The Old Man Under the Hill

Cat. #1134 (MFH #149) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on April 9, 1970

VERSE 1
There was an ole man
Lived under th hill
An' if he ain't dead
He's livin' there still

VERSE 2
The ole man went
To th field to plow
T' save his life,
He didn't know how

VERSE 3
Th Devil came creepin'
Across th field
Sayin' one of your family
I'm goin' to steal

VERSE 4
You cain't have my son
For th work just begun
You can have my scoldin' wife
But you cain't keep her
To save your life

VERSE 5
Then he put her on
His ole back
Carried her to
Hell's bright gate

VERSE 6
He told her
She'd better walk straight
Three little Devils
Came draggin' their chains
She picked up her foot
An' kicked out their brains

VERSE 7
Four little Devils
Peeked over th wall
Sayin, take 'er way Daddy
She's killin' us all

VERSE 8
Th little Devil said,
Hold her higher
She up with 'er foot
An' kicked 'im in th fire

VERSE 9
Well, he picked her up
On his ole back
Like a fool
Went carryin' her back

VERSE 10
When she got near her home
She give a big yell
An' swore that she whipped
All devils in hell

VERSE 11
It was seven years ago
When she came back
She called for her pipe
She left home in th crack

VERSE 12
An' when she got there
Her ole man was in bed
She picked up a plate
An' battered his head

VERSE 13
The ole man went
Whistlin' over th hill
Said, if th Devil won't have you
I don't know who will

Variants