Henrik Norbeck's Song Lyrics

Devil and the Farmer's Wife, The

Sheet Music (and more information about this song)

I knew an old couple who're living near Hell
Dee diddle dee diddle dee die.
If they're not gone away, they're living there still
with me wick fol-lay, fol-lickety fol-de-dol-dee.

The Devil came down to the man at the plough
Sayin' "one of your family I'll take away now"

Which of my family would you like best?
Sure I've come for your wife, I hear she's a pest

The Devil, he hoisted her up on his back
And off to old Hell and they're not coming back.

He carried her onto a pile of old stones
He dropped her down there and he jumped on her bones

And he carried her on 'til they came to Coote Hill
She cried as much there as would turn a mill

And he carried her on 'til they came to Hell's wall
And there she did stammer and stutter and bawl

Two little devils were playin' with chains
She waved with a stick and smashed their brains

Two little devils were playin' hand-ball
With a stick she's battered and scattered them all

Two little devils peeped over the wall
Sayin' "take her away daddy, she'll murder us all"

So the Devil he hoisted her up on his hump
And back to the farmer with her he did jump.

He says to the farmer "here's you're wife safe and well
She wouldn't be kept, not even in Hell"

They were nine days goin' but one comin' back
She left with the scrape and she came with the pot.

Discography: Afterhours

History: See also #182, #184

See also song #182, song #184

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