Recorded by Martin Carthy.
Now there was an old
farmer lived over the hill
And a poor old
fellow they say
He was
plagued by a
scolding wifeThe worst
misfortune that day
And as he cut
wood in the
forest one day
Between
dark mood and
despairThe
Devil himself, he jumped out of the bushes
And stood before his
mare"What's the matter?" the Devil, he cried,
"You look so
discontent.
Haven't you got any money to buy your food
Or to pay your
landlord rent?"
"What would you give me," the Devil, he cried,
"If I were to end your
debateAnd I gave you money and
gear enough
So you'd never more want for
meat?"
"But I've nothing to give you," the old man cried,
"I've nothing right here to my hand
But if you would do what you say for me,
I'll be at your
command."
"Right and I'll make you a
bargain," the Devil, he cried,
"A bargain you just couldn't miss
You bring me a
beast at seven years' end
I'll try to say what it is.
"But if that beast I name
arightYou mark what I do tell
You've got to
toddle along with me
To view the
ovens of Hell."
So the old man
prospered and prospered well
It was all gained and spent
Till he came to the end of seven long years
Sorely he did
lament.
"Oh, what is the matter?" his wife, she cried,
"You look so discontent--
Sure you've gotten some
silly young girl with child
Making you sore lament."
"No, I've made a bargain with the Devil," he cried
"It was a bargain I just couldn't miss
I've got to bring him a beast at seven years' end,
He's got to say what it is.
"But if that beast he names aright
You mark what I do tell
I've got to toddle along with him
To view the ovens of Hell."
"Oh, never you worry," his wife, she cried,
"Be it happens, you'll pay for your
deedFor the wit of a woman, it comes in handy
At times in an hour of need.
"Go and fetch me the
droppings from all of our chickens
And spread them all over the floor
Stark naked I will strip myself
And I'll roll all over the floor.
"And fetch me the
barrel of
feathers," she said
Of the beasts we had for our
tea,
And I'll roll and I'll roll all over in them
Till never an inch be free."
So she rolled and she rolled in feathers and droppings
from her head right down to her
navelBy Christ, he said, what a terrible sight--
She looked far worse than the Devil.
Then the Devil himself came in
He began to
steam and to
hiss"By Christ," he said, "What an awful sight
I'll be
damned if I know what it is."
He started to shake and he started to
quailSaying, "Have you got any more of these at home?"
"Oh yes," he said, "I've got seven more
That in my forest do roam."
"Well if you've got seven more of these beasts
That in your forest do
dwell,
I'll be as good as my bargain and I'll be gone
She's worse than the
demons in Hell."
(I'd just like to point out that the wife is clearly the smart one in this song.) :-D
Okay, okay. HOORAY!
Eeesh. Chicken poop.
But she *chose* to roll in chicken poop and feathers. Let's hear it for female agency! Hip hip!
(...crickets...)
Smart, yes. But she had to roll in chicken poop and feathers! Eeesh. :-)