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[Intro] Am Em Am Em [Verse 1]
AmThe Devil walked into Linebaugh's on a rDmainy Nashville night While the lEost souls sat and sipped their soup in the sAmickly neon light.
And the Devil, he looked around the room,
then gDmot down on his knees. He says, "Is there oEne among you scum who'll rAmoll the dice with me?"
[Verse 2]
AmWell, Red, he just strums his guitar, Dmpretending not to hear. And EEddie, he just looks away and sAmips on his beer.
Vince, he says, "Not me, I'll pass,
I've Dmhad my share of Hell" And kDept scribbling on a napkin, some sAmongs he thought would sell.
[Verse 3]
RAmonnie just kept whisperin' low to the snDmuff queen clutching his sleeve, And somEebody coughed, and the Devil scoffed, and tAmurned on his heels to leave.
"Hold on," says a voice from the back of the room.
"'fore yDmou walk out that door. If youE're lookin' for some action, friend, well, AmI've rolled them dice before."
[Verse 4]
AmAnd there stood Billy Markham, he's been Dmon the scene for years, Singin' aEll them raunchy songs that the town didAmn't want to hear.
He'd been cut and bled a thousand times,
and his eDmyes were wise and sad, EAll his songs were the songs of the street, and Amall his luck was bad.
[Verse 5]
Am"I know you," says Billy Markham, "from mDmany a dark and funky place, But you aElways spoke in a different voice and wAmore a different face.
Me, I've gambled here on Music Row
with huDmstlers and with whores, And, HEell, I ain't afraid to roll them deAmvilish dice of yours."
[Verse 6]
"AmWell, then, get down," says the Devil, "just Dmas if you was gonna pray, And tEake these dice in your luckless hand and I'll tAmell you how this game is played.
You get one roll and you bet your soul
and if you roDmll thirteen you win, And aEll the joys of flesh and gold are yAmours to touch and spend.
[Verse 7]
AmBut if that thirteen don't come up, then you can kDmiss your ass goodbye And wEill your useless bones to God, 'cause your gAmoddamn soul is mine!"
"Thirteen?" says Billy.
"Hell, I've plDmayed in tougher games. I've lEoved ambitious women and I've roAmde on wheelless trains.
[Verse 8]
AmSo gimme room, you stinkin' fiend, and lDmet it all unwind. NEobody's ever rolled a thirteen yet, but tAmhis just might be the time."
Then Billy Markham, he takes the dice,
and the dDmice feels heavy as stones. "They sEhould, they should," the Devil says, "'cause they're cAmarved from Jesus' bones."
[Verse 9]
AAmnd Billy Markham he turns the dice and the dDmice, they have no spots. "I'm soErry," says the Devil, "but they're the oAmnly dice I got."
"Well, shit," says Billy Markham.
"Now, I reDmally don't mean to bitch, But I nEever thought I'd stake my roll in a suAmcker's game like this."
[Verse 10]
Am"Well, then, walk off," says the Devil. "NobDmody's tied you down." "Walk oEff where?" says Billy Markham. "It's the oAmnly game in town.
But I just wanna say 'fore I make my play,
that if DmI should chance to lose, I will mEy guitar to some would-be star who'll pAmlay some honest blues,
[Verse 11]
AmWho ain't afraid to sing the words like dDmamn or shit or fuck And who aEin't afraid to put his ass on the stage wAmhere he makes his bucks.
But if he plays this guitar safe,
and siDmngs some sugary lies, I'll hEaunt him till we meet in Hell, now, gAmimme them fuckin' dice."
[Verse 12]
AmAnd Billy Markham shakes the dice and yells, "CDmome on, thirteen!" And the dEice, they roll - and they come up blank. "You lAmose!" the Devil screams.
"I must say 'fore we go our way
that I reDmally like your style. Of aEll the fools I've played and beat, you're the fAmirst one who lost with a smile."
[Verse 13]
Am"Well, I'll tell you somethin'," Billy Markham says. "Those oDmdds weren't too damn bad. In fEourteen years on Music Row, that's the bAmest damn chance I've had."
Then, arm in arm, Billy Markham
and the DeDmvil walk out through Linebaugh's door, Leavin' BEilly's old beat-up guitar tAmhere on the floor.
[Outro]
AmAnd if you go into Linebaugh's now, you can sDmee it there today HEangin' from a nail on the wAmall of peelin' gray It's BiFlly Markham's old guitar That noEbody dares to pAmlay.