Me and the Devil

Cowboy Junkies

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:
2003
5:12
218 

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Early this morning, he knocked on my door
Early this morning he knocked on my door
I said "Hello, Satan, I believe it's time to go"

Me and The Devil are walkin' side by side
Me and The Devil are walkin' side by side
Well, I'm goin' to beat my man until I get satisfied

He says I don't do him right
That I dog him around
Well, babe, you know you ain't treating me right
He says I don't do him right

That I dog him around
Well, it must be this old evil spirit
So deep down within the ground

You may bury my body down by the highway side
... Oh, babe I don't care what you do with my body
You may bury my body down by the highway side
So my old evil spirit can catch a Greyhound bus and ride

Early this morning, he knocked on my door
Now me and The Devil are walking side by side
Side by side

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Cowboy Junkies

Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band. The group was formed in Toronto in 1985 by Margo Timmins (vocalist), Michael Timmins (songwriter, guitarist), Peter Timmins (drummer) and Alan Anton (bassist). more »

1 fan

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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