The Mississippi Sheiks consisted mainly of the Chatmon family, who came from Bolton, Mississippi and were well known throughout the Mississippi Delta. The father of the family had been a "musicianer" (someone with good technical ability on his or her instrument adept at sight-reading written music) during slavery times, and his children carried on the musical spirit. Their most famous (although by no means permanent) member was Armenter Chatmon - better known as Bo Carter - who managed a successful solo career as well as playing with the Sheiks, which may have contributed to their success.
When the band first recorded in 1930, the line-up consisted of Carter with Lonnie and Sam Chatmon, and Walter Vinson. Charlie McCoy (not to be confused with Charlie McCoy, a later American musician) played later, when Bo Carter and Sam Chatmon ceased playing full time. It was Lonnie Chatmon and Vinson who formed the real center of the group.
Bo Carter's solo work is notable for being sexually suggestive in songs and this is carried on to an extent with the group. They primarily earned their income like Robert Johnson and Skip James. They toured throughout the Southern United States, but also reached as far north as Chicago and New York.
Their first and biggest success was "Sitting on Top of the World" (1930), later to be recorded by Bob Wills (numerous times), Howlin' Wolf, Nat King Cole, Bill Monroe, Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Cream, Grateful Dead, Jeff Healey, John Lee Hooker, Bill Frisell and Jack White, and re-done by Robert Johnson, as "Come On in My Kitchen". The song was also the theme to the film A Face in the Crowd (1957) produced by Elia Kazan and starring Andy Griffith. Throughout their five active years, the Mississippi Sheiks recorded over seventy songs for the Okeh, Paramount and Bluebird labels.
Their last recording session as the Mississippi Sheiks was in 1936. Bo made a few more sessions on his own, but by 1938 he too was dropped. When the band dissolved, the Chatmon brothers gave up music and returned to farming.
The Sheiks and related groups under other names, such as Mississippi Mud Steppers and Blacksnakes, recorded about a hundred sides in the first half of the 1930s, among them original compositions (probably by Vinson) like "The World is Going Wrong" and "I've Got Blood in My Eyes For You" (1931) - both recorded by Bob Dylan - or the topical "Sales Tax" (1934).
Sam Chatmon made more recordings in the 1960s and Walter Vinson contributed three selections (using the Mississippi Sheiks band name) to Riverside's 1961 series, Chicago: The Living Legends.
In 2004, they were inducted in the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame. Their 1930 blues single "Sitting on Top of the World" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.
In 1978 Rory Gallagher recorded a tribute song "The Mississippi Sheiks" for his Photo Finish album.
In 2009, Black Hen Music released Things About Comin' My Way, a tribute album to the Mississippi Sheiks. The album's seventeen artists include Bruce Cockburn, Bill Frisell, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Geoff Muldaur, Kelly Joe Phelps and John Hammond.
In 2013 Jack White's Third Man Records teamed up with Document Records to reissue The Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order of Charley Patton, Blind Willie McTell and The Mississippi Sheiks.
I Am the Devil
Mississippi Sheiks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes I'm the devil, oh and I don't care none
I said yeah right the devil, I'm gonna take souls as they come
It has been time that you was done well
But you come down here you gonna catch some hell
Yes I'm the devil, oh and I don't care none
I said yeah right I'm the the devil I'm gonna take souls as they come
Goin' to town tonight all the way cross the city
The wind blows all them girls and and you know it's a really pity
Yes I'm the devil, oh and I don't care none
I said yeah right I'm the devil I'm gonna take souls as they come
Devil is a man in your face he'll grin
All he'll want you to do is just a little of sin
Yes I'm the devil, oh and I don't care none
I said yeah right I'm the devil gonna take souls as they come
Stayin all day, don't get out until dark, night is the time I get my business right
Yes I'm the devil oh and I don't care none
I said right the devil, I'm gonna take souls as they come
Some start at twelve some start at two. when you come to this place I know just what to do
Yes I'm the devil oh and I don't care none
I said yeah right the devil I'm gonna take souls as they come
The Mississippi Sheiks' song "I Am the Devil" is a classic blues tune that delves into the darker side of subject matter. The lyrics are straightforward, with the repeated line of "Yes, I'm the devil, oh and I don't care none." The song has a simple yet haunting melody that underscores the sinister themes of the song.
The lyrics repeatedly speak of the devil's intentions to take souls as they come, with a gleeful disregard for the consequences. There is a sense of danger and seduction in the devil's words, specifically when he says "devil is a man in your face he'll grin, all he'll want you to do is just a little bit of sin." The song's meaning is clear: beware of the devil, as he is always lurking and waiting for the next soul to claim.
The song's lyrics are a reminder of the blues' roots in the African American experience as they struggled with poverty, violence, and segregation. The Mississippi Sheiks, in particular, explored darker themes in their music, often mixing the supernatural with everyday struggles. "I Am the Devil" is an excellent example of their ability to tap into that darkness and create a haunting but memorable song.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes I'm the devil, oh and I don't care none
I am the literal devil and I have no remorse for my actions
I said yeah right the devil, I'm gonna take souls as they come
I confirm that I am the devil and I will take people's souls whenever I can
It has been time that you was done well
It's been a while since you've behaved properly
But you come down here you gonna catch some hell
If you come to my realm, you will suffer immensely
Goin' to town tonight all the way cross the city
I'm heading downtown across the entire city tonight
The wind blows all them girls and and you know it's a really pity
The wind blows the girls around and it's a shame
Devil is a man in your face he'll grin
The devil can show up in human form and grin at you
All he'll want you to do is just a little of sin
He will encourage you to commit even the smallest sins
Stayin all day, don't get out until dark, night is the time I get my business right
I stay inside all day until the cover of night when I conduct my evil affairs
Some start at twelve some start at two. when you come to this place I know just what to do
People start sinning at different times, but I know exactly what to do when they arrive in my domain
Contributed by Alice B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@plumedesinge
I Am The Devil
Yes I'm the devil, oh and I don't care none
Yes I'm the devil, oh and I don't care none
Said yea right the devil, I'm gonna take souls as they come
It has been time that you was done well
But you come down here you gonna catch some hell
Refrain:
Yes I'm the devil, oh and I don't care none
I said yea right I'm the the devil gonna take souls as they come
Goin' to town tonight all the way cross the city
The wind blows on top [ ? ] those girls and and you know its a really pity.(or is it rarely beauty)
Refrain:
Yes I'm the devil, oh and I don't care none
Said yea right I'm the devil I'm gonna take souls as they come
Devil is a man in your face he'll grin
All he'll want you to do is just a little of sin
Refrain:
Yes I'm the devil oh and i don't care none
Said yea right I'm the devil gonna take souls as they come
Instrumental Break
Stayin all day don't get out until dark night is the time i get my business right
Refrain:
yes im the devil oh and i don't care none,said right the devil im gonna take souls as they come
Some start at twelve some start at two when you come to this place i know just what to do
Refrain:
yes im the devil oh and i don't care none,said yea rightthe devil gonna take souls as they come. :)
@TheVatonaught
I got to see Sam Chatmon live right in front of me...he was an encyclopedia of stuff...wonderful experience.
@TheVatonaught
@Acoustic blues information. about 1970... in San Luis Obispo...
@cha5
This is one of the only "Crumb videos" I've seen on YouTube that has a music score that Crumb himself might like IMO.
@sandragreen9338
Definitely.
@dellclark8152
The Sheiks, Mr Natural and Mr R Crumb ALL got it goin' on!
@PolyesterMoustache
The solipsism theme of R Crumb's comic here paired with the song "I am the Devil" reminds me of the end of Mark Twain's The Mysterious Stranger
@Bloodyboogerbuttman
"Mr Natural! What does it all mean?" "Don't mean sheeit..."
@sherrard5492
1934
Bo Carter guitar and vocals
Lonnie Chatmon violin
That violin makes it for me.
@CPorter
Then who's the third?
@sherrard5492
@@CPorter It’s just the two of them on this recording. Sheiks personnel varied over time.