Never Let The Devil Get The Upper Hand Of You - Carter Family

My tender parents brought me up

Provided for me well

Twas in the city of Lanson Town

They placed me in a mill

It was there I spied a pretty fair miss

On whom I cast my eye

I asked her if she’d marry me

And she believed a lie

Three weeks ago last Saturday night

Of course it was the day

The devil put it in my mind

To take her life away

I went into her sisters house

At eight o’clock one night

But little did the sister?

think

On her I had my spite

I asked her if she’d take a walk

With me a little ways

That she and I might have a talk

About our wedding day

We walked along until we came

To my little desert place

I grabbed a stick off of the fence

And struck her in the face

I run my fingers through her coal black hair

To cover up my sin

I drug her to the river side

And there I plunged her in

I started back unto my mill

I met my servant John

He asked me why I was so pale

And it so very warm

Come all young men and warning take

Unto your lovers be true

And never let the devil get

The upper hand of you

I met my servant John