Lyr Add: Old Lady and the Devil

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD LADY AND THE DEVIL
From: Stewie
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 10:51 PM

Here's the version of the 'Farmer's Cursed Wife' that appeared in Harry Smith's anthology. Bill and Belle Reed were probably from Virginia or Kentucky. Belle Reed is not to be confused with Ola Belle Reed. There have been numerous recordings of this. A relatively recent recording, which substantially follows the Reed version, can be found on Spider John Koerner's 'Raised by Humans' Red House RHR CD 44.

OLD LADY AND THE DEVIL
(Traditional)

There was an old man lived at the foot of the hill
If he ain't moved away, he's a-livin' there still
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

He hitched up his horse and went out to plough
How he got around, we never knew how
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

Old devil come to him in the field one day
Sayin', 'One of your family I'm gonna take away'
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

Take her on, take her on with the joy of my heart
I hope by golly you'll never part
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

Old devil got her all up on his back
He looked like a pedlar with a hump on his back
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

Old devil got to the forks of the road
He said, 'Old lady, you're a hell of a load'
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

Old devil got to the gates of hell
Said, 'Punch (?) the fire up, we'll scorch her well'
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

Out come a little devil a-draggin' a chain
She picked up a hatchet and split out his brains
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

Out come a little devil a-skatin' on a wall
Sayin, 'Take her back, daddy, she's a-murderin' us all'
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

Little devil was a-peepin' out the crack
Sayin', 'Take her home, daddy, don't you bring her back
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

The old man was a-peepin' out the crack
He see'd they old devil come wagonin' her back
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

The old man lay sick in the bed
She up with a butter stick and rattled his head
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

The old lady went whistlin' over the hill
Sayin', 'The devil won't have you and I don't know who will'
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

Now you see what a woman can do
She can outdo the devil and the old man too
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

The old lady went whistlin' over the hill
Sayin', 'The devil won't have you and I don't know who will
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

The old man was a-peepin' out the crack
He see'd they old devil come wagonin' her back
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

The old man lay sick in the bed
She up with a butter stick and rattled his head
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

Now you see what a woman can do
She can outdo the devil and the old man too
Singin' fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day

Source: transcription of 'Old Lady and the Devil' recorded by Bill and Belle Reed on 17 October 1928 in Johnson City, Tennessee. Reissued on Various Artists 'Anthology of American Folk Music Vol I: Ballads' Smithsonian/Folkways SFW 40090.

--Stewie.

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Bill and Belle Reed recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN8ZHk4wYwg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Lady and the Devil
From: masato sakurai
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 11:05 PM

From Supplemental Notes:

(alternate titles: Battle Axe and the Devil; Devil and the Farmer's Wife; The Farmer's Curst Wife).

The Reeds apparently were involved in one recording session for Columbia in Johnson City. Not a great deal is known about who they were but it is thought that all the artists at this session were from the nearby region. They probably were from Virginia or Kentucky (Charles Wolfe). The Reeds also recorded two songs during this session with their children. Belle Reed is not to be confused with Ola Belle Reed who made numerous later recordings. This traditional ballad has been recorded frequently.

OTHER RECORDED VERSIONS INCLUDE:
Traditional American folk: See as The Farmer's Curst Wife (Sheila Adams Barnhill (Granny Dell 3107d); Lena Armstrong and Etta Jones (FL 22a); Kenneth Ward Atwood (Okehdokee 76004a); E.C. and Orna Ball (ATL 82496c); Horton Barker (FW 2362c, LC L1a, LC AFSL1a); Joe Hubbard (BRI 002a); Lewis Lund (NW 239a); Andrew Rowan Summers (FW 2021c)); as Old Woman and the Devil (John Jacob Niles (TRD 1046a)); as The Devil and the Farmer's Wife (Hamper McBee (RND 0061a); Hobart Smith (FL 17a); Doc Watson (VG 2115a)).

Folksong revival: see as The Devil and the Farmer's Wife (Oscar Brand (Caedmon 1624a); Richard Dyer-Bennet (DYB 13c, VG 6007c); John McCutcheon (JA 003a); Tony and Judy Seeger (Indiana Archives of Traditional Music d)); as The Divil and the Farmer (Burl Ives (COL 6058a)); as The Farmer's Cursed Wife (Patrick Sky (VG 79207a)); as the Farmer's Curst Wife (Ted Ashlaw (PH 1022a); Caswell Carnahan (KM 316d); Paul Clayton (FW 2110c); Sam Eskin (CK 1020c); Anne Grimes (FW 5217c); Sam Hinton (DEC 8108a); Spider John Koerner (RDH 44c); John Langstaff (TRD 1009a); Sandy and Caroline Paton (FL 1002d); Peggy Seeger (RVR 12-655a); Pete Seeger (FW 2319c); Jeff Warner and Jeff Davis (Warner-Davis 102c); George and Mary Williamson (OH 80006a)).
Post revival: as The Devil and the Farmer's Wife (Hesperus (Golden Apple 7553c); Bruce Hutton (MMC 9040d)).

Children: as the Farmer's Cursed Wife (Tom Glazer (CMS 4650d)).

Country/String Band: as The Devil and the Farmer's Wife (Cat Cane Ramblers Fiddle Band (Voyager 3055a); West Orrtanna String Band (RVH 932a)).

Bluegrass: as the Farmer's Cursed Wife (Tim O'Brien (SGH 3808c)).

Rock: as the Farmer's Cursed Wife (Spud (Sonet 742a)).

British: as The Devil and the Farmer's Wife (Frankie Armstrong (SRR 4211a); Gryphon (Transatlantic 262a)).

Irish: as The Farmer's Curst Wife (Seamus Ennis (TRD 2013a)).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Lady and the Devil
From: masato sakurai
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 11:39 PM

Versions in the DT:

THE WOMEN ARE WORSE THAN THE MEN

THE DEVIL AND THE FARMER'S WIFE

TEE ROO

KELLYBURNBRAES

DEVIL AND THE FARMER'S WIFE

THE DEVIL AND THE PLOUGHMAN (in the forum)

See also The Traditional Ballad Index: Farmer's Curst Wife, The [Child 278].

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Lady and the Devil
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 11:54 PM

Thread 17306, Devil and the Plough, has much information on this Child ballad: Devil and the Plough
Also see thread 16798: Curst
This song is cursed with titles! It shows up in many collections. "The Old Man Under the Hill" is one common title (Randolph).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Lady and the Devil
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 31 Aug 02 - 09:58 AM

I seem to have missed that last one two years ago when I added all those links to the "Penguin" Devil and the Ploughman thread mentioned twice above; thanks for spotting it. I'll just add that, beside being Child no.278, it's assigned no.160 in the Roud Folk Song Index.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Lady and the Devil
From: Garry Gillard
Date: 01 Sep 02 - 09:37 AM

The Devil and the Feathery Wife

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Lady and the Devil
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 02 Sep 02 - 05:02 AM

Which is a fine song, though not related to The Farmer's Cursed Wife. It appeared on broadsides as The Politick Wife, and three examples can be seen at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

The politick wife. Or the Devil outwitted by a woman Harding B 4(58)- printer and date unknown.

The politick wife: or The devil out-witted by a woman Douce Ballads 2(175b) -printer and date unknown, presumed 18th century.

The politick wife: or, The devil outwitted by a woman Printed between 1736 and 1763 by W. and C. Dicey, the Printing-Office in Bow-Church-Yard, London.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Lady and the Devil
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 02 Sep 02 - 03:38 PM

There is another version of this ballad on Folk-Legacy, probably overlooked by the incredibly well-informed Masato because I listed it using the artist's title, rather than the one given it by Child. Check out "Randy Riley" on my recording of Adirondack logger, fiddler and singer Lawrence Older (FL-15), now available as a custom cassette and soon to be available as a custom CD (we're getting there, finally!).

Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Lady and the Devil
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 19 - 04:05 PM

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)