From American Folk Tales and Songs by Richard Chase (New York: New American Library of World Literature, Inc., 1956), page 122:


NICKETY NACKETY

This tune is from Horton Barker, blind singer in Virginia. The text comes from many sources. This is known also as "The Wee Cooper of Fife," and "The Wife Wrapt in the Wether Skin."

1. I married my wife in the month of June.
    Nickety, nackety, now, now, now!
I escorted her home by the light of the moon.
    Nickety, nackety, nay down thackety!
    Willity, wallity, rustico quality!
    Nickety, nackety, now, now, now!

2. One day when I came in from the plow,
Says, "Oh, my good wife, is my dinner ready now?"

3. "There's a little piece of cornbread on the shelf.
If you want any more you can bake it yourself."

4. Oh, I went out behind the barn
And I cut me a hickory as long as my arm.

5. Then I went out to my sheep pen,
And I grabbed me up an old sheep skin.

6. I laid that skin all around her back,
And with that stick I went whickety-whack!

7. "I'll tell my mother; I'll tell all my kin
How you hit me with a hickory limb."

8. "You can tell your mother; you can tell all your kin.
I was only tanning my old sheep skin."

9. Next day when I came in from the plow,
Says, "Oh, my good wife, is my dinner ready now?"

10. She flew around and the board was spread,
And, "Yes, my dear husband," was all she said.