About the Song
The Charlie Daniels Bandās legendary anthem, āThe Devil Went Down to Georgia,ā is more than just a song; itās a cultural phenomenon. Released in 1979, it became an instant classic, blending elements of country, rock, and bluegrass into a high-octane musical showdown.
The song tells a captivating tale of a young fiddle player, Johnny, who challenges the devil himself to a musical duel. With its vivid storytelling, fiery instrumentation, and a pinch of supernatural drama, āThe Devil Went Down to Georgiaā captured the imagination of audiences worldwide.
Charlie Danielsā masterful songwriting and the bandās energetic performance brought the story to life. The songās iconic fiddle solo, a showcase of Danielsā incredible talent, has become synonymous with the track. Itās a musical battle that pits good against evil, skill against supernatural power, and ultimately, human spirit against the darkness.
Beyond its entertainment value, āThe Devil Went Down to Georgiaā is a celebration of American roots music. The songās blend of traditional and contemporary elements has made it a beloved classic that transcends generations. Itās a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the universal appeal of music.
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Lyrics: The Devil Went Down to Georgia
The Devil went down to Georgia. He was lookinā for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind ācause he was way behind and he was willing to make a deal
When he came across this young man sawinā on a fiddle and playinā it hot.
And the Devil jumped upon a hickory stump and said, āBoy, let me tell you what.āāI guess you didnāt know it, but Iām a fiddle player, too.
And if youād care to take a dare Iāll make a bet with you.
Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy, but give the Devil his due.
Iāll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul ācause I think Iām better than you.ā
The boy said, āMy nameās Johnny, and it might be a sin,
But Iāll take your bet; youāre gonna regret ācause Iām the best thereās ever been.ā
Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard.
āCause Hellās broke loose in Georgia and the Devil deals the cards.
And if you win you get this shiny fiddle made of gold,
But if you lose the Devil gets your soul.
The Devil opened up his case and he said, āIāll start this show.ā
And fire flew from his fingertips as he rosined up his bow.
And he pulled the bow across the strings and it made an evil hiss.
And a band of demons joined in and it sounded something like this.
When the Devil finished, Johnny said, āWell, youāre pretty good, old son,
But sit down in that chair right there, let me show you how itās done.ā
āFire on the Mountainā. Run, boys, run!
The Devilās in the house of the rising sun;
Chicken in the bread pan picking out dough.
Granny, does your dog bite? No, child, no.
The Devil bowed his head because he knew that heād been beat.
And he laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Johnnyās feet.
Johnny said, āDevil, just come on back, if you ever wanna try again,
I done told you once, you son of a bitch, Iām the best thatās ever been.ā
And he played:
āFire on the Mountainā. Run, boys, run!
Devilās in the house of the rising sun;
The chicken in the bread pan picking out dough.
Granny, will your dog bite? No, child, no.
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