Lyrics
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Expression of agreement or excitement
I saw the devil
Reference to encountering evil or negativity
The contrary man
Describing someone as contrary or opposing
I saw the devil down the long, long road
Encountering the devil on a long and challenging journey
He said to me, boy
The devil expressing a desire for the narrator's soul
He said to me, boy
-He said to me, boy
-I want your soul
The narrator refusing to give up their soul
I said no
Reiteration of the narrator's refusal
I said no
-I said no
-You can't take my soul
Firm rejection of the devil's request
No
Continued refusal to surrender the soul
I said no
-I said no, no
-You can't take my soul
-I took a while and thought about it
Reflecting on the decision at the crossroads, a symbolic place of decision-making
Down at the crossroads temptin' fate
-I took a while and thought about it
-Down at the crossroads temptin' fate
-Yeah, yeah, yeah
Acceptance of the devil's demand for the soul
You can take my soul
-Yeah, yeah, yeah
-You can take my soul
-Take my soul
Emphasizing the willingness to give up the soul
I want it all, yeah
Expressing a desire for everything, possibly related to the soul
Play it, baby
Musical interlude
Ow, yeah, ow
-Zany antics of a beat generation
Describing the unconventional and rebellious behavior of the beat generation
In their wild search for kicks
-Fighting, drinking, scorning convention
-Making wild love, making wild love
-I saw the devil
Repetition of the devil's demand and the narrator's acceptance
The contrary man
-I saw the devil down the long, long road
-He said to me, boy
-He said to me, boy
-He said to me, boy
-I want your soul
-I said yeah
Affirmation of willingness to give up the soul
I said yeah
-I said yeah
-Yeah...
-I want it all
Expressing a desire for everything
I want it all
-Yeah
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