Me and the Devil

Gil Scott-Heron

About Me and the Devil

"Me and the Devil Blues" is a blues song by Robert Johnson. It tells the story of the singer's waking up one morning to the devil knocking on the door, telling him that "it's time to go". The lyrics concluded with the lines "You may bury my body down by the highway side" / "So my old evil spirit can catch a Greyhound bus and ride." Johnson recorded the song, among others, in a warehouse in Dallas, that served as a makeshift recording studio, on June 19, 1937. It was his final recording session. The song has become a blues standard and been covered, among others, by Peter Green Splinter Group, Cowboy Junkies, Eric Clapton, Soap&Skin, Widespread Panic, TS McPhee, Gil Scott-Heron, Black Stone Cherry and The Doors. 


Year:
2010
3:33
551 
#3

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Early this morning
When you knocked upon my door
Early this morning
When you knocked upon my door
And I say: hello satan
I believe, it's time to go
Me and the devil
Walking side by side
Me and the devil
Walking side by side
And I'm gonna see my woman
'til I get satisfied
See see, you don't see why
Like you'a dog me 'round
Say, I don't see why
People dawging me around
It must be that old evil spirit
That spirit drop me down in your ground
You may bury my body
Down by the highway side
You may bury my body
Down by the highway side
So my old evil spirit
Can greyhound bus that ride

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Gil Scott-Heron

Gilbert "Gil" Scott-Heron (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011) was an American soul and jazz poet, musician, and author, known primarily for his work as a spoken word performer in the 1970s and '80s. His collaborative efforts with musician Brian Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues, and soul, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. His own term for himself was "bluesologist", which he defined as "a scientist who is concerned with the origin of the blues." His music, most notably on Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. more »

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Written by: ROBERT JOHNSON

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Origin
"Me and the Devil" is originally a song by American blues musician Robert Johnson. The song has been covered by a variety of artists, including Cowboy Junkies and Gil Scott-Heron.
Release Date
Cowboy Junkies' cover of "Me and the Devil" was released on their 1992 album "Black Eyed Man." Gil Scott-Heron's cover was released on his 2010 album "I'm New Here."
Song Themes
The song lyrics are about a man who feels haunted by the devil and believes he will die soon. It touches on heavy themes of morality, sin, and death. Both Cowboy Junkies and Gil Scott-Heron maintained these themes in their covers.
Interpretation
Cowboy Junkies gave the song a psychedelic, folk-country sound, consistent with their musical style. Gil Scott-Heron, with his unique mix of jazz, blues, and soul, delivered a more rhythmic and poetic interpretation of the song.
Lyrics Changes - While the original song by Robert Johnson includes the lines
"Early this morning, when you knocked upon my door... And I said, 'Hello Satan, I believe it's time to go.’" Gil Scott Heron changes these lines to: "Early this morning, when you knocked upon my door... And I said, 'Hello, Devil, I believe it's time to go.'"
Album Impact
For Gil Scott-Heron, "I'm New Here," which features "Me and the Devil," was his first album in 16 years and was widely acclaimed by critics. For the Cowboy Junkies, their album "Black Eyed Man" was their third major-label release and helped to solidify their status in the alternative country scene.
Music Video
The music video for Gil Scott-Heron's version is a brooding, atmospheric piece that draws heavily on the song's theme of moral struggle.
Live Performances
Cowboy Junkies have included "Me and the Devil" in their live performances. The song's slow, haunting melody is representative of their unique sound.
Legacy
Despite being a cover song, both versions by Cowboy Junkies and Gil Scott-Heron have been praised for successfully capturing and reinterpreting the essence of the original blues song by Robert Johnson.
Collaboration
On the same album with "Me and the Devil", Gil Scott-Heron also included a remix by Jamie xx, showing the broad potential and flexibility of the song across different genres and styles.

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