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Me and the Devil
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Early this morning
When you knocked upon my door
Early this morning
When you knocked upon my door
And I say: hello satan
I believe, it's time to go
Me and the devil
Walking side by side
Me and the devil
Walking side by side
And I'm gonna see my woman
'til I get satisfied
See see, you don't see why
Like you'a dog me 'round
Say, I don't see why
People dawging me around
It must be that old evil spirit
That spirit drop me down in your ground
You may bury my body
Down by the highway side
You may bury my body
Down by the highway side
So my old evil spirit
Can greyhound bus that ride

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gil Scott-Heron's "Me and the Devil" depict a conversation between the singer and Satan. The song opens with the singer acknowledging Satan's presence, saying "hello Satan, I believe it's time to go," implying that the singer has made a deal with the devil. The chorus ("me and the devil walking side by side, and I'm gonna see my woman til I get satisfied") suggests that the singer has entangled himself in a dangerous agreement that allows him to pursue his physical pleasures so long as he remains in the devil's company.


The next verse suggests that the singer is facing persecution, with the lyrics "see see, you don't see why, like you dog me round, say, I don't see why people dawging me round, it must be that old evil spirit that spirit drop me down in your ground." These lyrics imply that the singer has been targeted by others, possibly due to his alleged dealings with the devil. The song ends with the singer conceding that he will inevitably face a bleak end ("you may bury my body down by the highway side, so my old evil spirit can greyhound bus that ride").


Line by Line Meaning

Early this morning
At the beginning of a new day, possibly a time of reflection or decision-making


When you knocked upon my door
When I was confronted with a challenge or a person seeking entry into my life


And I say: hello satan
I acknowledge my darker impulses or negative aspects of my personality


I believe, it's time to go
I have recognized that it's time to leave behind those negative aspects and move forward


Me and the devil
Me and those negative aspects of myself


Walking side by side
They are a constant presence in my life and accompany me everywhere


And I'm gonna see my woman
I am driven by my desires, possibly for a particular person or goal


'til I get satisfied
Until I am fulfilled or content in some way


See see, you don't see why
You don't understand or empathize with my situation


Like you'a dog me 'round
Like you are treating me poorly or unfairly


Say, I don't see why
I also don't understand why I am being treated this way


People dawging me around
People mistreating me or causing me difficulties


It must be that old evil spirit
Blaming negative actions on some external, demonic force


That spirit drop me down in your ground
That force contributed to my downfall or negative circumstances


You may bury my body
In death, my physical body can be disposed of, but my spirit lives on


Down by the highway side
In a common, unremarkable place


So my old evil spirit
My negative tendencies or vices


Can greyhound bus that ride
Can continue on, traveling and influencing my life in various ways




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ROBERT JOHNSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@kas6017

2023 and still listening to this master piece

@cjbrown4898

The whole album is amazing. GSH poured so much of his being into it.

@brianwatson3705

True Blood brought me here , my love of great music brings me back. 2024 will keep me coming back for more.

@mlhayes91

This song is incredible, but what I think draws me to it the most is how such a legendary old-school artist made such a ground-breaking modern album. Most people his age and from his era would have made something that sounds like it's decades old, but Gil made an album that not only sounded current, but was actually quite experimental for the time. I know he didn't make the beats, but he made great choices in the producers he used on this album. RIP Gil, a genius and an innovator his whole life.

@amelieswannofficial

I always say this! It takes a true genius to bend and flow with the times. Radiohead and the Cold War Kids also do it well.

@jimgreene951

check out GSH " Spirits " released 1994 ✊ https://youtu.be/y3w3IGQSacI

@user-rl2jl8zx1c

He’s new here, after all…..

@hanlihanlihanli

There's a really interesting New Yorker profile that touches on this. It sounds like Richard Russell (the producer) reached out and did most of the album, with Gil's blessing. Agree that the album sounds amazing though

@joshuaking5620

You know he didn't write this song right?

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@monwadlamini4220

It doesn't matter wtf brought you here, what matters is you listening to a masterpiece

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