FARMER'S CURST WIFE
(trad. arr. Sheila Kay Adams)
Looking Forward, Looking Back (Granny Dell Records, 1985)

Well there was an old farmer lived over the hill
And if he ain’t dead he’s a’livin’ there still
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

Well the devil stepped up to the old man at plow
Said “One of your family I’m a-takin’ right now!”
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

“Well it’s not your son or your gal I crave
But your old wife and her I’ll have!”
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

“Well welcome sweet Satan from the bottom of my heart,
I hope you and her never more will part!”
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

Well he stuffed her in an old tow sack
And slung her up across his back.
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

Well he carried her up to the gates of hell
Said “Stoke up the fire an’ we’ll roast her well!”
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

Well they’s six little demons a-sittin’ on the wall
She grabbed up a poker and thrashed them all
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

Well she grabbed old Satan by the hair of the head,
Said “I’da done an’ killed you if you weren’t done dead,”
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

Well the littlest demon stepped up and said,
“Better take her back, Daddy, or we’ll soon be dead!”
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

Well the farmer saw ‘em comin’ and he bit his tongue,
Broke for the house in a flat-out run
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

Well the devil he said as he ran for the door,
“I ain’t never seen a woman like her before!”
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

Well you know it’d take a woman as mean as sin
To go down to hell and come back again!
Singin’ fi, fi, diddle-i-di, diddle-all diddle all day

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Performance by Sheila Kay Adams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PFpKLntC1I (not the same version)