Max's Musings

Soundtracfk, February 24, The Devil Went Down to Georgia

The Charile Daniels Band relesed "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" on their 1979 album Million Mile Reflections. Whle uncredited, , Vassar Clements originally wrote the basic melody an octave lower, in a tune called "Lonesome Fiddle Blues." Charlie Daniels moved it up an octave and added lyrics. Tthe lyrics, which are more of a recitative than sung, tell of a battle with the devil over the soul of a country fiddler. This is recognizably a varition on the classic deal with the devil   trope. In particular, Daniels has cited the poem The Mountain Whip[orwhill   by Stephen VIncent Benet as the inspiration for framing the trope as contest of violinists.

The lyrics and music also mention at least three old-time country songs.

Fire on the Mountain
The House of the Rising Sun
Granny Will Your Dog Bite
Ida Red

The last is referenced only by the lyric, "Chicken in the bread pan peckin' out dough."

The song rose to number three on the BIllboard Top 100 Chart, but the populatirty of "My Shirona" eventually stopped iis rise.

In my story, "The Package" , the song is playing on the radio as the protagonist drives home, as a bit of foreshadowing for what's in the unexpected package she finds on her driveway. If you want to read the story, please drop me a note for the passkey.