Songs about the Devil

Subject: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: reggie miles
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 12:05 PM

I have found, by poking about (way too many) garage sales, a curious song. I now have three different versions of this song by three different rural style blues singers. Each version has a different title and the verses and melodies used are different in each rendition but it's basically the same song. One is titled, "The Evil Devil Woman Blues". Another is called, "The Devil's Got My Woman", and the last and probably best known of the three is called, "I'd Rather Be The Devil". While these three blues songs are not strictly about the devil but rather about a man's devilish woman. The devil is mentioned prominently several times in the verses and the titles.

I'm interested in older songs, 1900-1950s, and would like to learn a few songs from that period about the devil. I'm curious to know if any of the folks who frequent this site might know of any songs they could suggest. I enjoy songs within that same style of primitive or rural delta folk blues but any style offerings from that period would be acceptable and greatly appreciated even novelty or comical songs.

Many thanks, Reggie Miles

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 12:09 PM

Hundreds, of all ages and kinds. You can still search the DT by subject keyword, and @devil will get you rather a lot to be going on with.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: reggie miles
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 12:26 PM

Yes, thanks Malcolm, that is a good place to start, but that search will offer results where the word devil is merely mentioned on the page and not specifically what I was hoping for which are songs (about the devil). Is there an alternate method of posting my request to the DT or forum that could achieve more desirable results?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 12:36 PM

House Carpenter

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 12:43 PM

If we're going back further than the 20th Century, of course The Devil and the Farmer's Wife.


Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: ddw
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 12:50 PM

Reggie,

I think the most famous version of that song is Skip James's, although I've heard several other people do it as well -- be best, IMO, is Paul Geremia.

I know what you mean about "simple" rural styles, but if you listen to the vocals and guitar work in that tune (at least in the SJ and PG versions) they are quite complex -- way beyond my ability to figure them out, at least. If I remember correctly, both do the song in open D-minor. But don't hold me to that as fact.

I've recently come across another tune you might like called "I've Sold My Soul To The Devil (And My Heart Done Turned To Stone). The two versions I've come across are by Clara Smith and a hillbilly singer named David Edward -- not to be confused with the Delta bluesman Dave "Honeyboy" Edwards. Oddly enough, the hillbilly version showed up on a CD that came with a book about Delta bluesmen.

The song is a kind of swing number with fiddle and an electric guitar (I think) played almost like a horn. Nice catchy tune.

Other "devil" songs that come to mind are the old fiddle showpiece "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" and a cowboy tune called "Sierre Peaks" (pronounced Si-ree). I guess the best known version of the former is Charlie Daniels's and the best version of the latter I've heard is by Ian Tyson on one of his "Cowboyography" albums -- one of the original three, but I don't remember offhand which one.

There's also Robert Johnson's "Me And The Devil" — great tune.

Cheers,

david

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Padre
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 01:29 PM

Three jolly Rogues of Lynne

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 02:25 PM

You beat me to it Dave! I love the Devil and the Farmers Wife. If you would like something a bit more current Reggie, there is THe Devil came down to Georgia sung by Charlie Daniels. Bits of old songs are played in the tune.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: mg
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 03:29 PM

Devil woman
Some say the devil's dead
God made the devil and the devil made sin and God made a hole for to put the devil in..

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 05:31 PM

I like the one about the hunters and teh fox that turns out to be the devil - will post it if wanted.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From:
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 08:36 PM

Heard a new version of 'Devil and the Farmers wife' recently by and band from Sheffield. Their name escapes me at the moment but the girls in the band did an interesting version of it.

Tom

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 08:47 PM

Crucible. Yes, it's a nice arrangement.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: open mike
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 12:30 AM

the "Hank Williams" thread reminded me that
Robin and Linda Williams do a song that says
"man is tinder, woman is fire and the devil
is a mighty wind,,,hey i wonder if that is
where the movie title came from?
disc info and lyrics here

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From:
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 05:13 AM

Cheers Malcolm, Crucible it was.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: GUEST,A wandering minstrel
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 08:11 AM

Not forgetting June Tabors haunting rendition of
The Devil and Baliff McGlyn

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 08:52 AM

A German folksong about the Devil who wanted new garments and was so tormented by the tailor that he chased him out of Hell is here

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Santa
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 09:24 AM

The Widow and the Devil

Although comical, I suspect it is outside of the 1900-1950s period.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 01:02 PM

Probably outside your stated time frame, but - two old time fiddle tunes "Devil's Dream," and "Devil in the Haystack". Marty Robbins' country-western song "Devil Woman" and a bluegrass song (group unknown) entitled "Old Devils" (old Devils sleep all alone).

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: LadyJean
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 12:25 AM

"The De'il's Awa wi' the Exiseman" "The Devil Among the Tailors", and of course "The False Knight On The Road". "Devil's Dream" was used as a theme song for one of my favorite movies, "Daniel Webster and the Devil".
As I remember "The Devil went down to Georgia, looking for a soul to steal." as well.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Kaleea
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 12:43 AM

I've always thought I should write a song based on a direct quote I once heard in church when I was a teen in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During a service at a Pentecostal Holiness church, a lady jumped up, threw her arm up & waved her hand shouting, "The Devil's been on my back all day-- praise his Holy name!" And everyone said, "Amen."

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 05:25 AM

Foolestroupe - I think that the song which you are referring to is "The Black Fox" by Graham Pratt - no point in posting it as it's in the DT here. It's a pity that the tune has been rather modified from the original - it's lost all it's wonderful modal notes - I sent Joe a corrected version years ago, but he's never used it - perhaps I ought to post a MIDI2TEXT version.

The "Outlandish Knight" is usually thought to be the devil.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 06:33 AM

Whoops - that should have been Dick - it was when the DT was on it's previous server, before it moved to Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: GUEST,Beezlebub
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 07:18 AM

As King of darkness and chaos (not to mention Lord of the Flies), I think that I should be able to claim a portion of the royalties for any songs about me. I used to accept payment in immortal souls, but I'm afraid that these days the bottom has dropped out of the market for that commodity. I also realise that most of you wretched folksingers will be MINE in a fairly short time anyway - especially those who play banjo, bodhran, or kazoo. I shall therefore require payment in GOLD.

I shall get my hoards of demons to collect the data and enter it into my computer - my system never goes down on me (I have fallen angels to do that). You may expect the payment demands very soon.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: GUEST,Flash Company
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 07:37 AM

The cowboy song about The Sierra Peaks I heard Jack Elliott sing as Rusty Jiggs & Sandy Sam, who humiliate the devil by roping & branding him.
I seem to recall a song from Somerset about a stone circle called The Nine Maidens, Turned to stone by the devil for dancing on Sunday.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 09:40 AM

Flash Company - I think that the stone circle is at Stanton Drew - there is a song about the legend here.

Beezlebub - your main opposition doesn't mind people singing songs about him - in fact it's positively encouraged. What's the matter with people singing songs about you.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 10:01 AM

Gail Gardner's "Tying a Knot In the Devil's Tail".

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 10:14 AM

Fish and Tin and Copper

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: GUEST,honestfrankie
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 11:29 AM

Howdy,

   There are several songs involving deals with the devil in the Quebec folk song repertoire. "Canot D'Ecorse" and others I can't remeber the namers of. The song about making a deal with the devil has even inspired a Quebec beer called "Le Maudit (the Damned) which I beleive has an alcolhol content of around 9%.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: open mike
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 12:03 PM

there are many versions, Robert Johnson's among them, of going to the crossroads...to make a deal with the --- well, you know, that bad guy..
satan, Lucifer, here are some versions of that song
\Eric Clapton
Lynyrd_Skynyrd

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Schantieman
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 12:53 PM

My favourite is The Cockerham Devil by Roger and Pruw Edwards from (and about a village in) Lancashire. A bit later than the desired time frame but it's a brilliant song. Recorded by Johnny Collins, amongst others, from whom I collected it in the time-honoured electronic fashion.

Steve

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 06:28 PM

Santa

Are you thinking of Mick Ryan's song about the widow who never turned a traveller from her door, but couldn't get the devil to make the ton?

Kitty

PS Johnny Collins also sings the Devil and York Minster, written by Tim Brooks.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 06:50 PM

The Devil is no match for Kelly in Charlie MacKinnons song:

(THE LEGEND OF) KELLY'S MOUNTAIN*

Kelly was an Irishman, there is no doubt of that;
His mother's name was Bridget, his father's name was Pat.
Now Kelly came from Ireland then was lured back home again.
He left us Kelly's Mountain to perpetuate the name.

(Chorus)
Oh, that green and lofty mountain by the waters of Bras d'Or
Has stood for many, many years and will stand for many more.
It was the home of Kelly and beside its waters blue,
Because he was so lonely, Kelly made his Irish brew.

One day the wily Devil climbed to the mountain top.
Said he to Mr. Kelly, "I would like a little drop."
"And begorra, sir, you'll get it!" Kelly opened wide the door;
He dropped the poor old Devil in the waters of Bras d'Or.

Kelly dearly loved the Highlands but he couldn't live alone
For the breezes used to whisper, "Kelly, boy, you must come home."
The breezes kept a-callin', kept a-callin' night and day
Till from the lofty mountain top they lured him far away.

Now the government is building a causeway o'er Bras d'Or;
The top of Kelly's Mountain will make a splendid floor.
The rock and gravel are so good and very handy too;
They are blasting down the mountain where old Kelly made his brew.

*(these Lyrics are Charlie MaeKinnon's adaptation of Lillian Crewe Walsh's poem."Kelly's Mountain" available on the following albums:
Charlie MacKinnon, The Best of Charlie MacKinnon, Arc ASC 5029
The Rise and Follies of Cape Breton island (1), CCBP 1002
Cape Breton's Greatest Hits, College of Cape Breton Press, CCBP 1005
Harold Maclntyre, Audiograph, AG 7797 (dist. by Arc Sound Ltd.)
Jim Martin, Bay Born Bye, Boot Records, BOS 7239
Albert Dean, On the Shores of Labrador, Audat 477-9065
Eddy Coffey, Oh! That Newfoundland Screech, Country CS—6024

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 10:58 PM

While I'm certain that these examples are fine, not being at all familiar with many of the melodies to these songs it's rather difficult to imagine them. Still some, as in this last example, merely mention the devil as a character in a particular circumstance. Perhaps what I was hoping for doesn't actually exist, or maybe I was unclear in my description of what I was hoping to locate.

There are many facets to the folklore of that wily character Beelzebub. The many names he's known by, his role as a tempter, the more colorful visualizations of him as a demonic entity, being red in color, having horns, and carrying a pitchfork are just a few. I imagined that perhaps there might be an older song encapsulating many of those characterizations that might be fun to sing.

I had jotted a few lines down that sparked my imagination about all of this before I started this thread. They were originally part of another composition I was working on, but I then decided to use those few lines to try to create what I was hoping to find tucked away in someone's songbook, list, or folk music anthology.

Thanks all for your input

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 07:20 AM

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, the tune for The Black Fox as in the DT, has been rather modified from Graham Pratt's original tune which has some nice modal quirks.

Here is my notation of Graham's tune.

MIDI file: blackfox.mid

Timebase: 1024

Name: blackfox.pc

Key: C

TimeSig: 4/4 12 8

Key: C

Start

3072 1 64 064 0460 0 64 000 0052 1 65 064 0460 0 65 000 0052 1 67 064 0920 0 67 000 0104 1 72 064 0920 0 72 000 0104 1 70 064 0920 0 70 000 0104 1 69 064 0920 0 69 000 0104 1 67 064 0920 0 67 000 0104 1 64 064 1840 0 64 000 0208 1 64 064 0460 0 64 000 0052 1 65 064 0460 0 65 000 0052 1 67 064 0920 0 67 000 0104 1 72 064 0920 0 72 000 0104 1 70 064 0460 0 70 000 0052 1 69 064 0460 0 69 000 0052 1 67 064 0920 0 67 000 0104 1 65 064 2760 0 65 000 0312 1 64 064 0460 0 64 000 0052 1 65 064 0460 0 65 000 0052 1 67 064 0920 0 67 000 0104 1 72 064 0920 0 72 000 0104 1 70 064 0460 0 70 000 0052 1 69 064 0460 0 69 000 0052 1 67 064 0460 0 67 000 0052 1 65 064 0460 0 65 000 0052 1 63 064 0460 0 63 000 0052 1 65 064 0460 0 65 000 0052 1 63 064 0920 0 63 000 0104 1 60 064 0920 0 60 000 0104 1 60 064 0460 0 60 000 0052 1 62 064 0460 0 62 000 0052 1 63 064 0920 0 63 000 0104 1 63 064 0920 0 63 000 0104 1 65 064 0920 0 65 000 0104 1 63 064 0460 0 63 000 0052 1 62 064 0460 0 62 000 0052 1 60 064 3680 0 60 000

End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the latest version of MIDItext and get instructions on how to use it click here         

ABC format:

X:1

T:blackfox.pc

M:4/4

Q:1/4=120

K:C

E7F|G2c2^A2A2|G2E4EF|G2c2^AAG2|F6EF|G2c2^AAGF|

^DF^D2C2CD|^D2^D2F2^DD|C29/4||

I have sent another copy of the above in both a Midi and a Songwright format to Dick Greenhaus.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
From: Bobjack
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 07:25 AM

"Devil Woman" by Cliff Richard. Top notch or what?