The Devil Went Down to Georgia – English Lyrics

• By: The Charlie Daniels Band
• Album: A Decade Of Hits

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the vibrant sounds and storytelling of American roots music with "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." This song offers a glimpse into Appalachian folklore and the cultural significance of music, all while delivering a high-energy narrative that makes learning English an engaging experience.

[English]

The Devil went down to Georgia

He was lookin' for a soul to steal

He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind

And he was willin' to make a deal

When he came across this young man

Sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot

And the Devil jumped upon a hickory stump

And said, "Boy, let me tell you what"

"I guess you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player, too

And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you

Now you play pretty good fiddle, boy, but give the Devil his due

I'll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul

'Cause I think I'm better than you"

The boy said, "My name's Johnny, and it might be a sin

But I'll take your bet, you're gonna regret

'Cause I am the best that's ever has been

Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard

'Cause Hell's broke loose in Georgia and the Devil deals the cards

And if you win, you get this shiny fiddle made of gold

But if you lose, the devil gets your soul

...

The Devil opened up his case and he said, "I'll start this show"

And fire flew from his fingertips as he rosined up his bow

And he pulled the bow across the strings and it made a evil hiss

And a band of demons joined in, and it sounded somethin' like this

...

When the Devil finished

Johnny said, "Well, you're pretty good ol' son

But sit down in that chair right there

And let me show you how it's done"

"Fire on the Mountain", run, boys, run

The Devil's in the house of the risin' sun

Chicken in the bread pan pickin' out dough

Granny, does your dog bite? No, child, no

...

The Devil bowed his head because he knew that he'd been beat

And he laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Johnny's feet

Johnny said, "Devil, just come on back if you ever wanna try again

I done told you once, you son of a bitch

I'm the best that's ever been" he played

"Fire on the Mountain", run, boys, run

The Devil's in the house of the risin' sun

The chicken in the bread pan pickin' out dough

Granny, will your dog bite? No, child, no

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
devil /ˈdev.əl/ A2	noun - the main spirit of evil in some religions
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.
steal /stiːl/ A2	verb - take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.
bind /baɪnd/ B2	noun - a difficult situation
deal /diːl/ A2	noun - an agreement entered into willingly by two parties verb - to distribute cards to players in a game
fiddle /ˈfɪd.əl/ B1	noun - a violin, especially when used to play folk music verb - to play the violin
stump /stʌmp/ B2	noun - the part of a tree that is left in the ground after the tree has been cut down
dare /der/ B2	noun - a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy verb - challenge (someone) to do something
bet /bet/ A2	noun - an act of gambling; a wager verb - risk something, usually money, against someone else's on the basis of the outcome of an unpredictable event.
gold /ɡoʊld/ A1	noun - a yellow precious metal adjective - made of or relating to gold
sin /sɪn/ B2	noun - an immoral act considered a transgression against divine law.
regret /rɪˈɡret/ B1	verb - feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that one has done or failed to do). noun - a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done.
bow /boʊ/ B1	noun - a weapon for shooting arrows, or the implement used to play certain stringed instruments verb - bend the head or upper part of the body as a sign of respect or greeting.
shiny /ˈʃaɪ.ni/ A2	adjective - reflecting light
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - a state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and flame
bite /baɪt/ A2	verb - use the teeth to cut into or tear something