Edwards of Pilling (as in the song). Midi made from notation in Mike Harding's book Folk Songs of Lancashire (1980).) |
