Lucifer
The Bob Seger System Lyrics


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Cruisin' on the grey snakes till my dyin' day
Checkin' all the hen houses out along the way
Wastin' time and drinkin' wine
Life is short and I ain't lyin'
Livin' all I can through every day

You can call me Lucifer
If you think you should
Now I know I'm good

Everynight I'm barrelhousin' till the moon is low
Shoutin' blues and payin dues and throwin' way my dough
Ramblin', gamblin', lovin', shovin', probably won't end up with nothin'
But at least I'll reap the seeds I sow

You can call me Lucifer
If you think you should
Now I know I'm good

Funky water farmers daughter gonna make the law
Lucy Blue, Chicago Green, I'll love 'em till they thaw
Courtin' all the lovely foxes, brunette, redheads, goldi locks
Talkin' time to grind my crosscut saw

You can call me Lucifer




If you think you should
Now I know I'm good

Overall Meaning

In "Lucifer," the Bob Seger System presents a vivid picture of a hopeful, laid-back hedonist coming to grips with his own character. He's traversing the countryside on the "grey snakes," likely trains, and investigating the hen houses, taking in everything along the way. He recognizes life's shortness, though he's enjoying it to the best of his abilities. The singer acknowledges that he could be called Lucifer, a name alluding to the devil, but he exudes self-assurance that he is indeed good.


We see the singer immersing himself in a variety of activities in the second verse of the song. Every night, he's in a bar, drinking and singing the blues until the small hours of the morning. He's a wanderer, gambler, lover, and fighter all in one, and he knows that he might ultimately have nothing to show for it in the end. However, he adds that he'd at least reap what he sows. In the final verse, the song describes the singer's passion for women in vibrant colors, from Lucy Blue to Chicago Green. Blonde, brunette, and redhead "lovely foxes" all surround him, giving him plenty of options. He's so devoted to his womanizing lifestyle that he's talking about his moves while grinding a saw.


Line by Line Meaning

Cruisin' on the grey snakes till my dyin' day
I plan on traveling on the highways until I pass away


Checkin' all the hen houses out along the way
I am always exploring and looking for new experiences


Wastin' time and drinkin' wine
I spend my time and money on things that bring me enjoyment


Life is short and I ain't lyin'
Life is brief and I'm being honest about living my best life while I can


Livin' all I can through every day
I take advantage of every day to the fullest extent possible


You can call me Lucifer
You may call me by this name if it suits you


If you think you should


Now I know I'm good
I have confidence in myself and my actions


Everynight I'm barrelhousin' till the moon is low
I'm having a blast every night and partying until the late hours


Shoutin' blues and payin dues and throwin' way my dough
I express myself through music and pay the price for my lifestyle with my hard-earned money


Ramblin', gamblin', lovin', shovin', probably won't end up with nothin'
I indulge in travel, gambling, sex, and fighting, even though it may not result in any tangible accomplishments


But at least I'll reap the seeds I sow
I will gain the benefits of my choices, whether or not they lead to traditional success


Funky water farmers daughter gonna make the law
I am drawn to unconventional, unique women who can hold their own


Lucy Blue, Chicago Green, I'll love 'em till they thaw
I have had relationships with women from various backgrounds and will continue to love them until they warm up to me


Courtin' all the lovely foxes, brunette, redheads, goldi locks
I flirt with and pursue attractive women with different hair colors


Talkin' time to grind my crosscut saw
I'm taking the time to work on my skills and improve myself




Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@gimmeanidicanuse

Raw talent.  Paid a lot of dues in the early years.  Great to see him move live.

@seanmcaleavy2369

Gotta love Bob! He is one of the very few who was around since 60's and has made it all the way up to the present day without embarrassing himself. Seriously! Never went off following some ridiculous fashion trend and just did his beautiful thing. Not many others could make that claim. I want to say Neil Young because I love Neil, but in truth he did have a few miner moments of what we'll just call lapses in judgement.

@rapson672

Yeah, Great Britain has Paul Mc Cartney , America has Bob Seger, Both are naturally cool, no gimmicks, or Bull Sh t !

@powwowdoc

Used to go and hear the Bob Seger System every chance I could. This was an amazing album to hear live. Met Bob at one of the gigs and he was a genuinely nice person. Glad to finally see a video of Lucifer. Still sounds good.

@alondathomas293

What's always tripped me out about Seger's early songs was that he was barely out of his teens when he started making records, but he always sounded so much mature for his age. You'd assume a much older dude was doing these tunes, and then you see this mop-haired young dude tearing these songs up like an old pro. That must have really surprised folks back in the day,lol.!

@tylerkasuboski3366

Well said! I totally agree. A born pro with pure soul.

@harolddavis9677

Off the album titled Mongrel. This record was one of many reasons I have been a life long fan. Bob Seger is what one wishes all rock legends were, a solid person and great player who has delivered for 50 fucking years. I'd bet there's not a phony bone in his body. Thank You Bob!

@rickhibdon11

@Harold Davis Yep. Just a teenage kid... but he always sounded prefect live! Unlike nearly every other band..

@afftongrown6445

Kirk Wood He set a whole new Precedent in music. A legend in his own time!

@mistahbreeze4412

Was thinking the same thing. He looks like a kid and sounds like a 35 yr old soul/r&b singer.

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