Cat. #0437 (MFH #149) - As sung by Mrs. George Ripley, Milford, Missouri on December 14, 1959
VERSE 1
The ole devil came to me one day at th plow
Saying, one of your family I must have now
Sing, whack-a-fu-lu fa-laddie-I-a
Sing, whack-a-fu-lu fa-laddie-I-a
VERSE 2
I cannot part with my eldest son
With all th work that I must get done
(Repeat as in the first verse)
VERSE 3
It is not your eldest son that I crave
But, your scolding ole wife, that makes you a slave
(Repeat as above)
VERSE 4
I'll give you my wife with all my heart
Come right along an' I'll help you to start
(Repeat as above)
VERSE 5
Like a peddler, shouldering his pack
He took her up on his old hump back
(Repeat as above)
VERSE 6
He took her to hell
An' he pitched 'er in well
(Repeat as above)
VERSE 7
Seven little devils, bound down in their chains
She up with th poker an' beat out their brains
(Repeat as above)
VERSE 8
Twelve little devils a setting up higher
She up with 'er foot an' kicked nine in th fire
(Repeat as above)
VERSE 9
Some more little devils peeped over th wall
Saying, take 'er away Daddy, she'll murder us all
(Repeat as above)
VERSE 10
So, like a peddler, shouldering his pack
He picked her up on his ole hump back
An' like a black dog, he took th back track
(Repeat as above)
VERSE 11
Th ole man saw him coming over th hill
He thinks he'll get me but I'll be darned if he will
(Repeat as above)
VERSE 12
The ole man leaped up with a right good will
An' if he has'nt stopped, he's running still
(Repeat as above)