The Devil’s Nine Questions

Folk singer Texas Gladden performs "The Devil's Nine Questions" on Archive of Folk Culture—Anglo-American Ballads, Volume one.

Oh you must answer my questions nine
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
Or you’re not God’s, you’re one of mine
And you are the weaver’s bonny.

What is whiter than the milk?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is softer than the silk?
And you are the weaver’s bonny.

Snow is whiter than the milk
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And down is softer than the silk,
And I am the weaver’s bonny.

Oh, what is higher than a tree?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety
And what is deeper than the sea?
And you are the weaver’s bonny.

Heaven’s higher than a tree
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And hell is deeper than the sea
And I am the weaver’s bonny.

What is louder than a horn?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is sharper than a thorn?
And you are the weaver’s bonny.

Thunder’s louder than a horn
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And death is sharper than a thorn
And I am the weaver’s bonny.

What’s more innocent than a lamb?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is meaner than womankind?
And you are the weaver’s bonny.

A babe’s more innocent than a lamb
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And the devil is meaner than woman-kind
And I am the weaver’s bonny.

Oh you have answered my questions nine
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And you are God’s, you’re none of mine
And you are the weaver’s bonny.