“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
This Life
The Devil Makes Three Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
man it started to snow.
Sleepin' sittin' up in the front seat
cold wind, it blows.
Well now, people if you feel for your mortal souls
get a job workin' at the grocery store.
'Cause,
this life, it ain't right for everybody.
Everbody'd do it now, if it was easy.
This life, it ain't right for everybody,
but it sure's been good to me.
Drivin' thirty-five miles an hour
'cross that Texas heat,
engine burnin' like the fires of Hell
just to melt the shoes of my feet.
Well, it's three mechanics in a hundred miles
and nothin's wrong.
Didn't get nothing' outta that trip but another song.
Well,
CHORUS
Yes,
BRIDGE
I been up in the apple trees,
I been down in the ditches on my bended knees.
"May I help you, sir?
What do ya need?"
Oh,
been 'round a corner or two,
sold everything but my clothes and shoes.
Did a thousand jobs that I never wanted to do.
I ain't settlin' down here,
I'm just passin' through.
Up to Vancouver where the
buildings scrape the sky.
They wanted to fight that night,
can't say the reason why.
Well, it's flyin' fists, broken bottles,
swings a heat into the crowd.
They had to bring the paddywhack in just to settle everybody down.
Well,
CHORUS
Because,
BRIDGE
CHORUS
Yeah, it sure's been good to me.
The Devil Makes Three's song This Life tells the story of a wanderer's journey through life. The song starts with the singer describing a situation where he is broken down outside Bakersfield in the snow, sitting up in the front seat shivering in the cold wind. He urges people who feel for their mortal souls to get a job working at the grocery store. The chorus emphasizes that life isn't for everyone, it's not easy, but it's been good to him.
The second verse describes driving 35 miles an hour across Texas heat, with an engine burning like the fires of hell just to melt the shoes on his feet. He finds no help on the road and didn't get anything out of the trip but another song. The bridge connects to the singer's past experiences of being up in apple trees and down in ditches on his bended knees. He's done a thousand jobs he never wanted to do but still didn't settle down.
The song's existential lyrics express a sense of restlessness and purposelessness in life. The Devil Makes Three's song This Life is a poignant reflection on life's journey and its unpredictable nature. The song reminds us that life isn't easy, but it's been good to some people.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, broken down outside Bakersfield
The singer's vehicle broke down near Bakersfield.
man it started to snow.
It started snowing.
Sleepin' sittin' up in the front seat
The singer slept sitting on the front seat of their vehicle.
cold wind, it blows.
The wind was very cold outside.
Well now, people if you feel for your mortal souls
The artist suggests that if you're concerned about your soul, you should work at a grocery store.
get a job workin' at the grocery store.
Working at a grocery store is recommended as a way to save one's soul.
this life, it ain't right for everybody.
The singer implies that not everyone is cut out for the life they lead.
Everbody'd do it now, if it was easy.
If the life they lead was easy, everyone would want to do it.
This life, it ain't right for everybody,
Again, the artist suggests their lifestyle isn't suitable for everyone.
but it sure's been good to me.
Despite the difficulties of their lifestyle, the artist has enjoyed it.
Drivin' thirty-five miles an hour
The singer drove at a speed of 35 miles per hour.
'cross that Texas heat,
The artist was driving through hot weather in Texas.
engine burnin' like the fires of Hell
The engine was very hot and seemed to burn like Hell's fires.
just to melt the shoes of my feet.
The heat was so intense it melted the singer’s shoes.
Well, it's three mechanics in a hundred miles
There were only three mechanics in a hundred miles.
and nothin's wrong.
Nothing appeared wrong with the vehicle.
Didn't get nothing' outta that trip but another song.
The artist was inspired to write another song from the experience.
I been up in the apple trees,
The singer has worked picking apples from trees.
I been down in the ditches on my bended knees.
The singer has worked in ditches while kneeling.
"May I help you, sir?
Someone asked the artist if they needed help.
What do ya need?"
The person asked the artist what they needed.
Oh, been 'round a corner or two,
The artist has been through many difficult experiences.
sold everything but my clothes and shoes.
The singer has sold everything except their clothes and shoes.
Did a thousand jobs that I never wanted to do.
The artist has done many jobs they didn't enjoy.
I ain't settlin' down here,
The singer doesn't plan on staying in one place.
I'm just passin' through.
The singer is only passing through, not staying in one place for long.
Up to Vancouver where the
The singer traveled to Vancouver.
buildings scrape the sky.
The buildings in Vancouver are very tall.
They wanted to fight that night,
People were looking for a fight that night.
can't say the reason why.
The singer doesn't know why people were seeking conflict that night.
Well, it's flyin' fists, broken bottles,
People were fighting and throwing things like fists and bottles.
swings a heat into the crowd.
Tensions were high and people were getting angry.
They had to bring the paddywhack in just to settle everybody down.
Police had to intervene to calm everyone down.
Writer(s): Peter Bernhard
Contributed by Bailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.