The Farmer’s Curst Wife
No: 278; variant: 278A
- THERE was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,
(chorus of whistlers)
There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,
And he had a bad wife, as many knew well.
(chorus of whistlers)
- Then Satan came to the old man at the plough:
'One of your family I must have now.
- 'It is not your eldest son that I crave,
But it is your old wife, and she I will have.'
- 'O welcome, good Satan, with all my heart!
I hope you and she will never more part.'
- Now Satan has got the old wife on his back,
And he lugged her along, like a pedlar's pack.
- He trudged away till they came to his hall-gate;
Says he, Here, take in an old Sussex chap's mate.
- O then she did kick the young imps about;
Says one to the other, Let's try turn her out.
- She spied thirteen imps all dancing in chains,
She up with her pattens and beat out their brains.
- She knocked the old Satan against the wall!
'Let's turn her out, or she'll murder us all.'
- Now he's bundled her up on his back amain,
And to her old husband he took her again.
- 'I have been a tormentor the whole of my life,
But I neer was tormented so as with your wife.'