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The Devil's Nine Questions

from The Weaver's Bonny 2009 by Atwater-Donnelly

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    THE WEAVER’S BONNY (2009)
    Ever growing and expanding, award-winning vocal, instrumental, and dance artists Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly have outdone themselves again with this, their eleventh CD. Joined by their talented friends Cathy Clasper-Torch, Kevin Doyle, John and Heidi Cerrigione and son, Uriah Donnelly, you will hear compelling, emotionally-charged vocals accompanied by banjo, fiddle, guitar, mountain and hammered dulcimers, tin whistle, mandolin, cello, autoharp, piano, bass and percussion. Those who have followed Atwater~Donnelly over their 35-year career know that Aubrey and Elwood are constantly exploring the archives of American folk music and dance, and putting their own stamp on the tradition. Here is a stunning collection of cherished old songs, as well as two original songs by their dear friend Daniel Dutton, and some astonishing footwork by Aubrey and world-class dancer Kevin Doyle. Enjoy this dazzling journey into the musical world of our foreparents filled with love, longing, betrayal, separation, conflict, joy and triumph!

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Weaver's Bonny 2009 via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.     ... more
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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The Boat You Row Atwater-Donnelly 2022, The World Is Old Tonight, Each Other's Story 2011, The Weaver's Bonny 2009, The Halfway Ground 2007, When Winter Calls 2005, The Blackest Crow 2004, And Then I'm Going Home 2001, and 6 more. , and , .

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about

The Devil's Nine Questions
Traditional. Child Ballad #1, also known as "Riddles Wisely Expounded."

One of a category of ancient songs that deal with riddles, such as "I Gave My Love a Cherry" and "Scarborough Fair." In this type of song, a child or young woman outwits the devil by answering questions correctly. We chose "The Weaver's Bonny" as the title of our album not only because of the beauty of the words but because of their ambiguity: the weaver's bonny could be interpreted as the weaver's girlfriend or as God's favorite or…you decide!

lyrics

You must answer my questions nine, sing ninety-nine and ninety
Or you're not God's, you're one of mine, you're the weaver's bonny

If you don't answer my questions nine, sing ninety-nine and ninety
I'll take you off to hell alive, you're the weaver's bonny

What is softer than the silk, sing ninety-nine and ninety
And what is whiter than the milk, you're the weaver's bonny

Down is softer than the silk, sing ninety-nine and ninety
And snow is whiter than the milk, and now I'm the weaver's bonny

What is louder than a horn, sing ninety-nine and ninety
And what is sharper than a thorn, you're the weaver's bonny

Thunder is louder than a horn, sing ninety-nine and ninety
And hunger is sharper than a thorn, I'm the weaver's bonny

What is higher than a tree, sing ninety-nine and ninety
And what is deeper than the sea, you're the weaver's bonny

Heaven is higher than a tree, sing ninety-nine and ninety
And hell is deeper than the sea, I'm the weaver's bonny

Instrumental

What's more innocent than a lamb, sing ninety-nine and ninety
And what is meaner than womankind, you're the weaver's bonny

A babe's more innocent than a lamb, sing ninety-nine and ninety
And the devil is meaner than womankind, and now I'm the weaver's bonny

You have answered my questions nine, sing ninety-nine and ninety
You are God's, you're not one of mine, you're the weaver's bonny
You're the weaver's bonny
I'm the weaver's bonny
I'm the weaver's bonny

credits

from The Weaver's Bonny 2009, released May 9, 2009
Aubrey Atwater: guitar, vocals
Elwood Donnelly: guitar, vocals
Cathy Clasper-Torch: violin, vocals
Kevin Doyle: djembe

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Atwater-Donnelly Warren, Rhode Island

Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly, present delightful programs of traditional American and Celtic folk songs, a capella pieces, old-time gospel songs, dance tunes, and original works, blending gorgeous harmonies with guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer, mandolin, tin whistle, harmonica, banjo, bones, spoons, limberjacks, and Appalachian clog dancing and French Canadian footwork. ... more

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