Wordnik.com: Tunie: The Devil and the Feathery Wife

Wordnik.com: Tunie: The Devil and the Feathery Wife http://www.wordnik.com/lists/tunie-the-devil-and-the-feathery-wife.xml Recorded by Martin Carthy. Now there was an old <a href="/words/farmer">farmer</a> lived over the hill And a poor old <a href="/words/fellow">fellow</a> they say He was <a href="/words/plagued">plagued</a> by a <a href="/words/scolding">scolding</a> <a href="/words/wife">wife</a> The worst <a href="/words/misfortune">misfortune</a> that day And as he cut <a href="/words/wood">wood</a> in the <a href="/words/forest">forest</a> one day Between <a href="/words/dark mood">dark mood</a> and <a href="/words/despair">despair</a> The <a href="/words/Devil">Devil</a> himself, he jumped out of the bushes And stood before his <a href="/words/mare">mare</a> "What's the matter?" the Devil, he cried, "You look so <a href="/words/discontent">discontent</a>. Haven't you got any money to buy your food Or to pay your <a href="/words/landlord">landlord</a> rent?" "What would you give me," the Devil, he cried, "If I were to end your <a href="/words/debate">debate</a> And I gave you money and <a href="/words/gear">gear</a> enough So you'd never more want for <a href="/words/meat">meat</a>?" "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 <a href="/words/command">command</a>." "Right and I'll make you a <a href="/words/bargain">bargain</a>," the Devil, he cried, "A bargain you just couldn't miss You bring me a <a href="/words/beast">beast</a> at seven years' end I'll try to say what it is. "But if that beast I name <a href="/words/aright">aright</a> You mark what I do tell You've got to <a href="/words/toddle">toddle</a> along with me To view the <a href="/words/ovens">ovens</a> of Hell." So the old man <a href="/words/prospered">prospered</a> and prospered well It was all gained and spent Till he came to the end of seven long years Sorely he did <a href="/words/lament">lament</a>. "Oh, what is the matter?" his wife, she cried, "You look so discontent-- Sure you've gotten some <a href="/words/silly">silly</a> 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 <a href="/words/deed">deed</a> For the wit of a woman, it comes in handy At times in an hour of need. "Go and fetch me the <a href="/words/droppings">droppings</a> from all of our chickens And spread them all over the floor <a href="/words/Stark naked">Stark naked</a> I will strip myself And I'll roll all over the floor. "And fetch me the <a href="/words/barrel">barrel</a> of <a href="/words/feathers">feathers</a>," she said Of the beasts we had for our <a href="/words/tea">tea</a>, 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 <a href="/words/navel">navel</a> By Christ, he said, what a terrible sight-- She looked far worse than the Devil. Then the Devil himself came in He began to <a href="/words/steam">steam</a> and to <a href="/words/hiss">hiss</a> "By Christ," he said, "What an awful sight I'll be <a href="/words/damned">damned</a> if I know what it is." He started to shake and he started to <a href="/words/quail">quail</a> Saying, "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 <a href="/words/dwell">dwell</a>, I'll be as good as my bargain and I'll be gone She's worse than the <a href="/words/demons">demons</a> in Hell." (I'd just like to point out that the wife is clearly the smart one in this song.) :-D http://www.wordnik.com feathery http://www.wordnik.com/words/feathery Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:42:19 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/feathery farmer http://www.wordnik.com/words/farmer Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:42:11 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/farmer fellow http://www.wordnik.com/words/fellow Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:42:08 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/fellow plagued http://www.wordnik.com/words/plagued Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:42:06 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/plagued scolding wife http://www.wordnik.com/words/scolding wife Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:42:03 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/scolding wife misfortune http://www.wordnik.com/words/misfortune Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:59 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/misfortune wood http://www.wordnik.com/words/wood Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:55 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/wood forest http://www.wordnik.com/words/forest Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:54 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/forest dark mood http://www.wordnik.com/words/dark mood Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:52 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/dark mood despair http://www.wordnik.com/words/despair Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:49 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/despair devil http://www.wordnik.com/words/devil Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:47 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/devil mare http://www.wordnik.com/words/mare Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:44 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/mare discontent http://www.wordnik.com/words/discontent Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:41 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/discontent landlord http://www.wordnik.com/words/landlord Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:35 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/landlord debate http://www.wordnik.com/words/debate Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:32 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/debate gear http://www.wordnik.com/words/gear Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:30 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/gear meat http://www.wordnik.com/words/meat Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:28 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/meat command http://www.wordnik.com/words/command Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:25 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/command bargain http://www.wordnik.com/words/bargain Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:19 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/bargain beast http://www.wordnik.com/words/beast Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:17 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/beast aright http://www.wordnik.com/words/aright Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:15 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/aright toddle http://www.wordnik.com/words/toddle Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:12 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/toddle ovens http://www.wordnik.com/words/ovens Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:10 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/ovens prospered http://www.wordnik.com/words/prospered Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:04 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/prospered lament http://www.wordnik.com/words/lament Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:41:00 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/lament silly http://www.wordnik.com/words/silly Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:56 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/silly deed http://www.wordnik.com/words/deed Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:54 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/deed droppings http://www.wordnik.com/words/droppings Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:44 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/droppings stark naked http://www.wordnik.com/words/stark naked Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:41 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/stark naked barrel http://www.wordnik.com/words/barrel Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:39 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/barrel feathers http://www.wordnik.com/words/feathers Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:36 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/feathers tea http://www.wordnik.com/words/tea Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:34 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/tea navel http://www.wordnik.com/words/navel Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:32 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/navel steam http://www.wordnik.com/words/steam Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:31 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/steam hiss http://www.wordnik.com/words/hiss Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:29 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/hiss damned http://www.wordnik.com/words/damned Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:27 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/damned quail http://www.wordnik.com/words/quail Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:39:55 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/quail dwell http://www.wordnik.com/words/dwell Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:39:35 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/dwell demons http://www.wordnik.com/words/demons Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:39:33 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/demons