Devil Went Down To Georgia
Scythian Lyrics


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The devil went down to Georgia
He was lookin' for a soul to steal
He was in a bind
'Cause he was way behind
And he was willin' to make a deal

When he came upon this young man
Sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot
And the devil jumped
Up on a hickory stump
And said, "boy, let me tell you what

I guess you didn't know it
But I'm a fiddle player too
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you

Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy
But give the devil his due
I'll bet a fiddle of gold
Against your soul
'Cause I think I'm better than you"

The boy said, "my name's Johnny
And it might be a sin
But I'll take your bet
And you're gonna regret
'Cause I'm the best there's ever been"

Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard
'Cause hell's broke loose in Georgia, and the devil deals the cards
And if you win, you get this shiny fiddle made of gold
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul

The devil opened up his case
And he said, "I'll start this show"
And fire flew from his fingertips
As he rosined up his bow

Then he pulled the bow across the strings
And it made an evil hiss
And a band of demons joined in
And it sounded something like this

When the devil finished
Johnny said, "well, you're pretty good, old son
But sit down in that chair right there
And let me show you how it's done"

He played Fire on the Mountain run boys, run
The devil's in the House of the Rising Sun
Chicken in a bread pan pickin' out dough
Granny, does your dog bite? No child, no

The devil bowed his head
Because he knew that he'd been beat
And he laid that golden fiddle
On the ground at Johnny's feet

Johnny said, "Devil, just come on back
If you ever want to try again
I done told you once you son of a bitch
I'm the best that's ever been"

He played Fire on the Mountain run boys, run
The devil's in the House of the Rising Sun




Chicken in a bread pan pickin' out dough
Granny, does your dog bite? No child, no

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Scythian's song "Devil Went Down To Georgia" narrate the classic tale of a fiddle contest between the devil and a young man named Johnny in the state of Georgia. The devil, always seeking to steal souls, makes a wager with Johnny by offering a fiddle of gold in exchange for his soul, believing he can outplay the young man. The devil is portrayed as cunning and confident, willing to do anything to win the bet.


Johnny, on the other hand, is portrayed as bold and skilled in his response to the devil's challenge. Despite knowing the risks involved, he takes up the bet, showcasing his confidence in his own abilities. The stakes are high, with the devil aiming to claim Johnny's soul if he loses the contest.


As the fiddle duel ensues, both the devil and Johnny demonstrate their musical prowess, with the devil showcasing his fiery and malevolent playing style. However, Johnny's performance is described as masterful and unmatched, with references to popular fiddle tunes like "Fire on the Mountain" and "House of the Rising Sun" incorporated into his playing.


In the end, Johnny emerges victorious, outplaying the devil and proving himself to be the superior fiddle player. The devil, acknowledging his defeat, bows his head and surrenders the golden fiddle to Johnny. The lyrics convey a sense of triumph and defiance as Johnny asserts his dominance over the devil, solidifying his reputation as the best fiddle player ever. The song symbolizes the victory of good over evil and the importance of staying true to one's talents and abilities in the face of temptation.


Line by Line Meaning

The devil went down to Georgia
The devil went to Georgia on a mission


He was lookin' for a soul to steal
His goal was to find someone to make a deal with


He was in a bind
He was in a difficult situation


'Cause he was way behind
Because he was falling behind on his tasks


And he was willin' to make a deal
He was ready to negotiate


When he came upon this young man
When he encountered a talented young man


Sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot
Playing the fiddle passionately


And the devil jumped
The devil got excited


Up on a hickory stump
Climbed on a tree stump


And said, "boy, let me tell you what
He proposed a challenge to the boy


I guess you didn't know it
You probably weren't aware


But I'm a fiddle player too
I am also skilled at playing the fiddle


And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you
If you're willing to take a risk, I challenge you to a bet


Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy
You're a good fiddle player


But give the devil his due
Acknowledge the devil's skills


I'll bet a fiddle of gold
Wager a golden fiddle


Against your soul
In exchange for your soul


'Cause I think I'm better than you"
Because I believe I am superior


The boy said, "my name's Johnny
Johnny introduced himself


And it might be a sin
Taking the bet could be sinful


But I'll take your bet
But he accepted the challenge


And you're gonna regret
The devil will regret challenging him


'Cause I'm the best there's ever been
Because he is extremely talented


Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard
Prepare your fiddle and play with all your might


'Cause hell's broke loose in Georgia, and the devil deals the cards
Because a chaotic situation is about to occur and the devil controls it


And if you win, you get this shiny fiddle made of gold
If Johnny wins, he will receive a valuable golden fiddle


But if you lose, the devil gets your soul
But if he loses, his soul belongs to the devil


The devil opened up his case
The devil readied his instrument


And he said, "I'll start this show
The devil began his performance


And fire flew from his fingertips
He played with great skill and intensity


As he rosined up his bow
Prepared his bow for playing


Then he pulled the bow across the strings
He started playing the fiddle


And it made an evil hiss
The sound was sinister


And a band of demons joined in
A group of evil spirits began playing with him


And it sounded something like this
Their music was haunting


When the devil finished
After the devil's performance ended


Johnny said, "well, you're pretty good, old son
Johnny acknowledged the devil's skill


But sit down in that chair right there
But now it's Johnny's turn to play


And let me show you how it's done
And demonstrate his own talent


He played Fire on the Mountain run boys, run
He played a difficult fiddle tune


The devil's in the House of the Rising Sun
A reference to a popular folk song


Chicken in a bread pan pickin' out dough
Playing a lively fiddle tune


Granny, does your dog bite? No child, no
Singing a traditional folk song


The devil bowed his head
The devil admitted defeat


Because he knew that he'd been beat
Acknowledging Johnny's victory


And he laid that golden fiddle
He placed the golden fiddle


On the ground at Johnny's feet
At Johnny's feet as a symbol of defeat


Johnny said, "Devil, just come on back
Johnny invited the devil for a rematch


If you ever want to try again
If the devil wants to challenge him once more


I done told you once you son of a bitch
He asserted his superiority again


I'm the best that's ever been"
Reiterating his unmatched skill




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Fred Hayward, Charlie Daniels, Fred Edwards, James W. Marshall, John Crain, William J. Digregorio

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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