Me and the Devil Blues
Eric Clapton Lyrics


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Early this mornin', when you knocked upon my door
Early this mornin', when you knocked upon my door
And I said, "Hello, Satan, I believe it's time to go"

Me and the Devil, was walkin' side by side
Me and the Devil, was walkin' side by side
I'm goin' to beat my woman, until I get satisfied
She say you don't see why, that I will dog her 'round
Now, baby, you know you ain't doin' me right, now
She say you don't see why, that I will dog her 'round
It must be that old evil spirit, so deep down in the ground

You may bury my body down by the highway side
I don't care where you bury my body when I'm dead and gone




You may bury my body down by the highway side
So my old evil spirit can take the Greyhound bus and ride

Overall Meaning

The song "Me and the Devil Blues" by Eric Clapton is a cover of a famous blues song by Robert Johnson. The lyrics explore the theme of temptation and the consequences of giving into it. The song tells the story of a man who has made a deal with the devil and is now walking with him side by side. The man is angry with his woman and plans to beat her until he is satisfied. The woman protests, but he blames an "old evil spirit" within him, which he cannot control.


The lyrics suggest that the man has already given into temptation and the devil is now his companion. The line "Hello, Satan, I believe it's time to go" shows that the man has embraced his dark side and is ready to act on his violent impulses. The woman's protests, however, seem to remind him of his human self and the consequences of his actions. The song ends with the man accepting his fate and suggesting that his "old evil spirit" will continue to ride the Greyhound bus even after he is gone.


"Me and the Devil Blues" is a powerful song that explores the darker side of human nature. It is a reminder that even the strongest among us can succumb to temptation if we are not careful.


Line by Line Meaning

Early this mornin', when you knocked upon my door
It was early in the morning when someone knocked on my door.


And I said, 'Hello, Satan, I believe it's time to go'
I referred to the person at the door as Satan, indicating that they were unwanted and it was time for them to leave.


Me and the Devil, was walkin' side by side
I walked alongside the Devil.


I'm goin' to beat my woman, until I get satisfied
I intend to physically harm my partner until I feel emotionally satisfied.


Now, baby, you know you ain't doin' me right, now
I address my partner and accuse them of mistreating me.


It must be that old evil spirit, so deep down in the ground
I attribute my negative behavior towards my partner to an evil force that exists within me.


You may bury my body down by the highway side
I express that I do not care where I am buried after I die.


So my old evil spirit can take the Greyhound bus and ride
I suggest that my negative spirit will continue to exist and travel, even after my physical body has died and been buried.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Brent


on Mainline Florida

I always thought the song was about Florida. Not a woman. His friends told him that it was the place to be but as it turned out the only thing to do there was take cruises.

It makes sense because Florida has always had the reputation of being boring. A place where old people go to die.

Anonymous


on My Father's Eyes

13 Eric Clapton - You Were There Lyrics- From the Album - 1998 - Eric Clapton - Pilgrim


We made the distance
Yeah, we made the day
You made all the difference
'Cause you found the way

Without your wisdom
Lord, where would we be
Lost in the wilderness
Somewhere out at sea

But you were there
Through the days of wine and madness
When I'd always put you down
You were there
Through my joys and my sadness
And you never let me down

You found the meaning
And helped me to see
Where I was going to
All that I could be

Without permission
You turned the key
You climbed the prison wall
Deep inside of me

You were there
Through the days of wine and madness
When I'd turn and put, put you down
You were there
Through my joys and my sadness
And you never let me down

You were there
Through the days of wine and madness
When I'd turn and put, put you down
You were there
Through my joys and my sadness
And you never let me down
Let me down

Musical Outro

You were there
You were there
You were there

Anonymous


on My Father's Eyes

14 Inside Of Me Lyrics- From the Album - 1998 - Eric Clapton - Pilgrim


The point on the water, there's a chill in the air
A vibe in the darkness, but there's nobody there
I look for the reason but there's nothing to see
Just the hole in my memory where my mind used to be

Tell me why
Can I find no relief in my heart?
I reside
In a world that is falling apart

(Out of my mind baby, show me a sign, baby
Show me a way to get back on time)
Tell me why?
And where do we go from here
(Please where do we go, baby, how will I know?)
Tell me why
(Who holds the key, is it hidden inside of me?)

Musical Interlude

But why should I worry
And why do I care?
When this road that I walk on
Is going nowhere
I stand and I study
Every face in the crowd
See the fear in their eyes,
They must be thinking out loud

Tell me why
Can I find no relief in my heart?
'Cause I reside
In a world that is falling apart

(Out of my mind baby, show me a sign, baby)
Tell me why
(Show me a way to get back on time)
And where do we go
(Please where do we go, baby, how will I know?)
Where do we go from here
(Who holds the key, is it hidden inside of me?)


Scratching the surface,
It all looks the same
A world full of anger
With no one to blame
But who can I turn to,
Who holds the key?
And who has the answer?
I think it's inside of me

Tell me why
Can I find no relief in my heart?
'Cause I reside
To the world that is falling apart

(Out of my mind, baby, show me a sign, baby)
Where do we go from here
(Show me a way, to get back on time)
I want to know
(Where do we go, baby, how will I know?)
It isn’t my fault
(Who holds the key, is it hidden inside of me?)
Use it against

(All things considered it looks as though
Utopia were far closer to us than anyone
Only fifteen years ago, could have imagined)

(Then, I projected it six hundred years into the future
Today it seems quite possible that the
Horror may be upon us within a single century)

(That is, if we refrain from blowing
Ourselves to smithereens
In the interval)

(Indeed, unless we choose to decentralize
And to use applied science
Not as the end to which human beings are to be made the means)

(But as the means to producing a race of free individuals
We have only two alternatives to choose from
Either a number of national)

Anonymous


on Layla

01 Eric Clapton - I Feel Free Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton



Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free

Feel when I dance with you,
We move like the sea.
You, you're all I want to know.

I feel free.
I feel free.
I feel free.

I can walk down the street, there's no one there
Though the pavements are one huge crowd.
I can drive down the road
My eyes don't see,
For my mind wants to cry out loud.

I, I, I, I feel free.
I feel free.
I feel free.

I can walk down the street, there's no one there
Though the pavements are one huge crowd.
I can drive down the road; my eyes don't see,
Though my mind wants to cry out loud,
Though my mind wants to cry out loud.

Dance floor is like the sea,
Ceiling is the sky.
You're the sun and as you shine on me,

I feel free.
I feel free.
I feel free.

Aye
Aye
Aye
Aye

Anonymous


on Layla

02 Eric Clapton - Sunshine Of Your Love Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton


Well it's getting near dawn
When lights close their tired eyes
I'll soon be with you my love
Give you my dawn surprise
I'll be with you darling soon
I'll be with you when the stars stop falling

I've been waiting so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love

I’ll make you my love
Light's shining through on you
Yes, I'm with you my love
It's the morning and just we two
I'll stay with you darling now
I'll stay with you till my seas are dried up

I've been waiting so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love

Musical Interlude

I'm with you my love
The light shinning through on you
Yes, I'm with you my love
It's the morning and just we two
I'll stay with you darling now
I'll stay with you till my seas are dried up

I've been waiting so long
I've been waiting so long
I've been waiting so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love

Musical Outro

Anonymous


on Layla

03 Eric Clapton - White Room Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton


In the white room with black curtains in the station
Black roof country,
No gold pavements, tired starlings
Silver horses ran down moonbeams in your dark eyes
Dawn light smiles on you leaving, My contentment

I'll wait in this place where the sun never shines
Wait in this place where the shadows run from themselves

You said no strings
Could secure you at the station
Platform ticket, restless diesels, goodbye windows
I walked into such a sad time at the station
Been I walked out, felt my own need just beginning

I'll wait in the queue when the trains come back
Lie with you where the shadows run from themselves

At the party she was kindness in the hard crowd
Consolation for the old wound now forgotten
Yellow tigers crouched in jungles in her dark eyes
She's just dressing, goodbye windows, tired starlings

How sweet in this place with the lowly cry
Lie in the dark where the shadows
run from themselves

Musical Outro

Anonymous


on Layla

04 Eric Clapton - Crossroads Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton


I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
Asked the Lord above for mercy, Save me if you please.

I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.
Nobody seemed to know me, Everybody passed me by.

When I'm going down to Rosedale, Take my rider by my side.
I'm going down to Rosedale,
Take my rider by my side.
You can still barrelhouse,
Baby, on the riverside.

Musical Interlude

Going down to Rosedale,
Take my rider by my side.
Going down to Rosedale,
Take my rider by my side.
You can still barrelhouse,
Baby, on the riverside.

Musical Interlude

You can run, you can run,
Tell my friend-boy baldy Brown.
Run, you can run, tell my friend-boy baldy Brown.
And I'm standing at the crossroads, believe I'm sinking down.

Anonymous


on Layla

05 Eric Clapton - Badge Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton


Thinkin' 'bout the times you drove in my car

Thinkin' that I might have drove you too far

And I'm thinkin' 'bout the love that you laid on my table

I told you not to wander 'round in the dark

I told you 'bout the swans, that they live in the park

Then I told you 'bout our kid, now he's married to Mabel

Yes, I told you that the light goes up and down
Don't you notice how the wheel goes 'round?
And you'd better pick yourself up from the ground
Before they bring the curtain down
Yes, before they bring the curtain down
Oh oh

Musical Interlude

Talkin' 'bout a girl that looks quite like you

She didn't have the time to wait in the queue

She cried away her life since she fell off the cradle

Anonymous


on Layla

06 Eric Clapton - Presence Of The Lord Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton


I have finally found a way to live
Just like I never could before
I know that I don't have much to give,
But I can open any door

Everybody knows the secret,
Oh everybody knows the score, yes, yeah, yeah
I have finally found a way to live
In the colour of the Lord

I have finally found a place to live Just like I never could before
And I know I don't have much to give,
But soon I'll open any door
Everybody knows the secret,
Oh everybody knows the score

I have finally found a place to live, Oh, in the presence of the Lord
In the presence of the Lord

Musical Interlude

I have finally found a way to live, Just like I never could before
And I know I don't have much to give,
But I can open any door

Everybody knows the secret,
I said everybody knows the score
I have finally found a way to live
Oh in the colour of the Lord
In the colour of the Lord

Anonymous


on Layla

07 Eric Clapton - Blues Power Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton


Bet you didn't think I knew how to rock 'n' roll
Lord, I got the boogie-woogie right down in my very soul
There ain't no need for me to be a wallflower
'Cause now I'm living on blues power

I knew all the time but now I'm gonna let you know
I'm gonna keep on rocking, no matter if it's fast or slow
Ain't gonna stop until the twenty-fifth hour
'Cause now I'm living on blues power

Well bet you didn't think I knew how to rock 'n' roll
Lord, I got the boogie-woogie right down in my very soul
There ain't no need for me to be a wallflower
'Cause now I'm living on blues power



Musical Outro

Talking to you now
The blues is going to boogie too

Keep on, keep on, keep on……

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