“The rhythm is what our band is about." Says Pete Bernhard: Guitarist, Front Man. The Devil Makes Three are quite possibly the best band that you have never heard of. They have been constantly on tour, selling out dates across the country and in their neck of the woods on the West Coast drawing near capacity crowds nightly. This is all word of mouth. Over the years, the Devil Makes Three have garnered fans the old school way, playing a city, making friends, conquering fans and moving on.
Laced with elements of ragtime, blues, country, folk and rockabilly, the critically praised, drummer-less trio - consisting of Vermont native, guitarist/front man Pete Bernhard, stand-up bassist Lucia Turino and guitarist Cooper McBean, also of rural Vermont - brings forth a genuine approach to acoustic music. The sound is deeply steeped in rhythm and alive with three part harmonies, while keeping a slightly punk aesthetic to their music and especially their live shows.
Note: the following songs belong to a different band with the same name, a small local metal band from Northern Ireland:
A Lesson Unlearnt
Dead
Feed the Greed
Heaven Descent
Statesboro Blues
The Devil Makes Three Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't you wake up momma, turn your lamp down low
Do you have the nerve to drive me from your door?
I said that gater left Savannah, Lord, it could not stop
You should have seen that colored farmer when he got that boiler hot
Reach over in the corner mama, won't you hand me my travelling shoes
Well Lord, my god, I got them Statesboro blues
Well, my momma died and left me reckless
My poppa died and left me wild, wild, wild
Well my mama died and left me reckless
Papa died and left me wild
See I ain't good looking but I'm someone's angel child
I said Mama tell your Papa
Papa tell your sister
Sister tell your uncle
We're going up the country
Wouldn't you like to go?
We're going to do one for background
Then do two or three more
I said that gater left Savannah, Lord, it could not stop
You should have seen that colored farmer when he got that boiler hot
Reach over in the corner mama, won't you hand me my travelling shoes
Well Lord, my god, I got them Statesboro blues
Yeah Lord, my god, I got me them Statesboro blues...
The Devil Makes Three's song "Statesboro Blues" is a cover of a classic blues song that captures the essence of the blues genre with its raw and emotional lyrics. The song is about a person who has been abandoned and left to wander the world alone, struggling to make sense of their pain and find a place where they belong. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and uncertainty, as the singer pleads with his mother to let him back into her life despite his mistakes and flaws.
The song's opening lines, "Wake up momma, turn your lamp down low / Won't you wake up momma, turn your lamp down low," set the tone for the rest of the piece as the singer begs for forgiveness and compassion. He asks if his mother has the "nerve" to turn him away, highlighting his fear of being rejected and left alone once again. The song also features a repeated refrain that describes the singer's feeling of being lost and disconnected from the world around him: "Lord, my god, I got them Statesboro blues."
Overall, "Statesboro Blues" is a powerful and poignant representation of the blues genre, showcasing both its musical and emotional intensity. The song resonates with listeners because of its themes of loneliness, rejection, and the search for belonging, which are universal experiences that many people can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up momma, turn your lamp down low
Asks the mother to turn down the lamp and wake up from slumber.
Won't you wake up momma, turn your lamp down low
Again insists the mother to wake up.
Do you have the nerve to drive me from your door?
Wonders if the mother has the courage to force the singer out.
I said that gater left Savannah, Lord, it could not stop
Refers to an alligator leaving Savannah without stopping.
You should have seen that colored farmer when he got that boiler hot
Describes a black farmer who heated the boiler.
Reach over in the corner mama, won't you hand me my travelling shoes
Asks the mother to pass the singer's shoes.
Well Lord, my god, I got them Statesboro blues
Says that the singer has the Statesboro blues.
Well, my momma died and left me reckless
Speaks about the mother's death that left the artist reckless.
My poppa died and left me wild, wild, wild
States that the father's death left the artist wild.
See I ain't good looking but I'm someone's angel child
Admits that the artist isn't attractive but someone's beloved child.
I said Mama tell your Papa
Asks the mother to tell the father.
Papa tell your sister
Asks the father to tell the sister.
Sister tell your uncle
Asks the sister to tell the uncle.
We're going up the country
States that the singer is heading towards the countryside.
Wouldn't you like to go?
Invites the family members to join the singer.
Yeah Lord, my god, I got me them Statesboro blues...
Repeats that the artist has the Statesboro blues.
Contributed by Hannah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TenThumbs Productions
Love Blind Willie, love these guys, great cover.
King Khelz
And you could use that fingering placement all the way up and down the fretboard.
TenThumbs Productions
Thanks King, what a great voicing.
King Khelz
@Tyler Austenfeld
It's a B7.
TenThumbs Productions
Anyone know what the chord shape Pete is playing at 310 that moves down the neck? I've seen him play it a couple of times but I don't know what it is.
Nichole Robbins
I love how Lucia is always in such a great mood; gotta love her!
Frank Dwyer
I like how listening puts me in such a great mood. Thank you!
Justin Mondschein
I can't handle how fucking good this band is
Vito Ponzio
Simply one of the BEST cover version of this classic.
mraider869
Never thought I would find myself liking this kind of music when I when I got older... good stuff...