The Devil's Fine Red Jacket

by The Hardy Perennials

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about

A ballad loosely based on a Ukrainian folk tale collected by the writer Gogol.

lyrics

There was a devil thrown out of hell, why he was cast forth none could tell
He hid his horns under his hat and on his back he wore a fine red jacket
For his homeland now he did yearn and longed in vain now to return
Being he so sick for sin, he took to drinking in this tavern in his fine red jacket

Was a fine red jacket, was a fine red jacket
The devil's fine red jacket!

Now he took to drinking night and day, until his tab he could not pay
And finding himself out of pocket, he said "I'll pawn that fine red jacket."
To the money lender he did say, "Oh, I'll be back in a month to pay!
I'll be back and be sure to have it. You best take care of my fine red jacket."

Was a fine red jacket, was a fine red jacket
The devil's fine red jacket!

Now in a month he did return, sober and somehow the money earned
But the money lender being bold, had to a sea captain that jacket sold
And he said, "No sir, I don't remember, your face or which you speak of tender." And the devil spitting fury he, he said "No sir, you won't forget me or my fine red jacket!"

Was a fine red jacket, was affine red jacket
The devil's fine red jacket!

The money lender went mad that night, with faces pushed at his window bright and the captain that that jacket wore, was drowned
and his ship wrecked on the shore. And the jacket it got washed away
into the arms of a peddler stray who thinking in this he had been blessed, found that night he could not rest. And found no one would buy his wares, which he peddled at the fair, so he cut that jacket in a hundred pieces, threw it on the ground and he ran from there and that fine red jacket.

Was a fine red jacket, was a fine red jacket
The devil's fine red jacket!

So if you are dancing at the fair, with a fair maiden and you see there
A flicker of red of that garment found, be sure don't pick it from the ground, for he'll be back to stitch it bit by bit, what once the flames of hell had lit. Be sure that he'll be back to have it. The devil will come for his fine red jacket!

Was a fine red jacket, was a fine red jacket
The devil's fine red jacket!

credits

released June 9, 2018
Lyrics and music by Joe Harvey
Guitar and vocal: Joe Harvey
Mandolin and whistle: Neil Hamlin
Fiddle: Pam Grieve Russell
Bass: Harry Mack

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Joe Harvey And The Hardy Perennials England, UK

The Hardy Perennials are a four-piece folk band based in Essex, headed by songwriter Joe Harvey. Initially performing Thomas Hardy poems set to simple folk melodies, the group have gone on to write their own material and perform at a range of local venues and folk festivals in Essex. ... more

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