Told the Old Woman

Cat. #0162 (MFH #631) - As sung by Odis Bird, Marshall, Arkansas on August 6, 1958

VERSE 1
I told the old woman when I married her daughter
Hit was'nt the whole family I wed
And I'd rathered be sentence to jail er to congress
Jest to live a life with my mother-in-law

VERSE 2
It's every time I scold one of my children
She puts in a piece of her awful jaw
And I'd rathered be sentence to jail er to congress
Jest to live a life with my mother-in-law

VERSE 3
She taken a kettle of boiling hot water
She made a straight aim at my head
I'd rathered be sentence to jail er to congress
Jest to live a life with my mother-in-law

VERSE 4
She took a fool notion that she were good lookin'
The ugliest old woman I ever saw
Her head looked like a little cocernut punkin
Her eyes were round and very small
But I'd rathered be sentence to jail er to congress
Jest to live a life with my mother-in-law

VERSE 5
She took a fool notion that she'd have her picture taken
The very first pass she broke down th machine
So, I'd rathered be sentence to jail er to congress
Jest to live a life with my mother-in-law

Variants