Scolding Wife
Great Big Sea Lyrics
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And ever since I lead a life of misery and woe
My wife she is a tyrant around the ??
Ah I'd sell her to the devil for a glass or two of gin
Sure I'll get up and go to work as mild as any man
And she'll get up and dress herself and go and have her dram
And I chance to say a word it's well I know my due
She'll follow me with the fire shovel up and down the room
[Chorus]
And if the devil'd take her I'd thank him for his pain
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again
And if the devil'd take her I'd thank him for his pain
Though I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again
When I get up at breakfast time she'll tap me on the head
When I come home at dinner time I'll find her drunk in bed
When I come home at supper time at patience I must stop
Cause she drinks what's in the teapot and I must drink the slop
[Chorus]
Well once I asked me scolding wife if I could go to bed
She scare gave me an hour on the pillow to lay me head
When like a roarin' lion she came bustin' down the door
She caught me by the middle and threw me naked on the floor
[Chorus]
Now me and my companions go to a public place
She'll search around the neighborhood until she finds my face
She'll hoist me up in ridicule before the company
Sayin' 'Petticoats is your master and forever more shall be'
[Chorus:Repeatx3]
The Great Big Sea's Scolding Wife is a song about an abusive and alcoholic wife who takes out her anger and frustrations on her husband. The singer laments that since he married her, his life has been nothing but misery and woe. He is often on the receiving end of his wife's temper, and she is a tyrant around the house, always wielding the fire shovel as a threat. Even if he mildly confronts her, she is quick to react with violence. The singer's only wish is to sell her to the devil for a glass of gin.
The lyrics continue to describe the husband's plight - he is always walking on eggshells, never knowing when his wife will explode. She drinks excessively, even pouring alcohol into the teapot, making it impossible for the husband to have a peaceful meal. The singer admits that he cannot even ask his wife for permission to sleep; she gives him only an hour to rest before attacking him like a roaring lion.
In the last stanza, the singer talks about his friends' ridicule when he is out in public with them. His wife searches for him and humiliates him in front of everyone, saying that he is now under the control of his "petticoats." The chorus repeats that the singer would rather hang himself or have the devil take his wife, than endure such a marriage again.
Overall, Scolding Wife is a humorous yet poignant representation of the darker side of marriage and the consequences of domestic abuse.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I came into a scolding wife a few short years ago
A few years ago, I married a wife who is always nagging.
And ever since I lead a life of misery and woe
Since then, my life has been filled with sadness and discomfort.
My wife she is a tyrant around the ??
My wife is a cruel and oppressive ruler in our household.
Ah I'd sell her to the devil for a glass or two of gin
I dislike her so much that I'd trade her for alcoholic drinks with the devil.
Sure I'll get up and go to work as mild as any man
I go to work like anyone else without any fuss.
And she'll get up and dress herself and go and have her dram
My wife wakes up and prepares herself before drinking liquor.
And I chance to say a word it's well I know my due
Whenever I say anything, I know that I will face consequences.
She'll follow me with the fire shovel up and down the room
She threatens me with a fire shovel and chasing me around the room.
And if the devil'd take her I'd thank him for his pain
I would be grateful to Satan if he took my wife away and relieved me of her torture.
I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again
I promise to commit suicide before marrying anyone again.
When I get up at breakfast time she'll tap me on the head
When I wake up, she hits me on the head like a drum.
When I come home at dinner time I'll find her drunk in bed
When I come back home for dinner, I see her sleeping drunk in bed.
When I come home at supper time at patience I must stop
At supper time, I'm forced to control my temper.
Cause she drinks what's in the teapot and I must drink the slop
She drinks the good tea, and I'm stuck with the bad tea.
Well once I asked me scolding wife if I could go to bed
Once, I requested permission to go to bed.
She scare gave me an hour on the pillow to lay me head
She barely gave me an hour to rest.
When like a roarin' lion she came bustin' down the door
Suddenly, she came in like a roaring lion and broke the door.
She caught me by the middle and threw me naked on the floor
She grabbed me and threw me onto the ground while I was naked.
Now me and my companions go to a public place
I go out with my friends to a public venue.
She'll search around the neighborhood until she finds my face
She looks for me everywhere until she spots me.
She'll hoist me up in ridicule before the company
She then insults me in front of everyone there.
Sayin' 'Petticoats is your master and forever more shall be'
She says that she is my boss and always will be.
[Chorus]
Repeats the main idea of the song multiple times.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALAN DOYLE, BOB HALLETT, DARRELL POWER, SEAN MCCANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind