Friend of the Devil Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I lit out from Reno, I was trailed by twenty hounds
Didn't get to sleep that night 'til the morning came around
[Chorus]
Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight
[Verse 2]
Ran into the devil, babe, he loaned me twenty bills
Spent the night in Utah in a cave up in the hills
[Chorus]
Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight
[Verse 3]
I ran down to the levee but the devil caught me there
He took my twenty dollar bill and he vanished in the air
[Chorus]
Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight
I lit out from Reno, I was trailed by twenty hounds
Didn't get to sleep that night 'til the morning came around
[Chorus]
Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight
[Verse 2]
Ran into the devil, babe, he loaned me twenty bills
Spent the night in Utah in a cave up in the hills
[Chorus]
Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight
[Verse 3]
I ran down to the levee but the devil caught me there
He took my twenty dollar bill and he vanished in the air
[Chorus]
Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight
[Bridge]
Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night:
The first one's named sweet Anne Marie, and she's my heart's delight
The second one is prison, babe, and the sheriff's on my trail
And if he catches up with me, I'll spend my life in jail
[Verse 4]
Got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child, but it don't look like me
[Chorus]
Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight
[Bridge]
Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night:
The first one's named sweet Anne Marie, and she's my heart's delight
The second one is prison, babe, the sheriff's on my trail
And if he catches up with me, I'll spend my life in jail
[Verse 4]
Got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child, but it don't look like me
Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night:
The first one's named sweet Anne Marie, and she's my heart's delight
The second one is prison, babe, and the sheriff's on my trail
And if he catches up with me, I'll spend my life in jail
[Verse 4]
Got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child, but it don't look like me
[Chorus]
Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight
Just might get some sleep tonight
[Bridge]
Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night:
The first one's named sweet Anne Marie, and she's my heart's delight
The second one is prison, babe, the sheriff's on my trail
And if he catches up with me, I'll spend my life in jail
[Verse 4]
Got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child, but it don't look like me
About
Genius Annotation
In this song, The Grateful Dead write about a life of crime and how it has affected the narrator—all contained in that beautiful downward melody with which the whole opens and rolls along.
The main theme of the song is that a life of crime always sticks with you. That is to say, once you deal with the devil you will always deal with the devil. The song goes on to talk about all the measures the narrator must take and all the things that he (I assume it is a he) must endure/misses due to his life of crime.
The song was originally written by Robert Hunter for the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and was written along with NRPS’s John Dawson.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Box of Rain
- 2.Friend of the Devil
- 4.Operator
- 5.Candyman
- 6.Ripple
- 10.Truckin’
Credits
Producers
Writers
Lead Vocals
Bass Guitar
Drums
Lead Guitar
Percussion
Rhythm Guitar
Mandolin
Arranger
Engineer
Label
Recorded At
Wally Heider Studios (San Francisco)
Release Date
November 1, 1970
Friend of the Devil Covers
Friend of the Devil by Ministry, Friend of the Devil (Live at Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, November 13, 1976) by Jerry Garcia Band, Friend of the Devil by Dave Wilson Quartet, Friend of the Devil (Live) by Dave Wilson Quartet, Friend of the Devil by Jerry Garcia & David Grisman, Friend of the Devil by Lyle Lovett, Friend of the Devil by Counting Crows, Friend Of The Devil by Chris Smither, Friend of the Devil by Allan Rayman, Friend of the Devil by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers & Friend of the Devil by Mumford & Sons
Friend of the Devil Is A Remix Of
Friend of the Devil Live Performances
Friend of the Devil (Live at Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, September 3, 1977) by The Grateful Dead, Friend of the Devil (Live at the Fillmore East, New York City, May 15, 1970) by The Grateful Dead, Friend of the Devil (Live at Springfield Civic Center Arena, Springfield, MA, May 11, 1978) by The Grateful Dead, Friend of the Devil (Live at Stanley Theater, Jersey City, NJ, September 27, 1972) by The Grateful Dead, Friend of the Devil (Live at Radio City Music Hall, NYC, October 27, 1980) by The Grateful Dead, Friend of the Devil [Live at Baltimore Civic Center, Baltimore, MD, 9/17/72] by The Grateful Dead, Friend of the Devil by Corey Taylor, Friend of the Devil (Live at Onondaga County War Memorial, Syracuse, NY, September 28, 1976) by The Grateful Dead, Friend of the Devil (Live at The Spectrum, Philadelphia, September 21, 1972) by The Grateful Dead, Friend of the Devil (Live at the Palladium, NYC, April 30, 1977) by The Grateful Dead & Friend of the Devil (Live at Winterland, SF, December 31, 1978) by The Grateful Dead
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