7 ms·

It's on the beaten path, but how can you resist (and how did the New Yorker resist?) "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_W

It's on the beaten path, but how can you resist (and how did the New Yorker resist?) "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_Went_Down_to_Georgia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_Went_Down_to_Georgia Most of the deals in the article do not end well for the human, but here there's no lesson about hubris, nor the curse of knowledge, or anything else. No, Johnny's just a better fiddle player, he beats the devil, and he wins a golden fiddle fair and square. (The article might allude to this story: "Satan is not the real God, because there is only one God; the Devil doesn’t have the best tunes.")

krapp 2y ago
There is a lesson about hubris, but most people miss it. The Devil's deal is false, he doesn't play "fair and square." Johnny wins the bet but still loses his soul to the sin of pride. It's even in the lyrics: "My name's Johnny and it might be a sin, but I'll take your bet and you're gonna regret 'cause I'm the best that's ever been!" At least that's how I've always interpreted it.
- jkaptur 2y ago
  Very interesting interpretation! I see your point.
buildsjets 2y ago
Which always seemed to me just a retelling of the Robert Johnson “crossroads” legend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson#Devil_legend https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson#Devil_legend
robbiep 2y ago
Maybe shifting further but ’the silver tongued devil’ by Kris Kristofferson is a beautiful song with a beautiful message in my opinion
- bbreier 2y ago
  funny enough, "To Beat the Devil" of his is my pick for the best riff on the trope of country songs about musicians taking on the devil
butlike 2y ago
A modern take I've always enjoyed is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1tcj6bUv98 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1tcj6bUv98
nox101 2y ago
If we're mentioning songs then I'd pick T..... & Beer by Frank Zappa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPO1QGhYDjM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPO1QGhYDjM

krapp 2y ago

There is a lesson about hubris, but most people miss it. The Devil's deal is false, he doesn't play "fair and square." Johnny wins the bet but still loses his soul to the sin of pride. It's even in the lyrics: "My name's Johnny and it might be a sin, but I'll take your bet and you're gonna regret 'cause I'm the best that's ever been!" At least that's how I've always interpreted it.

jkaptur 2y ago
Very interesting interpretation! I see your point.

buildsjets 2y ago

Which always seemed to me just a retelling of the Robert Johnson “crossroads” legend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson#Devil_legend https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson#Devil_legend

robbiep 2y ago

Maybe shifting further but ’the silver tongued devil’ by Kris Kristofferson is a beautiful song with a beautiful message in my opinion

bbreier 2y ago
funny enough, "To Beat the Devil" of his is my pick for the best riff on the trope of country songs about musicians taking on the devil

butlike 2y ago

A modern take I've always enjoyed is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1tcj6bUv98 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1tcj6bUv98

nox101 2y ago

If we're mentioning songs then I'd pick T..... & Beer by Frank Zappa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPO1QGhYDjM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPO1QGhYDjM