Appalachian ballad singer Texas Gladden (1947) | "The Devil and the Farmer's Wife" [Child 278]

“I have a perfect mental picture of every song I sing. I have a perfect picture of every person I learned it from, very few people I don't remember. When I sing a song, a person pops up, and it's a very beautiful story. I can see Mary Hamilton, I can see where the old Queen came down to the kitchen, can see them all gathered around, and I can hear her tell Mary Hamilton to get ready, I can see the whole story, I can see them as they pass through the gate, I can see the ladies looking over their casements, I can see her as she goes up the Parliament steps, and I can see her when she goes to the gallows. I can hear her last words, and I can see all just the most beautiful picture.”
- Texas Gladden
Please see the video for information about the song and the singer.
The commentary is spoken by Pete Seeger.
Here is a wonderful rendition of the song performed by Texas Gladden and accompanied by her brother Hobart Smith (1897-1965): • The Devil And The Farm...
And this is a recording of Gladden singing the ballad at the Washington, D.C. National Folk Festival in 1938: • The Devil And The Farm...
Each version uses slightly different lyrics.
You can compare the Texas Gladden's recordings to other traditional versions:
Jean Ritchie (Kentucky, USA): • The Little Devils
Walter Pardon (Norfolk, England): • Walter Pardon - The De...
Thomas Moran (Co. Leitrim, Ireland): • The Farmer's Curst Wif...
Support this channel on Patreon: patreon.com/Th...

[@TheFolkRevivalProject]

The main purpose of this channel is to conserve and share authentic recordings of all kinds of traditional music. If you support this goal and appreciate this channel's content, consider subscribing!
I have already uploaded several videos about Appalachian music:
Where did Appalachian music come from?
th-cam.com/video/WRIkXGlttyg/w-d-xo.html
The first ever video of Appalachian music (1928) | "Doggett Gap" - Bascom Lamar Lunsford
th-cam.com/video/EVxjnXEEBnU/w-d-xo.html
Appalachian Ballad Singing (1969) | Dillard Chandler, Dellie Norton, Berzilla Wallin th-cam.com/video/11id9wkfvwI/w-d-xo.html
Appalachian musician George Landers performs old ballad "The Scotland Man" (c.1960s)
th-cam.com/video/TR-jlH7Qs3A/w-d-xo.html
These include several rare videos of the Appalachian ballad singer and dulcimer player Jean Ritchie:
th-cam.com/video/phseXZaPoo8/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/SCbNTbJKqMI/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/piV-BGDHLF4/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/TMBqoeCTcQE/w-d-xo.html

[@isabellaaaa1018]

Im so honored for this wonderful woman to be my great great grandmother. ❤

[@sandramorey2529]

I had forgotten about Texas. She could sing a ballad along as 30 verses. Thanks for the reminder.

[@Liederfuchs]

Thank you for sharing this gem and for reminding me of Texas Gladden.
What a wonderful singer. And I also love the interviews that Alan Lomax did with her. It's fascinating.
I'm happy that these recordings exist. Giving us a small glimpse at what the singing tradition was like back then.
There were probably many singers like Texas that were never "discovered" and recorded to any extend. Singing for themselves and their family but nobody else took notice and their song repertoires have been lost to time.

[@PlanetImo]

Awesome! I loved this. I appreiate your growing archive.

[@clawhammerchris]

This is really cool, thank you for your work.

[@frogmarch1000]

Love the lyrics...'she's been to hell and she's ten times worse'.

[@emilinebelle7811]

I love white culture. White culture of all kinds. Just so damn impressive and nostalgic and wonderful and comfortable. I wish I was born then and not now.. people were better then. Life was better then.

[@pvyll777]

🤣🤣🤡🤡🙄🙄

[@user-td4do3op2d]

"White culture" and "black culture" are meaningless phrases. There are many distinct and diverse white and black cultures. You're trying to defend "white culture" but you don't realise you're diminishing white cultures by grouping them together.

[@Liederfuchs]

That's a very generalised way to see things.
There's always been a back and forth between people of all sorts of cultural backgrounds and we're all the better for it.

[@yeehaw3792]

​@@LiederfuchsLook at the world today and tell me you actually believe that

[@yeehaw3792]

@@Liederfuchs Yeah but why is it bad to like white cultures or cultures defended from western europeans specifically? Why is that sort of homogeneity bad?