There was an old man lived foot of the hill If he ain't moved away, he's 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 I'm 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, you'll 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, you're 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, we'll 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, she's 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 won't have me and I don't 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 won't have me and I don't 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