Hi pdq,

Right now we're going alphabetically from A. We're on N.

Never Let the Devil Get the Upper Hand of You is the 1937 Carter Family version of the traditional ballad, Knoxville Girl, which was first recorded in 1924 by Riley Puckett.

"The Knoxville Girl" is the US version of the "Wittham Miller/Berkshire Tragedy/ Cruel Miller" large group of songs from the British Isles, originating as "The Bloody Miller" in 1684. In the US it is known as "The Wexford Girl," "The Oxford Tragedy," "The Expert Girl," Johnny McDowell," "The Prentice Boy," "Never Let the Devil Get the Upper Hand of You" (Carter Family version) as well as many similar names.

NEVER LET THE DEVIL GET THE UPPER HAND OF YOU- Carter Family

My tender parents brought me up
Provided for me well
Twas in the city of Lanson Town
They placed me in a mill.

It was there I spied a pretty fair miss
On whom I cast my eye
I asked her if she'd marry me
And she believed a lie.

Three weeks ago last Saturday night
Of course it was the day
The devil put it in my mind
To take her life away.

I went into her sisters house
At eight o'clock one night
But little did the creator think
On her I had my spite.

I asked her if she'd take a walk
With me a little ways
That she and I might have a talk
About our wedding day.

We walked along until we came
To my little desert place
I grabbed a stick off of the fence
And struck her in the face.

I run my fingers through her coal black hair
To cover up my sin
I drug her to the riverside
And there I plunged her in.

I started back unto my mill
I met my servant John
He asked me why I was so pale
And it so very warm.

Come all young men and warning take
Unto your lovers be true
And never let the devil get
The upper hand of you