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Lyle Lovett — Friend Of The Devil
Album: Deadicated
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2810









Released: 1991
Length: 4:06
Plays (last 30 days): 2
I lit out from Reno, I was trailed by twenty hounds
I didn't get to sleep that night 'till the morning came around
I set out runnin' but I take my time, a friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight

I ran into the devil and he loaned me twenty bills
I spent the night in Utah in a cave up in the hills
I set out runnin' but I take my time, a friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight

I ran down to the levee but the devil caught me there
He took my twenty dollar bill and vanished in the air
I set out runnin' but I take my time, a friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight

I got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night
The first one's named sweet Anne Marie, and she's my hearts delight
The second one is prison, babe, the sheriff's on my trail
And if he catches up with me, I'll spend my life in jail

I got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child but it don't look like me
I set out runnin' but I take my time, a friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight

I got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child but it don't look like me
I set out runnin' but I take my time, a friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight
Comments (344)add comment
Like that Coldplay Clocks tune - He's putting me to sleep.

Here's our take.

BJAM Live - Friend Of The Devil
Forgettable cover...too bad since Lovett is a great talent.
 eyke wrote:

William stated this might be his most favorite version, I know it is mine. Lyle has that road wearied voice that the original doesn't. 



100% agree for the same reason.
Great take on a great song!
William stated this might be his most favorite version, I know it is mine. Lyle has that road wearied voice that the original doesn't. 
I think this is better left to the Dead
Couldn’t disagree more, johnnyr. This is sublime. I think Mr Lovett was born to cover this song.
Turns an upbeat, quirky song into a dirge.  Sorry, no.
Also - PERFECT segué from Deeper Well.
In a world of unneeded, unwanted, vanity covers, there are some we never knew we needed. Like this. Lyle, mmm hmm.
This guy is GOOD.  Lots of variety, although his milieu is Texas country-western.  Lyrics (when he writes them) are witty and/or pithy.

Always saddened that he and Julia Roberts didn't last long.  I would have enjoyed a dinner party at heir house.
Every time I hear Mr Lovett’s voice I come to appreciate his phrasing more and more. I have RP to thank for this. 😊
The electric guitar solo on this track is understated, tasteful brilliance! Actually that describes the whole cover. 
 cc_rider wrote:
 
 Lyle Lovett has a special gift in covering others' songs. He doesn't try to play them the same, but tries (and usually succeeds) in capturing another dimension of the song. This cover is a great example, among many.

His double album 'Step Inside This House' is all covers of legendary Texas and Texas-associated songwriters. The title track is a Guy Clark song, but is not on any of his albums - Lyle learned it straight from Guy and fell in love with it.

"Robert Earl Keen, Michael Martin Murphey, Willis Alan Ramsey, Eric Taylor, and Guy Clark. The second disc is largely dedicated to songs written by Steven Fromholz, Townes Van Zandt and Walter Hyatt,"

The musicians include Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Alison and Viktor Krauss... I guess he couldn't find any A-listers!

Highly recommended.





Thanks for the tip! Listening as I type! Great stuff!
 azjames wrote:

well,  yes,  l love this cover. But the song just sounds like a low life's tale to me. Go ahead, hate me




No hate here - I think that's kind of the point.
what a great cover!
 jonahboo wrote:

whole LP is great

not on Spotify - YouTube it    !



I had this album years ago and agree. Bill needs to play Jane's Addition's version of Ripple
A lot of great cuts on this album. This was how I discovered Jane's Addiction (doing Ripple). Many of the artists on it found a new dimension for these Dead tunes
 Montreal_Mort wrote:

Nice to even hear a cover of a Dead song. And a good one at that. But c’mon BillG, can’t we have a selection (but not Truckin’) of original Dead?? Pleeeaassssee …



Don’t worry, they’re played here regularly.  All in due time.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lovett was clearly born to cover the Dead.  I wish he’d do a whole album of such.
Nice to even hear a cover of a Dead song. And a good one at that. But c’mon BillG, can’t we have a selection (but not Truckin’) of original Dead?? Pleeeaassssee …
Very nice cover. Very nice. 
well,  yes,  l love this cover. But the song just sounds like a low life's tale to me. Go ahead, hate me
Possibly the best cover of any song ever.
Ol' Lyle. I don't hear much from him I don't like a lot. 
many lovely compliments that I won't try to upstage. Simply a marvelous guy to see in concert. Love to sing along to his music while driving down the highway...keeps me from getting angry at other drivers...mostly
 BCarn wrote:

I love your comments but adding the "drugs" part in your signature sign off just doesn't work. It's 2020.
 
Because drugs don't exist in 2020, or because it's just assumed?
A bit surprised we don't hear more Lyle Lovett on RP...hmm? Needless to say, an exceptional musician.
 cc_rider wrote:
 tcseeley wrote:
I love this take on it. If you'd never heard the Dead version, you'd swear this is what was intended when it was written. 

Music is just cool.
 Lyle Lovett has a special gift in covering others' songs. He doesn't try to play them the same, but tries (and usually succeeds) in capturing another dimension of the song. This cover is a great example, among many.

His double album 'Step Inside This House' is all covers of legendary Texas and Texas-associated songwriters. The title track is a Guy Clark song, but is not on any of his albums - Lyle learned it straight from Guy and fell in love with it.

"Robert Earl Keen, Michael Martin Murphey, Willis Alan Ramsey, Eric Taylor, and Guy Clark. The second disc is largely dedicated to songs written by Steven Fromholz, Townes Van Zandt and Walter Hyatt,"

The musicians include Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Alison and Viktor Krauss... I guess he couldn't find any A-listers!

Highly recommended.




 
Forgot about that record. It's a good one. Thanks!

Lyle Lovett gives another interesting interpretation of a song.  this is a first listen for me . Big thanks to RP-new music is as much fun as as it was in middle school when i had a transistor radio!
 tcseeley wrote:
I love this take on it. If you'd never heard the Dead version, you'd swear this is what was intended when it was written. 

Music is just cool.
 Lyle Lovett has a special gift in covering others' songs. He doesn't try to play them the same, but tries (and usually succeeds) in capturing another dimension of the song. This cover is a great example, among many.

His double album 'Step Inside This House' is all covers of legendary Texas and Texas-associated songwriters. The title track is a Guy Clark song, but is not on any of his albums - Lyle learned it straight from Guy and fell in love with it.

"Robert Earl Keen, Michael Martin Murphey, Willis Alan Ramsey, Eric Taylor, and Guy Clark. The second disc is largely dedicated to songs written by Steven Fromholz, Townes Van Zandt and Walter Hyatt,"

The musicians include Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Alison and Viktor Krauss... I guess he couldn't find any A-listers!

Highly recommended.



whole LP is great

not on Spotify - YouTube it    !
I love this take on it. If you'd never heard the Dead version, you'd swear this is what was intended when it was written. 

Music is just cool.
 Lazarus wrote:
 
I love your comments but adding the "drugs" part in your signature sign off just doesn't work. It's 2020.
Funny, I prefer this over all GD and Jerry variations because of the lack of manic energy. Such a beautiful tribute.
never heard this remake, thanks for intro sounds great
 idiot_wind wrote:
Just play some freakin GD!!!
 Right on!
I love Lyle, but all the manic energy is missing in this version.
Given that ramjett57 chooses to use the current president’s verbal stylings to make his case, I rest mine. More like this, Bill ‘n Becca. Phenomenal cover of a very good song.
Haha Agreed!  I like this slower version.
 
Jimhrguy wrote:
If Gas Station Chinese food is as good as this, I'll have to give it a try. But ...I've never seen Chinese food in a gas station.
rramjett57 wrote:
While I normally don't comment on a song twice... I can't help myself today.
 
This version compared to the original, is like getting Chinese food from a gas station.
 
Please, for the love of music... stop playing this version.
 

 

 cely wrote:
Brilliant. The Dead's version is fun and bouncy, but this weary version is much more what the song needs.  And, forgive me, the band is better here.
 I agree on both counts. Lyle has always had top-flight musicians in his bands.

I'm not taking anything away from the original, this is just a different interpretation of the mood the lyrics set.
c.

 rramjett57 wrote:
Created an account to chime in on just how bad this cover is.
 
To comment in the style of our current President... HORRIBLE!
 
Please relegate it to the dustbin, where horrible covers go to die a well deserved death.
 

Wow! You really hate this. I like it.
If Gas Station Chinese food is as good as this, I'll have to give it a try. But ...I've never seen Chinese food in a gas station.
rramjett57 wrote:
While I normally don't comment on a song twice... I can't help myself today.
 
This version compared to the original, is like getting Chinese food from a gas station.
 
Please, for the love of music... stop playing this version.
 

While I normally don't comment on a song twice... I can't help myself today.
 
This version compared to the original, is like getting Chinese food from a gas station.
 
Please, for the love of music... stop playing this version.
 melzabutch wrote:
Brilliant album.  Janes Addiction finishing up this disk is great.

 
{#Crown} What he said!!  I love the Los Lobos cover of Bertha too!
I love this entire album!{#Bananasplit}
Created an account to chime in on just how bad this cover is.
 
To comment in the style of our current President... HORRIBLE!
 
Please relegate it to the dustbin, where horrible covers go to die a well deserved death.
Sweet! a Two-fer from this album ending a trio of Dead. Thanks Bill! Whoa! Another! Happy Birthday Jerry!!! August 1st is almost here!
Great cover! Love Lyle.
Brilliant. The Dead's version is fun and bouncy, but this weary version is much more what the song needs.  And, forgive me, the band is better here.
this version always gets me........ damn
Brilliant album.  Janes Addiction finishing up this disk is great.
I've always enjoyed this cover. Might have to cue this whole album up today.
Interesting social comment (I hope)... you can tell a song is older than about 10 years if it has words like:-

 "I got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child but it don't look like me"

The song must have been written in the days before a DNA or Paternity test solved that particular problem! 


Yawn {#Yawn}
I enjoy these little Dead cover stints. It's how RP keeps Deadheads and non-Deadheads happy.
best thing on this was Los Lobo's Bertha
gave it seven just for the cover art and cleaver play on title.
There is a new dead cover compilation called 'Day of the Dead' with a bunch of good tunes on it, check it out.  Particularly good it St. Stephen done by Wilco with Bob Weir.  It sounds like it was recorded with a crowd mic, which I though was hokey at the beginning but by the end I was totally into it.
When you hear two dead covers in a row around here I think we can assume we will be blessed with an actual dead tune soon... 
Another of my favorite artists covering a favorite song. Not a Dead-head but some of their songs are truly special. I agree that Los Lobos covering "Bertha" is more spirited. But this is nice.
Hey the two dead songs that will be played at my funeral someday,,, hope that's not too soon . Weird.....
lifeless is right man! (who'd want their child to look like hound-faced Lyle?)
i much prefer Los Lobos cover of Bertha off this collection
this is kinda lifeless, Lovett. 
Blah! I love the original too much. This sounds like Jerry on Valium.
Two Dead songs in a row? Me likey! 
How elegant & haunting is that steel? Ho man ...
What about asking good old Jerry in heaven about it? 
I like Lyle - seen him in concert three times - but this isn't one of his better songs. Lyle has so many truly great songs there's no need to listen to this one.
Thank you Radio Paradise
for exposing me to songs and artist combinations which I would never have heard anywhere else
ooh
Love My Radio Paradise....
Whether listening on my computer, or dancing to it in the virtual world of Second Life
or playing on my phone...
Taking you with me .. where ever I am....
Thank you 
 Kaisersosay wrote:
Sorry, I don't mind Lyle and all,, but this song is so sacrosanct to me for so many reasons, It just does not work

 
Nice to know.  For me, I'll take Lyle every time.
Just play some freakin GD!!!
Sorry, I don't mind Lyle and all,, but this song is so sacrosanct to me for so many reasons, It just does not work
{#Sunny}
Thank goodness for PSD! Horrific
So he just repeats the first verse three times, like we didn't hear him the first or second time?
 Typesbad wrote:
Really like Lyle and I've always liked this song but neither manages to bring out the best of the other.

 




Seriously Tyepsydab...if you really liked Lyle, .. You'd Lovett!  Promise..   ;)

Sheeeot, Bill.  Back-to-back crap-assed Dead covers?

Especially this one?  Lyle is the modern-day Pat Boone of Country.

  Please play some Live Dead.   Any more of these covers, AND I'll BE DEAD!


Really like Lyle and I've always liked this song but neither manages to bring out the best of the other.
 a_hevel wrote:
Maybe the best cover on this album.

 
My vote goes to Burning Spear's version of Estimated Prophet - vastly different than the original.
So this is what the song sounds like on downers
 spacemoose wrote:

My favorite from this album in Elvis's version of "Ship of fools".  I also really liked the cover Ripple.

 
I'll throw Wharf Rat into the mix.
 oldfart48 wrote:
IT'S PEOPLE LIKE LYLE WHO SAVE TEXASS...{#Cowboy} and I hope Jerry got to hear this

 
With respect, this ain't going to save Texas.
 a_hevel wrote:
Maybe the best cover on this album.

 
In that case, the rest of the album must be awful, because this is (to my ears) pretty much the definition of "ho-hum."
 ericconrad wrote:
This is a good cover, but it's 3rd-best song on Deadicated. The best is Bertha, by Los Lobos. 

Bill: please add Los Lobos' awesome cover of Bertha to the playlist! 

Edit: it's on the playlist. I love this station!

 
My favorite from this album in Elvis's version of "Ship of fools".  I also really liked the cover Ripple.
Maybe the best cover on this album.
This is a good cover, but it's 3rd-best song on Deadicated. The best is Bertha, by Los Lobos. 

Bill: please add Los Lobos' awesome cover of Bertha to the playlist! 

Edit: it's on the playlist. I love this station!
 Tralfamadorian wrote:
Boring?  I try to buy this song every time I hear it.  Only to be disappointed, as it seems to be yet one more of those sublime pieces that Bill finds but the rest of us can't acquire.  Guess that's one way to keep us tuned in ...

Boring?  An excellent, subtle piece of work, if you ask me.  Keep this one in the rotation, please.

Boring?  Maybe you meant to type "beautiful"?

 
Easy to find:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000002VHS/ref=sr_1_3_up_1_main_olp?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1366596601&sr=1-3&condition=used
 heatherchickenlady wrote:
Mr Lovett almost makes the Dead listenable. Here's to Lyle lovett.

 
Ha! That's exactly what I was thinking. Thank you! {#Yes}
So this song... he wrote like just one verse and handed it in?
 stevano wrote:

His ex-wife, Julia Roberts, might disagree...

 

I wonder if maybe his Large Band had something to do with it.
did he just say "jail-bait"?
yup... yup, he did.
Boring?  I try to buy this song every time I hear it.  Only to be disappointed, as it seems to be yet one more of those sublime pieces that Bill finds but the rest of us can't acquire.  Guess that's one way to keep us tuned in ...

Boring?  An excellent, subtle piece of work, if you ask me.  Keep this one in the rotation, please.

Boring?  Maybe you meant to type "beautiful"?
boring boring boring
This song should not be a dirge.  It's really driving me up a wall!  Definitive sucko-barfo.
 michaelgmitchell wrote:

Funny, just what I was thinking. Lyle's body of work didn't need to include this, regardless of what Jerry asked of him. This is just flat. Done in his sleep.
 



Ha... One of the few tunes I can tolerate of his...although I know I'm almost alone here with this opinion
 colt4x5 wrote:
It's a great song, and I'm a big Lyle fan, but the combination just dddrrraaagggsss. 
 
Funny, just what I was thinking. Lyle's body of work didn't need to include this, regardless of what Jerry asked of him. This is just flat. Done in his sleep.
A second Dead cover in a row . . . good stuff.  Perhaps next we're onto the real Deal?
This is a very good cover.  Well done.
Nice cover.
He did this cover at the request of Jerry.  Lyle said, "when Jerry Garcia calls you, you just say yes.  I'll never forget that call as long as I live."

George_Tirebiter wrote:
What - did Lyle use up his own songs and this was all that was left?  Lyle's a talented guy, but this is 3.
 
 George_Tirebiter wrote:
What - did Lyle use up his own songs and this was all that was left?  Lyle's a talented guy, but this is 3.
 
Ever heard of a "Tribute Album?"  This one ranks very very high.
 toterola wrote:
One of my favorite CDs. The covers of this song, "Jack Straw", "Ship of Fools", "Cassidy", "Bertha"... I wouldn't take anything for it. {#Clap}
 
Thanks for the reminder. This is indeed a great cd...I'll have to bust it out and dust it off.
 jim1964 wrote:
This has always been one of my favorite Dead songs but I gotta say I sure like Lyle's take.
 
I Quite Agree!!{#Cheers}
This has always been one of my favorite Dead songs but I gotta say I sure like Lyle's take.
It's a great song, and I'm a big Lyle fan, but the combination just dddrrraaagggsss. 
Just sit back and let this song go...don't analyze it to death..  just sit back and let it flow.  I like this cover just fine!
...never be without a friend..

A FRIEND OF THE DEVIL
What - did Lyle use up his own songs and this was all that was left?  Lyle's a talented guy, but this is 3.
 Proclivities wrote:

Physical appearance and vocal abilities are generally not related to one another, but you probably already know that.   Think of the inverse, though: how many pretty "singers" are there who do not have good voices?

 
Universal answer for all such questions: Mick Jagger.  {#Iamwithstupid}

I suppose in concert this might be a treat, but if I'm going to listen to a recording I'd rather have it be the Dead.
Lyle's version of this tune is most excellent!
 Ntropy wrote:

I think he's very handsome.. in that odd, rugged way.  And what a mind and voice.. love the man.
 
I love Lyle's face and his voice. :)
 johnjconn wrote:
How can such an ugly guy have such a good voice.
Not a MTV star.

 
Physical appearance and vocal abilities are generally not related to one another, but you probably already know that.   Think of the inverse, though: how many pretty "singers" are there who do not have good voices?

Can't wait to see Lyle on the Cayamo cruise.
 Every post you make shows you up as a total musical retard.

Only L. Cohen is worse!!!
 


Tickling me today.  7->8
One of my favorite CDs. The covers of this song, "Jack Straw", "Ship of Fools", "Cassidy", "Bertha"... I wouldn't take anything for it. {#Clap}