Bob Ingersoll and the Devil
DESCRIPTION: "Some dese days gwine hit 'im. Ingersoll sing anudder song When de debill git 'im. Debbil watch fo' sich as him." The singer describes with seeming relish how the Devil will gather Ingersoll and dance as the dead man suffers
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1952 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: devil Hell humorous
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Brown/Belden/Hudson-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore3 348, "Bob Ingersoll and the Devil" (1 text)
Roud #11736
NOTES [84 words]: The presumed target of this song, Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899), was known mostly as a professional agnostic. Since the general attitude has always been that non-Christians, especially vocal non-Christians, were damnable, he is an obvious target for this particular piece of religious intolerance.
Bob Ingersoll's non-Christianity was so infamous that he apparently is mentioned in three different songs: "Bob Ingersoll and the Devil," "The Donkey Song," and some versions of "When This Old Hat Was New." - RBW
Last updated in version 2.6
File: Br3348
Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography
The Ballad Index Copyright 2024 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.