Heather Alexander - The Devil & The Farmer's Wife lyrics

There was an old couple who lived near Hell If they're not dead, they're living there still The Devil, he came to the man at the plough, "I've come for one of your family now" TURNAROUND: Whack fol day, fol lickety, fol la dol day "Which of my family do you like best?" "Your scolding old wife, 'tis she I like best" "Take her away with all o' me heart, and I hope the two of ye never need part" The Devil, he hoisted her onto his back No peddler was ever so proud of his pack He's carried her off to the gates of Hell's wall She's out with her boot and she's flattened it all Some devils came down to put her in a sack She's out with her boot and she's broken their backs The devils cried out from up on the wall "Take her back daddy, she'll murder us all!" The Devil returned in the tenth of the time "Take her back, farmer, I'm changing my mind" "What'll you give me for taking her in?" "I offer no more than the wages of sin" "If you want to be rid of this scolding old hen, You'll never bedevil my family again" The Devil did cry, the Devil did howl But he never returned to the man at the plough "Well, I've been a devil for most of my life, But I ne'er was in Hell 'til I met with your wife!"