DEVILISH MARY

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Song Title
DEVILISH MARY
Writers
Lomax Alan, Lomax John A
Publisher
Essex Music Group (Pty) Ltd. (ASCAP)
% Publisher Controls
100%
Territory Controlled
South Africa
Themes/Keywords
1940's, Breakup, Devil, Lady, London, Marriage, Mary, Mean, Violence
Lyrics
I went up to London Town
To court a fair young lady;
I inquired about her name
And they called her Devilish Mary.

Chorus:
Come a fa la ling, come a ling, come a ling,
Come a fa la ling, come a derry.

Me and Mary began to spark,
She got in a hurry,
Made it all up into her mind
That she’d marry the very next Thursday. (Chorus)

We hadn’t been married but about two weeks
Before we ought to been parted;
Every time I looked cross-eyed,
She knocked me in the head with the shovel. (Chorus)

She washed my clothes with the old soapsuds,
She filled my bath with switches,
She let me know right at the start
She was gonna wear my britches. (Chorus)

One day I said to Mary,
“Oh, we’d better be parted”.
Just as soon as I said the word,
Bundled up her clothes and started. (Chorus)

She filled my heart with sadness,
She sewed my side with stitches,
She jumped and she kicked and she popped her heels,
And she swore she’d wear my britches. (Chorus)

If I ever marry again in this wide world,
It’ll be for love, and not for riches;
Marry a little girl about two feet high
So she can’t wear the britches. (Chorus)

Recordings

Recording Artist Genre Mood Arrangement Era iTunes
Odetta Blues, Pop Cheerful, Loving, Playful Acoustic Guitar, Live Performance, Vocal 1960's Buy >
Pete Seeger Singer/Songwriter Cheerful, Loving, Playful, Swinging Banjo, Vocal 1990's Buy >

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