Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Dandoo / The Wee Cooper o' Fife / The Scolding Wife / Gentle Fair Jenny / Jennifer Gentle / As the Dew Flies over the Green Vallee / Robin-a-Thrush / Rissolty Rossolty / Hobblety Bobblety / Nickety Nackety / The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin (Child No. 277) - Sung by John Jacob Niles on "The Ballads of John Jacob Niles" (1960).
Note by Kevin W.:
Likely a ballad recreation based on traditional Kentucky texts.
Niles was very good at writing or fixing up tunes. His idiosyncratic singing style may be an aquired taste, but some of the ballads he arranged from print texts are fine, singable pieces.
Song transcription:
Oh, I married a wife and I tuck her to home,
As the gentle young Jenny, the rosemary tree,
And I many times wished I'd let her alone,
As the doe skims over the green valley.
But I, bein' young, I tuck me to wife,
As the gentle young Jenny, the rosemary tree,
A woman who plagued me out of my life,
As the doe skims over the green valley.
Oh, for fear of her spoilin' her pretty cloth shoes,
The pots in the kitchen she never would use.
Oh, first day when so weary I come from my plow,
Say, "Wife, dearest wife, can I eat a bit now?"
"Lays a piece of stale pone on yon highest shelf,
If you want more for dinner, go git it yourself."
Oh, next day, as before, come I in from my plow,
Say, "Wife, dearest wife, can I eat a bit now?"
Oh, she grabbed a hot spider, [*] said, "You git away,
'Cause they hain't no more cooked than they was yesterday."
Oh, I went to my woodland, aside of my barn,
And I cut me a hickory as long as my arm.
And then, in a twinkle, I quickly went back,
And I whacked my woman a lackety-smack.
Oh, next e'en, as before, come I in from my plow,
Say, "Wife, dearest wife, can I eat a bit now?"
Oh, she flew and she fluttered, the board it was spread,
And when I bespoke me, 'twas "Yes, sir!" she said.
* Skillet, frying pan.
Dandoo / The Wee Cooper o' Fife / The Scolding Wife / Gentle Fair Jenny / Jennifer Gentle / As the Dew Flies over the Green Vallee / Robin-a-Thrush / Rissolty Rossolty / Hobblety Bobblety / Nickety Nackety / The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin (Child No. 277) - Sung by John Jacob Niles on "The Ballads of John Jacob Niles" (1960).
Note by Kevin W.:
Likely a ballad recreation based on traditional Kentucky texts.
Niles was very good at writing or fixing up tunes. His idiosyncratic singing style may be an aquired taste, but some of the ballads he arranged from print texts are fine, singable pieces.
Song transcription:
Oh, I married a wife and I tuck her to home,
As the gentle young Jenny, the rosemary tree,
And I many times wished I'd let her alone,
As the doe skims over the green valley.
But I, bein' young, I tuck me to wife,
As the gentle young Jenny, the rosemary tree,
A woman who plagued me out of my life,
As the doe skims over the green valley.
Oh, for fear of her spoilin' her pretty cloth shoes,
The pots in the kitchen she never would use.
Oh, first day when so weary I come from my plow,
Say, "Wife, dearest wife, can I eat a bit now?"
"Lays a piece of stale pone on yon highest shelf,
If you want more for dinner, go git it yourself."
Oh, next day, as before, come I in from my plow,
Say, "Wife, dearest wife, can I eat a bit now?"
Oh, she grabbed a hot spider, [*] said, "You git away,
'Cause they hain't no more cooked than they was yesterday."
Oh, I went to my woodland, aside of my barn,
And I cut me a hickory as long as my arm.
And then, in a twinkle, I quickly went back,
And I whacked my woman a lackety-smack.
Oh, next e'en, as before, come I in from my plow,
Say, "Wife, dearest wife, can I eat a bit now?"
Oh, she flew and she fluttered, the board it was spread,
And when I bespoke me, 'twas "Yes, sir!" she said.
* Skillet, frying pan.
