Devilish Mary (1957) - Odetta

I one dressed up and went to town

To court a fair young lady

When I inquired about her name

Her name was Devilish Mary

Come fa la ling come, ling come

Fa la ling come, day

Fa la ling come, ling come

Fa la ling come, day

When me and Mary began to spark

She got in a hurry

Made it all up in her mind

She’d marry me next Thursday

Hadn’t been married for about two weeks

Before we oughta been parted

Hadn’t said one single word

She’d kicked up her heels and started

One day I said to Mary

«Think we ought to be parted.»

And just as soon as I said the word

She packed all her clothes and started

She washed my clothes in old soap suds

And filled up my bathtub with switches

She let me know right from the start

She was gonna wear my britches

Now if I ever marry again

It’ll be for love not riches

Marry a little girl about two feet high

And she can’t wear my britches