They enjoyed working together so much that they decided to create an album together. Co-written by all the group members, the songwriting and recording were accomplished over a ten-day period at Dave Stewart's house, as Dylan was due to go out on tour. Their first studio album, Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 was released on October 18, 1988. The band members were credited under various pseudonyms, all sons of a fictional Charles Truscott Wilbury, Sr. The album was immediately dubbed as one of the top 100 albums of all time by Rolling Stone, and was a critical and commercial success, spawning several successful singles and eventually reaching triple-platinum sales status in the US. Additionally, it was nominated for several awards and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group in 1989.
The death of Orbison on December 6, 1988 prevented further full collaborations, and the band continued without him. In 1990, they released a second studio album titled Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 3. The intentional misnumbering is attributed to Harrison's sense of humor; additionally, the pseudonyms for all members were changed. The album met with less success than its predecessor, and the group eventually disbanded in 1990, their final released recording being the song "Nobody's Child", the title track of a benefit album released to benefit Romanian orphans.
In 2007, a compilation of both albums was released, entitled The Traveling Wilburys Collection. As well as both of the original albums, the release included bonus tracks and music videos; additionally, previously uncredited session drummer Jim Keltner, who appeared in some of the group's music videos, was listed as a member of the group, as was Dhani Harrison, the son of George who had assisted in some parts of the overdubbing of the previously unreleased material.
The Devil's Been Busy
Traveling Wilburys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Showing no remorse
Glowing from the poisons
They've sprayed on your golf course
While you're busy sinking birdies
And keeping your scorecard
The devil's been busy in your back yard
With your trucks of toxic waste
Where you gonna hide it
In the outer space?
You don't know what you're doing
Or what you have to guard
The devil's been busy in your back yard
Sometimes you think you're crazy
But you know you're only mad
Sometimes your better off not knowing
How much you've been had
You see your second cousin
Wasted in a fight
You say he had it coming
He couldn't do it right
You're in a western movie, playing the part
The devil's been busy in your back yard
Sometimes they say you're wicked
But you know that can't be bad.
Sometimes you're better off not knowing
It'll only make you sad
They're coming down picadilly
Dripping at the dash
Arresting sticky willy
Clubbing him with their cars
They just might not have noticed
They've been beating him so hard
And the devil's been busy in your back yard
Oh the devil's been busy now
The devil's been busy in your back yard
Woah, woah, woah busy now
The devil's been busy in your back yard
Well the devil's been busy now
"The Devil's Been Busy" by the Traveling Wilburys is a metaphorical song about the destruction of the environment and the consequences of man's actions. The lyrics focus on how people think they're doing nothing wrong and are oblivious to the fact that they're causing harm to nature. The first verse talks about golfers playing on courses that have been sprayed with harmful chemicals that destroy the environment. The second verse talks about the dumping of toxic waste, and how people don't care about the impact of their actions on nature. The chorus states that the devil has been busy in people's backyards, representing the damage being done to nature.
The third verse talks about people being unaware of the harm they are causing and not knowing their own limitations, which can lead to their downfall. The fourth verse talks about the hypocrisy of people who justify their actions by blaming those who are affected by them. The fifth verse describes a situation where the authorities are punishing someone who is not at fault, due to their ignorance and negligence. The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the damage being done to nature and the need for change.
Overall, "The Devil's Been Busy" is a powerful message about the importance of protecting our environment and the potential consequences of our actions. The song encourages listeners to reflect on their own actions and the impact they have on nature.
Line by Line Meaning
While you're strolling down the fairway
Showing no remorse
Glowing from the poisons
They've sprayed on your golf course
While you're busy sinking birdies
And keeping your scorecard
The devil's been busy in your back yard
While you happily enjoy your game of golf, you are unaware of the harmful chemicals sprayed on the course, which makes it look lush and green. These harmful poisons have been harming the environment and wildlife around you. While you focus on playing the game and winning, you do not realize the damage that has been done to your own backyard by the devil.
Steaming down the highway
With your trucks of toxic waste
Where you gonna hide it
In the outer space?
You don't know what you're doing
Or what you have to guard
The devil's been busy in your back yard
You are driving your trucks loaded with toxic waste, and you have not thought about how to dispose of it ethically. You wonder if you should dump it in outer space, but you have no idea about the consequences of your actions or the harm caused to nature. While you believe you are doing everything right, the devil is continuously harming your surroundings.
Sometimes you think you're crazy
But you know you're only mad
Sometimes your better off not knowing
How much you've been had
You feel like you might be losing your sanity, but you know that you are merely angry at the situation you are in. It is better not to know how much you have been deceived and cheated by the devil to protect your sanity.
You see your second cousin
Wasted in a fight
You say he had it coming
He couldn't do it right
You're in a western movie, playing the part
The devil's been busy in your back yard
You witness your cousin injured in a scuffle, and instead of empathizing with him, you blame him for not being able to protect himself. You continue to play the role of a rugged and tough hero, akin to one in a western movie, but you do not realize that the devil is taking advantage of such behavior and breeding hostility in your own backyard.
Sometimes they say you're wicked
But you know that can't be bad.
Sometimes you're better off not knowing
It'll only make you sad
People brand you as wicked, but you believe it is not real. Sometimes, you feel it is better to stay unaware of the harsh realities of the world as it might only sadden you further, knowingly or unknowingly caused by the devil.
They're coming down Piccadilly
Dripping at the dash
Arresting Sticky Willy
Clubbing him with their cars
They just might not have noticed
They've been beating him so hard
And the devil's been busy in your back yard
Oh the devil's been busy now
The devil's been busy in your back yard
Woah, woah, woah busy now
The devil's been busy in your back yard
Well the devil's been busy now
The authorities are chasing people and vandalizing cars in Piccadilly, without even realizing they are harming an innocent bystander named Sticky Willy. They use brute force, clubbing him without mercy, and they have no idea how hard they've been hitting him. And all the while, the devil has been relentlessly, and secretly, causing havoc in your neighborhood.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind