Once there was a lady
A lady in the land
She called out to the devil
'Oh, you could be my man'
She called out to the devil
'But you must catch me if you can'
He cried 'bide, lady, bide
There's no place you can hide
For the old blacksmith will be your man
And he'll get you for his bride'
Then she turned into a turtle dove
She flew through the air
And he turned into a falcon
And he chased her everywhere
Then she turned into a big brown hare
She flew across the land
And he turned into a greyhound
Crying 'I will be your man'
Then she turned into a bedspread
She spread across the bed
And he turned into a blanket
And he stole her maidenhead
So come all you ladies
When you choose your man
Never choose a devil
For he'll get you if he can'
He'll cry 'bide, lady, bide
For there's no place you can hide
For the old blacksmith will be your man
And he'll get you for his bride'