"As they drew near the High Gates of Hell..."
Pencil on paper, 18" x 27", 2004
There was an old farmer, and he lived near Hell.
He had a little farm and upon it did dwell.
Sing Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-diddle-i-day!
The Devil came to him one day at his plow, said, "There's one in your family
I have to have now!"
Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-diddle-i-day!
"Its neither your son, nor your daughter I crave;
Its your old scolding wife, and its her I'm gonna
take!" Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-diddle-i-day!
So he hoisted her up, upon his back,
and like an old peddler went-a packing her back.
Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-diddle-i-day!
As they drew near the High Gates of Hell, he said,
"Rake back the coals, boys, and we'll roast her
well!" Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-diddle-i-day!"
Two little devils came rattling their chains.
She hauled back her cudgel and knocked out
their brains. Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-diddle-
i-day!
Two little devils hopped out of the door.
She hauled back her cudgel and killed
a couple more! Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-
diddle-i-day!
Two more little devils peeped over the wall,
saying, "Take her back, Daddy, or she'll kill
us all!" Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-diddle-
i-day!
So he hoisted her up, upon his back, and
like an old peddler, went-a packing her back.
Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-diddle-i-day!
"Here's your old scolding wife. I'm here to tell
that she ain't fit for heaven or hell!"
Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-diddle-i-day!
She was seven years going, seven coming back.
She called for the 'baccer she left in the crack.
Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-diddle-i-day!
Oh, the women they are so much better than men,
when they go to Hell, they get sent back again.
Hi hi, diddle-i-fie, diddle-i-diddle-i-day!
................................................................................
(These lyrics are a combination of versions learned from Jean Ritchie, of the
"Singing Ritchies of Viper Kentucky," and from Terry Murphy, Jackson, MS. with
some minor alterations of my own. Jean has a whistling refrain in her family
version which is awfully nice. Devils and fairies are sometimes reported as
whistling...indeed Reverend Kirk describes that as their principal mode of communication
in "The Secret Commonwealth." I was a little surprized to hear Jean whistle
when she sang this though...in our family we have a saying, "A whistling woman
and a crowing hen are sure to come to some bad end."
She must prove the exception to this.
The Hi hi, diddle-i-fie refrain is one I remember Terry Murphy singing to himself when we were walking around. He had an inimitable comic tone that I enjoyed very much.
Concerning origins, Jean sent this comment to me; "Our title is "The Little Devils" - my brother Wilmer first sang this for a folksong collector in the 40s."