And the strange thing is, I can't remember writing it!
My computer blew up Monday - so I'm using my laptop. Well I think it's my daughter's laptop now - she sort of borrowed it when she moved out.... but I was trawling through some old files, came across on labelled "Vic - Lyrics" had a look-see and found this, amongst other songs that I DO remember.
The Devil's Dues
They say you have to give the devil his due,
He can make a beggar a king,
He never kept his side of the deal,
So I don't owe him a thing,
They say he comes to take to take your soul,
In payment for services rendered,
He'll have a hell of a time taking mine,
It's long since surrendered,
Because the spirit's strong in me,
He'll never take my soul,
It's already spoken for,
Because I sold my soul to rock'n'roll,
A long time ago.
They say the devil's a gambler,
And he's quick on his toes,
He'd better not gamble with me,
If he wants to keep his clothes,
I'll have the shirt off his back
And the shoes off his feet,
And I'll take his pitchfork,
And throw him naked in the street,
Because the spirit's strong in me,
He'll never take my soul,
It's already spoken for,
Because I sold my soul to rock'n'roll,
A long time ago.
Well those old blues songs,
Got it all wrong,
The devil ain't got all the best tunes,
I got a few of my own,
That'll make him groan,
And leave him howling at the moon,
Because the spirit's strong in me,
He'll never take my soul,
It's already spoken for,
Because I sold my soul to rock'n'roll,
A long time ago.
______________________________________
So what do you think? Is this one worth working on? I read through it and thought, mmmmmmm, SLIIIIIDE guitar........
:D :D :D
Vic
EDIT - just went back and looked at the file, date on it is 24th July 2006......
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Hey, I like it :D
I heard solo piano myself.
Especially when I read the gambler verse, and the one following.
As soon as I got to the word 'clothes', it gave me a chuckle cause it seemed unexpected although it fit in and led to the next
verse wonderfully.
I hate to say it....
It reminded me of Tom Waits writing style. (Which is why I heard solo piano)
When you mentioned slide, I thought - BLUES.
Since you said in the song, that all those blues songs got it wrong....
I was thinking that it shouldn't be a bluesy song.
I was thinking that the 2nd to last verse could use some work.
That last line about howling at the moon (which is a good line concerning the devil, especially in a Twilight Zone sorta way,
if you remember that episode - I think it was actually called 'Howling Man'),
It seemed to be tacked on, or made it too long or something.
No - looking at that verse now, I think it's the groan line.
I think if you take that out and alter the last line...
something like - I got a few of my own, that are sure to leave him howling at the moon -
Or - that will leave him howling at the moon for more -
Well, you understand.
Overall, I really like it.
Ken
"The man who has begun to live more seriously within
begins to live more simply without"
-Ernest Hemingway
"A genuine individual is an outright nuisance in a factory"
-Orson Welles
Thanks, Ken. Been fooling around with this a little - I've been doing it as a slow bluesy rocker, think AC/DC, ZZ Top or Nazareth rather than a 12-bar blues....that second to last verse is actually a bridge (I had a little trouble with it at first, till I treated it as a bridge....) which changes key. Going to try and record it sometime this week if I can.
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Ahhhhhhh,
I see what you're saying.
Yes.
You must know me pretty well to know that when I think blues, it's the older stuff.
You got my mind right :D
A bit more grit.
It's pretty cool when you go through something like this, and at first hear a slow piano ballad,
then go through it again and hear it done by AC/DC - Naz.
I think you're on the right track with that sound.
Ken
"The man who has begun to live more seriously within
begins to live more simply without"
-Ernest Hemingway
"A genuine individual is an outright nuisance in a factory"
-Orson Welles
