Devil Man's Blues
Rebelling Against the Devil Man's Blues: A Musical Journey of Freedom
Lyrics
My grandfather was a hellfire brim stone preacher with the truth on the back of his hand
Grandfather was a strict preacher with a strong sense of truth.
Said I'd loose my soul to that sinful rocking roll and it'd keep me out the promise land
Warning about losing the soul to rock and roll and missing the promised land.
Well I'd heard that bit my damn whole life and I never could quite understand
Expressing confusion about the warnings received throughout life.
Why God would ever care if I grew my hair and played guitar in a barefoot band like this,
Questioning why God would be concerned about appearance and music preferences.
Well on with story, I don't wanna bore ya so I'll get to the which-a-what I'm talking about
Introducing the story and expressing a desire not to bore the listener.
See I made a plan to play one Friday night to leave soon as the old man's light went out
Planning to play music after the preacher's passing.
Well I tuned up, toked up, snuck out and showed up to a place called Oscars bar and grill
Sneaking out to play music at Oscars bar and grill.
The crowd was bark'n so I played Jerry Jeff walker and the tip jar started to fill, get it
Playing music, and the crowd's response leads to earning tips.
I was about two minutes in to pissing in the wind when big Jim and Susie Landon started to fall
Encountering opposition from Big Jim and Susie Landon while performing.
Someone shouted out above all that noise hey hey hey preachers here ya'l
Discovery that a preacher is in the audience.
Well I didn't hear a pin drop but I heard a quarter fall and roll under the twelve song jukebox
Noticing a reaction from the crowd, emphasizing tension.
Should've seen those people perk up like a steeple could hear em shaking in their boots and socks Lord, Lord, Lord
Describing the audience's fearful and surprised reaction.
Well It didn't matter to him if all it was to me was a poor boy paying his dues
Indifferent to the preacher's judgment, focusing on paying dues as a poor musician.
If it wasn't church hymns to him it was sin and the rest was the devil mans blues
Preacher sees anything other than church hymns as sin, including the blues.
Think if his logic is a ringer then all those dead folk singers got the hot end of the big pitchfork
Suggesting deceased folk singers faced punishment in the afterlife.
Now I understand what he meant when he said the answers on the other side of the door
Understanding the preacher's perspective on the afterlife.
But I've a found a piece of heaven cranking it to eleven getting three truths and a chord
Finding joy and truth in playing loud music despite the preacher's warnings.
And if all i get it is you saying whoo-hoo then i think I'm alright with the Lord
Content with receiving approval from the Lord through the enjoyment of music.
So far I haven't changed or burst into flames or get a forty day biblical plague
Reflecting on a life unchanged despite defying the preacher's warnings.
And all though I've been in Nashville for 16 long years and still haven't broken a single damn leg
Surviving in Nashville for 16 years without facing dire consequences.
I've seemed to get by getting high written songs against everything that he said
Thriving by creating music against the preacher's teachings.
I wonder when he died and opened his eyes if he saw Mr. Bojangles sing and dance a jig
Wondering if the preacher, in the afterlife, observed a famous performer.
Well It didn't matter to him if all it was to me was a poor boy paying his dues
Reiteration of indifference to the preacher's judgment.
If it wasn't church hymns to him it was sin and the rest was the devil mans blues
Highlighting the preacher's disdain for anything other than church hymns.
devil mans blues
Repetition of the term "devil mans blues."
devil man
Repetition of the term "devil man."
devil mans blues
Repetition of the term "devil mans blues."
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