"Friend of the Devil" is a song with music written by Jerry Garcia and John… Read Full Bio ↴"Friend of the Devil" is a song with music written by Jerry Garcia and John Dawson and lyrics by Robert Hunter that features as the second track of the Grateful Dead's 1970 album "American Beauty". According to the Dead's confederate Amy Moore, the song was partially inspired by rakish Grateful Dead road manager/advance man Rock Scully and his entanglements with various women.

Friend of the Devil
Grateful Dead Lyrics

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I lit up from Reno
I was trailed by twenty hounds
Didn't get to sleep that night
Till the morning came around

Set out running but I'll take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight

Just might get some sleep tonight

Ran into the devil, babe
He loaned me twenty bills
I spent the night in Utah
In a cave up in the hills

Set out running but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight

I ran down to the levee
But the devil caught me there
He took my twenty dollar bill
And it vanished in the air

I set out running but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight

Got two reasons why I cry
Away each lonely night
The first one's named sweet Anne Marie
And she's my heart's delight
Second one is prison, baby
The sheriff's on my trail
And if he catches up with me
I'll spend my life in jail

Got a wife in Chino, babe
And one in Cherokee
First one says she's got my child
But it don't look like me

Set out running but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight

Got two reasons why I cry
Away each lonely night
The first one's named sweet Anne Marie
And she's my heart's delight
Second one is prison, baby
The sheriff's on my trail
And if he catches up with me
I'll spend my life in jail

Got a wife in Chino, babe
And one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child
But it don't look like me

I set out running but I took my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine

If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight

Overall Meaning

The Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil" tells a story of a man who is wanted by the law but finds himself in a dangerous alliance with the devil. The singer is on the run from authorities and seeks refuge from the devil. The song's first verse describes his escape from Reno, Nevada, in the middle of the night with twenty hounds hot on his trail. The second verse narrates his encounter with the devil and borrowing twenty bills, and spending the night in Utah in a cave. The third verse describes his journey to the levee, where the devil takes his money and disappears into thin air.

The final stanza covers the reasons for the singer's plight-- his two lovers and law enforcement on his tail. The primary reason for his sadness is Sweet Anne Marie, who is his heart's delight. However, he also has a second reason for his tears, the sheriff, who is hunting him down. The singer's life is complicated further by the fact that he has a wife in Chino and another one in Cherokee, one of whom claims to have his child.

Line by Line Meaning

I lit up from Reno
I left Reno in a hurry

I was trailed by twenty hounds
I was being chased by many people

Didn't get to sleep that night
I couldn't fall asleep

Till the morning came around
Until the next day started

Set out running but I'll take my time
I'm in a rush, but I won't be reckless

A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
I'm willing to associate with anyone, even those who are considered bad

If I get home before daylight
If I return home early in the morning

Just might get some sleep tonight
I might finally be able to rest

Ran into the devil, babe
I encountered someone evil

He loaned me twenty bills
He gave me some money

I spent the night in Utah
I stayed the night in Utah