Hey Ho on the Devil's Back
Katzenjammer Lyrics


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As I was walking in the big black woods
Hey ho, the big black woods
I met the evil devil and he offered me a ride
Hey ho, he offered me a ride
He said: "you look tired, let me carry you a while"
Hey ho on the devil's back
There's an evil, little bastard hiding in his eye
Hey ho, of fire, flames and fry
Lord, I'm only human
I'm tired and I wanna go home
Let me ride on the devil's back
But save my soul
Save my soul

The rain poured down from the grey sky above
Hey ho, the rain pissed down
But the devil he went hasty
And steady running fast
Hey ho, oh this could never last
And then he saw my home through
The branches and the leaves
Hey ho, lay hidden by the trees
Inside my darling loved one
And children oh so sweet
Hey ho, my children oh so sweet

Lord knows you're only human
You were tired and you wanted to go home
Pay me the soul of your one true love
Or you will never see your children again

Oh Lord knows you're only human
You were tired and you wanted to go home
Pay me the soul of your one true love




Or you will never see your children again
Save my soul!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Katzenjammer's song Hey Ho on the Devil's Back describe a man who is walking through a dark forest and encounters the devil, who offers him a ride. The man accepts, but grows increasingly uncomfortable as he notices an evil presence in the devil's eye. As they run through the rain, the man sees his home in the distance and asks to be let off the devil's back, but the devil demands the soul of the man's one true love in exchange. The man is torn between his desire to save his loved one and his fear of losing his children. The lyrics suggest that the devil preys on human weakness and temptation, offering a seemingly easy way out, but ultimately demanding a heavy price. The haunting melody and rhythmic repetition of "Hey ho" underscores the intensity of the man's emotional struggle.


Line by Line Meaning

As I was walking in the big black woods
I was strolling through the dark woods


Hey ho, the big black woods
The refrain


I met the evil devil and he offered me a ride
The devil showed up and offered me a lift


Hey ho, he offered me a ride
The refrain


He said: "you look tired, let me carry you a while"
The devil offered to help me because I appeared exhausted


Hey ho on the devil's back
The refrain


There's an evil, little bastard hiding in his eye
The devil has malicious intentions


Hey ho, of fire, flames and fry
The refrain, referencing the devil's domain - hell


Lord, I'm only human
I am just a person


I'm tired and I wanna go home
I am exhausted and want to leave


Let me ride on the devil's back
I requested to ride with the devil


But save my soul
A plea for salvation


The rain poured down from the grey sky above
It started to rain heavily


Hey ho, the rain pissed down
The refrain, a more vulgar reference to the rain


But the devil he went hasty
The devil started to hurry


And steady running fast
He began to run at a steady pace


Hey ho, oh this could never last
The refrain


And then he saw my home through
He noticed my house through


The branches and the leaves
The foliage covering my home


Hey ho, lay hidden by the trees
The refrain


Inside my darling loved one
My beloved partner was inside


And children oh so sweet
Our children were also there


Hey ho, my children oh so sweet
The refrain


Lord knows you're only human
Acknowledging our common humanity


You were tired and you wanted to go home
Recognizing my weariness and desire to be home


Pay me the soul of your one true love
The devil demanded the soul of my loved one


Or you will never see your children again
The devil threatened to harm our children


Save my soul!
A desperate plea for salvation




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANNE BERGHEIM, MARIANNE SVEEN, MATS RYBO, SOLVEIG HEILO, TURID JORGENSEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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MH Skanland


on Den uheldige mannen

"Slo de Dem" i vers 6 må skrives "Slo De Dem", altså med stor forbokstav også i "De". Egners vise bruker høflig tiltaleform, og de skrives ( – ble skrevet) med stor forbokstav.

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