Ray Wylie Hubbard - Conversation with the devil

I ^Ghad a dream last night I was cast into hell by a jealous God Th^Ge Devil walked up and said, "You don't need no lightning rod It^C hardly ever rains down here; I can't recall the last storm Yo^Gu ain't gonna need that leather jacket, it gets kinda warm Th^Dere's one way, there's no way out; looks like you're here to stay Oh^G, the place is a mess, it's overcrowded, more are coming everyday."

I ^Gsaid, "Aw, man, wait a minute, there's got to be somethin' wrong I ^Gain't a bad guy, I just write these little songs I ^Calways pay my union dues, I don't stay in the passing lane." An^Gd he said, "What about all that whisky and cocaine?" I ^Dsaid, "Well, yeah... but that's no reason to throw me in hell 'C^Gause I didn't use the cocaine to get high, I just like the way it smells."

He^G said, "Come on over here, son, let me show you around Ov^Ger there's where we put the preachers -- I never liked those clowns Th^Cey're always blaming me for everything wrong under the sun It^G ain't that hard to do what's right, it's just maybe not as much fun Th^Den they walk around thinkin' they're better than me and you An^Gd then they get caught in a motel room, doin' what they said not to do

"N^Gow all the murderers and the rapists, they go in this fiery lake As^G well as most of the politicians and the cops on the take An^Cd all the mothers who wait 'til they get to K-Mart to spank their kids; In^Gstead of showin' 'em what to do what's right, they just hit 'em for what they did An^Dd all the daddy's who run off and abandon their daughters and sons Oh^G, anybody who hurts a child's gonna burn until it's done."

"E^Gveryone is down here," I said, "who's up in heaven with God and the Son?" "O^Gh, some saints and mystics and students of Metaphysics 101 Pe^Cople who care and share and love and try to do what's right Be^Gautiful old souls who read little stories to their babies every night Wh^Dat you won't find up in heaven are Christian Coalition right-wing conservatives, co^Guntry program directors, and Nashville Record executives."

"N^Gow," I said, "I've made some mistakes, but I'm not as bad as those guys Ho^Gw can God do this to me?, or can't she sympathize?" He^C said, "You're wrong about God being cruel and mean Oh^G, God is the most loving thing that's never been seen." I ^Dsaid, "Hot Shot, tell me this: which religion is the truest?" He^G said, "They're all about the same -- Buddha was not a Christian, but Jesus would've made a good Buddhist."

We^Gll, I thought about my future, I didn't seem to have much of one I ^Glooked around to leave but there was... no place to run I ^Csaid, "I don't suppose I could go back and try livin' again... Li^Gke reincarnation, I hear that's the way it's always been." "I^D can't answer that," he said, "you're gonna have to wait for that response Bu^Gt it ain't any more unusual to be born twice than it is to be born once."

We^Gll it looked like I was gonna be stuck here, as far as I could tell I ^Gthought I might as well suck up, you know, what the hell? I ^Csaid, "You know that song that Charlie Daniels did? Ab^Gout how you went down to Georgia and played fiddle against that kid?" He^D said, "Yeah, broke my heart but, you know, what're you gonna do?" I ^Gsaid, "To be honest, I thought your solo was the better of the two."

Wel^Gl, then I woke up, and I was lyin' in my bed I w^Gent upstairs and kissed my little boy on his sleepin' head I t^Cook this dream as a sign from God, so I thought I'd better pray: "Do^Gn't ever speak to me directly, and thanks anyway." Now^D so much has changed about me besides me just givin' up red meat Som^Ge get spiritual 'cause they see the light