Friend of the Devil

Friend of the Devil is a song originally by rock band Grateful Dead, released on their 1970 album American Beauty. It has been covered by the Mountain Goats during a few live shows.

Lyrics

I lit out from Reno, I was trailed by twenty hounds
Didn't get to sleep last night 'til morning came around
I set out running 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

Ran into the devil boys, he loaned me twenty bills
Spent the night in Utah in a cave up in the hills
I set out running 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

Ran down to the levee but the devil caught me there
Took my twenty dollar bill and vanished in the air
Set out running 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

Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night
The first one's named Sweet Anne Marie, and she's my heart's 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

Got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child, but he don't look like me
I set out running 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

Live Shows this Song Was Played at

• 2013-05-01 - Legends Club at Appalachian State University - Boone, NC
• 2014-02-28 - Rangos Ballroom - Carnegie Mellon University - Pittsburgh, PA
• 2015-06-01 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
• 2016-09-20 - Jefferson Theater - Charlottesville, VA
• 2016-10-29 - Hi-Dive - Denver, CO
• 2022-05-05 - The Warfield Theatre - San Francisco, CA

Videos of this Song

• 2022-05-05 - The Warfield Theatre - San Francisco, CA