Devil Music
Sanctified Struggles: Devil's Music Echoes a Soul's Journey
Lyrics
Wolf cried all the way to Memphis
Expressing sorrow as the wolf travels to Memphis.
'Cause his mama turned him
His mother rejected him, leading to his distress.
Turned him away
Confirmation that the mother turned the wolf away.
Don't you know he searched her out
The wolf seeks out his mother after achieving success.
After he was doing good
After improving his situation, possibly financially.
Little town in Mississippi
Refers to a small Mississippi town where the wolf was driving a luxurious car (Pontiac).
He was drivin a big Pontiac
Describes the wolf's mode of transportation.
You know he ran up to her
The wolf approaches his mother and calls her by name.
You know he called her by name
Expressing familiarity and a desire to assist.
Said, mama, can I help you out, I'm doin' good
Attempts to give money to his mother, but she rejects him.
Tried to slip her some money
Continuation of the failed attempt to help with monetary assistance.
But she turned him away, turned him away
Reiteration of the mother turning the wolf away.
Devil get away from me
The wolf invokes the devil to stay away from him.
Sanctified
Describing a state of being sanctified or purified.
Mama, I can't stop playin' that devil music
The wolf confesses to being unable to stop playing "devil music."
Devil music got in my soul
The influence of devil music on the wolf's soul is acknowledged.
I'm satisfied that everybody's wrong sometime
Expresses acceptance that everyone makes mistakes or is wrong at times.
I'm satisfied that nobody knows for sure
Acknowledges uncertainty and the impossibility of knowing everything.
And you can't change a sanctified mind
Emphasizes the difficulty of changing a sanctified mind.
But the need of a mother's love can't be denied
Recognizes the undeniable need for a mother's love.
Mama, I can't stop playin' that devil music
Reiteration of the wolf's struggle with devil music.
Devil music got in my soul
Confirmation of devil music affecting the wolf's soul.
Older than your Bible
Attributes certain qualities to devil music: age, meanness, strength, and depth.
Mean as it needs to be
Describes devil music as mean as needed.
Stronger than a hurricane
Compares devil music to a powerful force like a hurricane.
Deep as the Mississippi
Compares devil music to the depth of the Mississippi River.
Keep you moanin in the midnight hour
Suggests that devil music keeps one going in difficult times.
Keep you goin when you want to give up
Highlights the resilience provided by devil music.
Make you laugh at the twists and turns
Indicates that devil music makes one find humor in life's challenges.
Of a life gone wrong
Reflects on the twists and turns of a troubled life.
At the cruel world spinning
Comments on the world's cruelty and its continuous spin.
At the wrong crowd winning
Reflects on the wrong crowd prevailing.
Call it what you want to
Allows for different interpretations of devil music, emphasizing sanctification.
Sanctified
Reaffirms sanctification despite the influence of devil music.
Mama, I can't stop playin' that devil music
Repeats the struggle of the wolf with devil music.
Devil music got in my soul
Confirms the intrusion of devil music into the wolf's soul.
Keep you workin in the fields
Describes the impact of devil music on labor and daily life.
Keep you livin through the hurricane
Highlights the resilience provided by devil music during a hurricane.
Big man cryin
References a big man crying on the way to Memphis, possibly affected by devil music.
All the way to Memphis
Repeats the idea of crying on the journey to Memphis.
Cry, cry, cry
Emphasizes the emotional impact through repetitive cries.
Hubert said they couldn't settle him down
Hubert is mentioned as someone unsettled, possibly by devil music.
Cry, cry, cry
Continuation of the cry motif, suggesting emotional turmoil.
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