The crooked rib
Language: English
When women were first created They were created out of man, From a long and crooked rib; Now deny it if you can. From a long and crooked rib Created women were, That goes to show the crooked Nature some women have. To be a faithful wife for Adam The Lord created Eve, But they weren't long in the garden When she did him deceive. Oh Satan whispered in her ear Her husband to betray And most women are subject to that sin Up 'til the present day. I often heard men boast and say They had a splendid wife, And that they were enjoying all The comforts of this life, But if you would mislist them It's quick they'd let you know. No bridle reins would hold them in, No spurs would make them go. When women were first created It was for a man's sake, So proud are they like Lucifer; Deceitful as a snake; They'll dress themselves all in their best, Like mermaids they will sing, And when they get men in their snares, Like serpents they will sting. So now to conclude And to finish out my rhyme, I hope this will a warning be For all of young mankind. From trouble and a bad wife, Kind fortune set me free, And from great guns and bad women's tongues O Lord deliver me.
Note: Collected from Tommy Banks, Annandale, P.E.I. (originally composed by Don Somers of St. Georges, P.E.I.)
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Robert James Berkeley Fleming (1921 - 1976), "The crooked rib" [voice and piano], from the collection Six Folksongs from Prince Edward arranged by Robert Fleming, no. 4, arrangement [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-05-21
Line count: 40
Word count: 227