The Devil went down to Georgia,
He was looking for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind, 'cause he was way behind,
He was willing to make a deal.
When he came across this young man
Sawing on a fiddle and playing it hot.
And the Devil jumped up on 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 a pretty good fiddle,
Boy, but give the Devil his due.
I 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'm the best there's ever 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'll 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 blew from his fingertips as he rosined up his bow.
And he pulled the bow across the strings and it made an evil hiss.
Then a band of demons joined in,
And it sounded something like this.
When the Devil finished, Johnny said,
"Well you're pretty good old 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 rising sun.
Chicken in the bread pan a picking 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 want to try again,
I done told you once, you son of a bitch,
I'm the best there's ever been."
He played,
Fire on the Mountain, run, boys, run.
The Devil's in the house of the rising sun.
Chicken in the breadpan a picking out dough,
Granny will your dog bite, "No, child, no."