Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD DEVILS DREAM
From: Les B
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 07:22 PM

Here's the way I heard them, but can't remember the source!

OLD DEVILS DREAM
Songwriter ???

Young devils find love most every night.
They lie with their dreams in their arms 'til daylight.
They use love like whiskey, their cares to dissolve:
To warm them and charm them, but not to involve.

CHORUS: Old devils dream, all alone it seems.
Old devils dream all alone.
When their devilment is done, all their wildest races run,
Old devils dream all alone.

Now I was a young devil, sturdy and proud.
I used to laugh long; I used to laugh loud.
I laughed when you told me goodbye that last time.
I didn't know how you'd linger on this old devil's mind. CHORUS

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q6-KYkjctk

Subject: RE: Req: Old Devil's Dream & Brand New Tennessee Waltz
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Apr 16 - 11:30 PM

Anybody know a songwriter name for "Old Devil's Dream"?

Subject: RE: Req: Old Devil's Dream & Brand New Tennessee Waltz
From: cnd
Date: 01 May 16 - 01:05 AM

It might be here but it's too small for me to read: https://www.discogs.com/Various-Yazoo-Delta-Blues-And-Spirituals/release/3460946

Subject: ADD Version: Old Devil's Dream
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 May 16 - 02:51 AM

Here's a version with a third verse:

OLD DEVILS DREAM

Young devils find love most every night
They lie with their dreams and in their arms til daylight
They use love like whiskey, their cares to dissolve
To charm them and warm them but, not to involve

I was a young devil sturdy and proud
I used to laugh often, I used to laugh loud
I laughed when you told me goodbye that last time
I didn't know how you'd linger on this old devil's mind

Old devils dream, all alone it seems
Old devils dream all alone
When their devilment is done
Their wildest races run
Old devils dream all alone

Young devils find even they must grow old
Love that was always so warm has grown cold
Their sweet things have vanished and sweet dreams have flown
Sleep when it comes finds them sleeping alone

Source: http://www.bluegrasslyrics.com/node/295

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: deepdoc1
Date: 01 May 16 - 03:10 AM

Oops. Didn't see the new thread.

I have the song as below. I believe the author is correct, and this cut includes the third verse.

Nashville Bluegrass Band
Album: Idle Time
OLD DEVILS DREAM
Thomas Goldsmith

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: deepdoc1
Date: 01 May 16 - 03:17 AM

Here's a link to Thomas Goldsmith

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: GUEST,Thomas Goldsmith
Date: 11 Jul 17 - 09:25 AM

Those lyrics look about right, with an exception in the second line.
It should read:
"Lie with their dreams in their arms til daylight."
Thanks for the interest,
Thomas Goldsmith,
Raleigh, N.C.

---

Thanks, Thomas. I corrected the text. -Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor-

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Jul 17 - 12:38 PM

Don't confuse the bluegrass song by Goldsmith with this one:
Old Devil's Dream - Sid Hemphill & Lucious Smith
Alan Lomax Collection
From the Album Southern Journey V. 3: 61 Highway Mississippi - Delta Country Blues, Spirituals, Work Songs & Dance Music

Can't find the Lomax album online, but this is the same recording with a different label: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAFReuS-wug.
There are no lyrics to this interesting piece.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Jul 17 - 12:40 PM

Bill Monroe has a recording of a tune that's very familiar to me. He calls it "Devil's Dream." Does the Monroe piece have any other name that might be more familiar to me?

Bill Monroe "Devil's Dream": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pFTBcTiyno

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jul 17 - 02:19 PM

Joe, DEVIL'S DREAM is a traditional fiddle piece. I suspect that it is Bill Keith on banjo on this recording. Musically it is similar to another fiddle tune MASON'S APRON.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: Lighter
Date: 25 Jun 20 - 09:46 AM

"Devil's Dream" is also known as "The Devil Among the Tailors."

In fact, according to the New-York Herald (July 10, 1802),

“There was a meeting last evening of all the democratic Taylors at the City-Hotel…. A ball was given…and it is said… only a single tune was heard from the beginning to the end, called ‘The devil among the tailors.’”

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 25 Jun 20 - 09:58 AM

Yes, Devil Among the Tailors is the more usual name around the UK. And yes that was the late Bill Keith on the banjo, one of the free readily accessible recordings of him with Bill Monroe in the early 60s.

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Jun 20 - 04:37 AM

"Deil Among the Tailors" is generally thought of as a Scottish tune, but the earliest copy of it I've seen was in a Scottish manuscript of the 18th century where it was just titled "American Reel".

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: Mo the caller
Date: 26 Jun 20 - 06:15 AM

Devil's Dream is also a well known dance. Sometimes used as the final dance at club evenings. Fast and furious and slightly confusing for those who don't know it. So much so that, watching someone who always wandered in the wrong direction looking lost Ken Alexander wrote a dance Pride of the Pingle which stared with 4 couples marching one way while an odd person goes the other.

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: GUEST,Thomas Goldsmith
Date: 15 Jan 21 - 07:32 AM

Hey, folks,
Just to be clear, my song "Old Devils Dream" was of course inspired by the fiddle tune "Devil's Dream." This happened more 40 years ago (!) but my quest was to answer the musical question: If old devils dream, what do they dream about?"

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Old Devil's Dream
From: meself
Date: 15 Jan 21 - 10:52 AM

Thanks again!