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Ray Wylie Hubbard — Conversation with the Devil
Album: Crusades of the Restless Knights
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 964









Released: 1999
Length: 4:44
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I had a dream last night I was cast into Hell by a jealous God
The Devil walked up and said, "You don't need no lightning rod
It hardly ever rains down here, I can't recall the last storm
You ain't gonna need that leather jacket, it gets kinda warm
But there's one way in there's no way out
It looks like you're here to stay
The place is a mess, it's overcrowded, more are coming in everyday"

I said, "Oh man, wait a minute there's gotta be something wrong
I ain't a bad guy, just write these little songs
I always pay my union dues, I don't stay in the passing lane"
And he said, "What about all that whiskey and the cocaine"
I said, "Well, yeah, but that's no reason to throw me in Hell
'Cause I didn't use the cocaine to get high
I just liked the way it smelled"

He said, "Come on over here son, let me show you around
Over there's where we put the preachers, I never liked those clowns
They're always blaming me for everything wrong under the sun
It ain't that harder to do what's right, it's just maybe not as much fun
Then they walk around thinking they're better than me and you
And then they get caught in a motel room
Doing what they said not to do"

"Now the murderers and the rapists they go in this fiery lake
As well as most of the politician and the cops on the take
And all the mothers who wait till they get to K-Mart to spank their kids
And instead of showing what to do what's right
They just hit 'em for what they did
And all the daddy's who run off and abandon their daughters and sons
Oh, anybody who hurts a child is gonna burn until it's done"

"Everybody is down here", I said
"Who's up in Heaven with God and the Son"
Oh, some saints and mystics and students of metaphysics one O one
People who care and share and love and try to do what's right
Beautiful old souls who read a little stories to their babies every night
What you wont find up in Heaven are
Christian Coalition Right Wing Conservatives
Country program directors and Nashville record executives

Now I said, "I've made some mistakes, but I'm not as bad as those guys
How can God do this to me or can't He sympathize
He said, "You're wrong about God being cruel and mean
Oh, God is the most loving thing that's never been seen"
I said, "Hotshot tell me this which religion is the truest"
He said, "There all about the same
Buddha was not a Christian, but Jesus woulda made a good buddist"

Well, I thought about my future, I didn't seem to have much of one
I looked around to leave but there was no place to run
I said, "I don't suppose I could go back and try living again
You know like reincarnation, I hear that's the way it's always been"
"I can't answer that", he said
"You're gonna have to wait for that response
But it's not any more unusual to be born twice than it is to be born once"

Well, it looked like I was gonna be stuck here as far as I could tell
I thought I might as well suck up, you know what the hell
I said you, "You know that song that Charlie Daniels did
About how you went down to Georgia and played fiddle against that kid"
He said, "Yeah it broke my heart but you know what are you gonna do
I said, "To tell you the truth
I thought your solo was the better of the two"

Well, then I woke up and I was lying in my bed
I ran upstairs and kissed my little boy on his sleeping head
I took this dream as a sign from God, so I thought I'd better pray
I said, "Don't ever speak to me directly and thanks anyway"
Now so much has changed about me
Besides me just giving up red meat
Some get spiritual, 'cause they see the light
And some, 'cause they feel the heat
Comments (184)add comment
 Hippostar wrote:

At least we know we can always count on the sanctimoniousness of folk singers.




you missed the humor in this
 themotion wrote:

Thirded. Just fantastic.




Fourth. Bumping to an 8 just on the lyrics.
Funny lines and interesting song but not good for public places IMO.  Have to run to skip when it plays.

Not something I'm a fan of, but appreciate the lyrics enough to give it a 6.
Well he certainly had something to get off his chest. :-) Whether one 'likes' it or not probably depends on their politics and the mood they're in.
This would pair nicely with Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother.
Poet. Artist. Icon.

If you "never heard of him" do some research.
You might be surprised to learn he wrote some songs you might know pretty well actually.


This IMO is a thought provoking bit of wordplay worthy of admiration. Dig it.
I wonder what he really thinks.

Love it.  Another artist I would have never heard of.
At least I just learnt cocaine has a smell.
When I was 15, I met Ray Wylie Hubbard at my job at a small town radio station in TX. One of the local cops showed up outside the station (cause he was a fan) and Ray Wylie referenced him as he was singing on air. How cool! This song came out not long after I met him and it was a breathe of fresh air for his career.
awesome lyrics

Hey Ray, Bob wants his song back...

"Bob Dylan's 115th Dream

I liked the namecheck of Charlie Daniels — this song has an 'Uneasy Rider" feel to me.
Damn...this is not music. 1 because can't give a zero.
That was wonderful. Laughed out loud after damn near every line.
Bumped from a 7 to 8 on the "Jesus would have made a good Buddhist" line!
Cool!  Hadn't heard of this guy before.
Oh yeah
 jimbaca wrote:

Love the lyrics! 


So do I,

Buddha was not a Christian, but Jesus woulda made a good buddist"
Nice Devil songs playlist. ;)
Nashville record executives
This is awesome.  Can't believe I never heard of this guy.  That's why I listen to RP.
 

Love the lyrics!


Ray is a treasure.
I would definitely like to run across this guy in a bar. Meaning, I would buy him more than one.
This guy is quite funny!
Thanks for playing one of my TX faves!  
Wow. Another great find by listening to Radioparadise. Never heard anything quite like it. Had to buy a couple of albums. Go check him out.
Ray is the real deal.  Don't pass up a chance to see him live, it's one hellavu show and you won't regret it.
 colt4x5 wrote:
"Some get spiritual cause they see the light and some cause they feel the heat."

Great line.

 
I was just going to write exactly this. {#Smile}
 Randomax wrote:
My Wimberley Texas neighbor!  Great guy

 
Very cool! But tonight this song feels like it was written at the back of a Greyhound Bus at 3am when Ray should've been sleeping it off...
 musicforme wrote:
Well RP, what was that? How awful, my response was to NOT send a subscription and to find music elsewhere BYE.

 
I have to agree, this song sucks. But holy smokes, what a bizarrely exaggerated reaction {#No}
Good luck and enjoy your future top-40 radio station.
Well RP, what was that? How awful, my response was to NOT send a subscription and to find music elsewhere BYE.
 billdock wrote:
My favorite line:

Cause I didn't use the cocaine to get high, I just liked the way it smelled

 
Ain't that the truth ...
"Drunken Poet's Dream" would be a good  Hubbard tune to play
just sayin' 
Lyrics to live by. Good fun.
The man is a genius.  If you ever get a chance to see him live, you will not be disappointed.  I see him every chance I get.  The Bob Dylan of Whimberley, Texas.
 kgage wrote:
OMG. So bad.

 
I concur. I walked into the living room to turn it off. Ugh.
This is fun :)
OMG. So bad.
My favorite line:

Cause I didn't use the cocaine to get high, I just liked the way it smelled
"Some get spiritual cause they see the light and some cause they feel the heat."

Great line.
Carrot/stick. 
Reminds me of Bob Dylan's 115th Dream
one of my fave lines of all time....it's not any more unusual to be born twice than it is to be born once"   ha....very zen
 Hippostar wrote:
At least we know we can always count on the sanctimoniousness of folk singers.

 
Hit too close to home, eh?
My Wimberley Texas neighbor!  Great guy
My new favorite song. 
I think possibly he has an opinion or two he wants to express!
What the world needs now is another folk singer. 
That was great. "Some get spiritual cause the see the light and some cause they feel the heat !!" How perfectly put.
At least we know we can always count on the sanctimoniousness of folk singers.
I love the sharp humour in this song. "Jesus would have made a good Buddhist" - one of many fine quotable lines. Eat yer heart out, Dante {#Roflol}
Saw Ray Wylie at Sweetwater in Marin last year - whatta blast! He's the real deal.
Music: 7/10
Lyrics: 10/10 
Great lyrics!
Sometimes a good song is all about the lyrics. This one nails it.
thank god it ended!!!! 
I had a dream last night I was cast into Hell by a jealous God
The Devil walked up and said you don't need no lightning rod
It hardly ever rains down here I can't recall the last storm
You ain't gonna need that leather jacket it gets kinda warm
There's one way in there's no way out looks like you're to stay
The place is a mess, it's overcrowded, more are coming in everyday

I said ah man, wait a minute there's gotta be something wrong
I ain't a bad guy just write these little songs
I always pay my union dues don't stay in the passing lane
And he said what about all that whiskey and the cocaine
I said well yeah but that's no reason to throw me in Hell
Cause I didn't use the cocaine to get high, I just liked the way it smelled

He said come on over here son, let me show you around
Over there's where we put the preachers, I never liked those clowns
They're always blaming me for everything wrong under the sun
It ain't harder to what's right, it's just maybe not as much fun
Then the walk around thinking they're better than me and you
Then they get caught in a motel room doing what they said not to do

Now the murderers and the rapists they go in this fiery lake
As well as most of the politician and the cops on the take
And all the mothers that wait to get to KMart to spank their kids
Instead of showing what to do what's right, they just hit 'em for what they did
And all the daddy's who run off and abandon their daughters and sons
Oh anybody that hurts a child is gonna burn until it's done

Everybody is down here I said who's up in Heaven with God and the Son
Oh some saints and mystics and students of metaphysics 101
People who care and share and love and try to do what's right
Beautiful old souls who read a little stories to their babies every night
What you wont find up in Heaven are Christian Coalition Right Wing Conservatives
Country program directors and Nashville record executives

Now I said I've made some mistakes, but I'm not as bad as those guys
How can God to this to me or can't she sympathize
He said you're wrong about God being cruel and mean
Oh God is the most loving thing that's never been seen
I said hotshot tell me this which religion is the truest
He said there all about the same, Buddha was not a Christian,
but Jesus would'a made a good Buddhist

Well I thought about my future I didn't seem to have much of one
I looked around to leave but there was no place to run
I said I don't suppose I could go back and try living again
You know like reincarnation I hear that's the way it's always been
I can't answer that he said you're gonna have to wait for that response
But it's not any more unusual to be born twice than it is to be born once


Well it looked like I was gonna be stuck here as far as I could tell
I thought I might as well suck up you know what the hell
I said you know that song that Charlie Daniels did
About how you went down to Georgia and played fiddle against that kid
He said yeah it broke my heart but you know what are you gonna do
I said to tell you the truth I thought your solo was the better of the two

Well then I woke up and I was lying in my bed
I went upstairs and kissed my little boy on his sleeping head
I took this dream as a sign from God so I thought I'd better pray
I said don't ever speak to me directly and thanks anyway
Now so much has changed about me besides me just giving up red meat
Some get spiritual cause they see the light and some cause they feel the heat
Right on, Ray… 
Groan.
oh thank god it stopped 
Forks in your ears?

Please, go fork yourself.
 Peter_Bradshaw wrote:
{#Heartkiss}   ........ luv this song
 
Ditto!
{#Heartkiss}   ........ luv this song
 Dog_Ear wrote:
If you like this, check James McMurtry's "Choctaw Bingo" Both make great travellin' music.

Any others to suggest? 

 
Funny: I heard McMurtry sing that song first, but I prefer Ray Wylie's take. 

I believe Bill has played RWH's "Rabbit", "Kilowatts" and "Coochy Coochy" (the last one I think is a cover of a Ringo Starr song; Ringo speaks/sings a bit on Ray's version. They're all fun. Ray seems like a grizzled but charming coot. 
Clever lyrics and a deep soul, excellent.
I have never been to Southern US... , what the hell I haven't, sadly,  ever been to US, but this song takes me there, for sure,..
Dante's Inferno, talking blues style.
 citizenkeith wrote:
Snake Farm!

  just liked the way she smelled....{#Dance}{#Liar}


 yep - great stuff!
themotion wrote:

Thirded. Just fantastic.


 


great lyrics!!! sooooooo true!!
Ah the pun, a Godlike song about the devil.  Love it.
Snake Farm!
Love this song!!
 mfcrowe wrote:

Couldn't help but thinking throughout the song that this was a rip off of Dylan's style in Subterranean Homesick Blues, couldn't get past the Dylan thing to enjoy the song {#Naughty}


 
That "style" long-preceded Bob Dylan, just ask Woody Guthrie or the countless other balladeers around long before him.

Still love this song. Mr. Hubbard is a true original.
Just because it's Hallowe'en and the song has "Devil" in the title doesn't mean it should be on the playlist.

C'mon Ray, how about a tune!

Right on Ray!!!  Ever time I hear Charlie Daniels and the Devil face off... I think the devil kicks his ass!
OMG!!!!!!!!!
I wanna stick forks in my ears!!!!!!  and my dogs are howling in pain!!!!!!!

 themotion wrote:

Thirded. Just fantastic.

 
Fourthed!
thumbs down...Bob Dylan wannabe
I dunno, this type of music doesn't have any peaks and valleys to me (and sounds like one of Dylan's 'dreams') and so it doesn't need to be any longer than 2 min to get the point across.
Country rap music {#Tongue}

True, it's forced in places, but the message comes through nonetheless.  Props for his passion.
 leliathomas wrote:
Not too bad, but some of the lyrics are a little painful to listen to, as Hubbard tries to fit too much into a verse and yet still make it rhyme overall. (It doesn't always work.) However, as others have mentioned, some of the lines are truly great.

Okay, but not amazing. With a few changes to the lyrics, I think it'd be a more solid song.
 
Yes. Exactly. It's a little forced in places, what with mention of right wing Christian conservatives and all. But terrific fun, nonetheless.
 mfcrowe wrote:

Couldn't help but thinking throughout the song that this was a rip off of Dylan's style in Subterranean Homesick Blues, couldn't get past the Dylan thing to enjoy the song {#Naughty}

 
Ripoff? Call it an homage. I don't think he's trying to fool anyone. Besides, Dylan's style started off as a very close "ripoff" of Woody Guthrie, one that he acknowledged openly. So the cycle goes on. Enjoy.
Not too bad, but some of the lyrics are a little painful to listen to, as Hubbard tries to fit too much into a verse and yet still make it rhyme overall. (It doesn't always work.) However, as others have mentioned, some of the lines are truly great.

Okay, but not amazing. With a few changes to the lyrics, I think it'd be a more solid song.

Couldn't help but thinking throughout the song that this was a rip off of Dylan's style in Subterranean Homesick Blues, couldn't get past the Dylan thing to enjoy the song {#Naughty}


 govna wrote:
these lyrics are fucking great
 
Thirded. Just fantastic.

 Odyzzeuz wrote:
Saw him do this song at a free show at the Grand Opening of Whole Foods Market here. There were like 20 people paying attention and I sat like 10 feet from him. He didn't seem to give a damn that there were 1,000 shoppers and about 20 listeners. Pretty cool. 

Personally I would have gotten my shopping done and gotten out of there.

{#Devil_pimp}
{#Iamwithstupid}


govna wrote:
these lyrics are fucking great

Oh yeah.{#Yes}
Saw him do this song at a free show at the Grand Opening of Whole Foods Market here. There were like 20 people paying attention and I sat like 10 feet from him. He didn't seem to give a damn that there were 1,000 shoppers and about 20 listeners. Pretty cool. 
Hell yeah! What a great song.
wferrier wrote:
I said you know that soung that Charlie Daniels did
About how you went down to Georgia and played fiddle against that kid
He said yeah it broke my heart but you know what are you gonna do
I said to tell you the truth I thought your solo was the better of the two.

I think so too! {#Boohoo}
This song is really clever. The line about Charlie Daniel's just puts it over the top. Great song.

 Dog_Ear wrote:
If you like this, check James McMurtry's "Choctaw Bingo" Both make great travellin' music.

Any others to suggest? 

 
Funny, I'm not that fond of "Choctaw Bingo", I find the repitition in that one, though similar to this song, to be too boring and plodding (which, given the subject matter of the song, is probably intentional).

prosaic
Got to love those lyrics!
If you like this, check James McMurtry's "Choctaw Bingo" Both make great travellin' music.

Any others to suggest? 
these lyrics are fucking great
now what i think would be a cool segue for this song. is Up against the wall redneck by Jerry Jeff Walker. He opens the song with,

"This song is written by Ray Wylie Hubbard." o btw, Up against the wall redneck by Jerry Jeff Walker is on LRC. its still in review. how do i know... its my upload! {#Bounce}

BAD ASS!!!!!
zaknafein wrote:
Buda wasn't a Christian, but Jesus would have made a good Buddist. :)
Another great line !
I said well yeah but that's no reason to throw me in Hell 'Cause I didn't use the cocaine to get high, I just liked the way it smelled. He said come on over here son, let me show you around Over there's where we put the preachers, I never liked those clowns They're always blaming me for everything wrong under the sun It aint harder to what's right, it's just maybe not as much fun Then the walk around thinking they're better than me and you Then they get caught in a motel room doing what they said not to do. Now the murderers and the rapists they go in this firey lake As well as most of the politician and the cops on the take And all the mothers that wait to get to KMart to spank their kids Instead of showing what to do what's right, they just hit 'em for what they did And all the daddy's who run off and abandon their daughters and sons Oh anybody that hurts a child is gonna burn until it's done. Everybody is down here I said who's up in Heaven with God and the Son Oh some saints and mystics and students of metaphysics 101 People who care and share and love and try to do what's right Beautiful old souls who read a little stories to their babies every night What you won't find up in Heaven are christian coalition right wing conservatives Country program directors and Nashville record executives. Now I said I've made some mistakes, but I'm not as bad as those guys How can God to this to me or can't she sympathize He said you're wrong about God being cruel and mean Oh God is the most loving thing that's never been seen I said hotshot tell me this which religion is the truest He said there all about the same, Budda was not a Christian, but Jesus woulda made a good buddist. Well, I thought about my future I didn't seem to have much of one I looked around to leave but there was no place to run I said I don't suppose I could go back and try living again You know like reincarnation I hear that's the way it's always been I can't answer that he said you're gonna have to wait for that response But it's not any more unusual to be born twice than it is to be born once. Well, it looked like I was gonna be stuck here as far as I could tell I thought I might as well suck up you know what the hell I said you know that soung that Charlie Daniels did About how you went down to Georgia and played fiddle against that kid He said yeah it broke my heart but you know what are you gonna do I said to tell you the truth I thought your solo was the better of the two. Well, then I woke up and I was lying in my bed I went upstairs and kissed my little boy on his sleeping head I took this dream as a sign from God so I thought I'd better pray I said don't ever speak to me directly and thanks anyway Now so much has changed about me besides me just giving up red meat Some get spiritual cause they see the light and some cause they feel the heat...
"Some get spiritual 'cuz they see the light and some 'cuz they feel the heat." What a great line.
Buda wasn't a Christian, but Jesus would have made a good Buddist. :)
thanks Bill!
more ray wylie hubbard please... and while you are at it, some more jerry jeff walker too!
techer2 wrote:
some of the best lyrics i've heard in a long, LONG while.
+1
As someone who was stuck in Texas for a few years, it is only the fantastic music that makes it possible to live there. Incredible songwriters, singers, performers. Everyone who hurts a child is gonna burn until they're done!
that was fantastic...wouldn't mind hearing it again soon...
LOL I loved that. At first, the cadence of the lyrics made me think it might be a cover of a Bob Dylan song.
stevo_b wrote:
I love who is not in Heaven... Excellent lyrics.
Insightful, eh?
WOW!
techer2 wrote:
some of the best lyrics i've heard in a long, LONG while.
Absolutely!
rickhoran wrote:
isn't this the guy jerry jeff walker credits for writing "Up Against the Wall Redneck"? i think i need to pay attention to this guy.
Yeppers. Ditto "Screw You, We're From Texas". Which is exactly what he'd say to the haters. c.
Like the lyrics.