There was an old man lived foot of the hill
If he aint moved away, hes a-livin there still
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
He hitched up his horse and went out to plow
How he got around we never knew how
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
Ol devil come to him in the field one day
Sayin, 'One of your family Im gonna take away'
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
Take her on, take her on with the joy of my heart
I hope, by golly, youll never part
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
Ol devil got her all up on his back
He looked like a pedlar with a hump on his back
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
Ol devil got to the forks of the road
He said 'Old lady, youre a hell of a load'
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
Ol devil got to the gates of hell
Said, 'Punch the fire up, well scorch her well'
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
Out come a little devil a- draggin a chain
She picked up a hatchet and split out his brains
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
Out come a little devil a-skatin on a wall
Said, 'Take her back, Daddy, shes a-murderin us all'
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
Little devil was a -peepin out the crack
Said, 'Take her home, Daddy, don't you bring her back'
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
The old man was a-peepin out the crack
He seen the old devil come wagonin her back
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
The old man lay sick in the bed
She up with a butter stick and rattled his head
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
The old lady went whistlin over the hill
Said, 'The devil wont have me and I dont know who will'
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
Now you see what a woman can do
She can outdo the devil and the old man too
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
The old lady went whistlin over the hill
Said, 'The devil wont have me and I dont know who will'
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
The old man was a-peepin out the crack
He seen the old devil come wagonin her back
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
The old man lay sick in the bed
She up with a butter stick and rattled his head
Singin fa diddle-a , diddle-a, fa diddle-a, diddle-a day
Now you see what a woman can do
She can outdo the devil and the old man too
Singin fa diddle-a, diddle-a , fa diddle-a, diddle-a day