Johnny and The Devil
by 
Hans Theessink 
recording of 1992 
from Johnny & The Devil, 
Johnny was a country boy 
Made his living off the land 
Every Saturday night he'd play the guitar 
With the boys in the local band 
Now the devil he played with golden fingers 
Near the waters he did dwell 
Made your backbone shiver, when you walked by the river 
And you listened to his tunes from hell 
The river runs on so freely, the river runs to the sea 
Johnny sold his soul to the devil down below 
Who will never more set him free 
And he never can again be free 
Johnny talked to the river 
Shouted into the deep 
You can have my soul if you give me your guitar 
Make her laugh, make her mourn and weep 
Up came the devil and he spoke to Johnny 
You'll be the best in all the land 
You'll play hot, you'll play well, as the fires from hell 
But your soul will be at my command 
The river runs on so freely, the river runs to the sea 
Johnny sold his soul to the devil down below 
Who will never more set him free 
And he never can again be free 
Johnny can 
jive 
and Johnny can boogie 
Let the music flow so free 
Play the strings so you can hear them ring 
Through the bayou 
country 
Now the people came from near and far 
When they heard about the guitar-man 
Johnny's voice got hoarse and his fingers were all bloody 
But his playing never took an end 
Sometimes in the dead of night 
There's music sounding through the trees 
The devil plays a tune on the bank of the river 
Johnny's soul sings harmony 
The river runs on so freely, the river runs to the sea 
Johnny sold his soul to the devil down below 
Who will never more set him free 
And he never can again be free 
__________ 
Note 1: bayou, any of various usually marshy or sluggish bodies of water.