Chris Smither — The Devil's Real
Album: Live As I'll Ever BeAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 141
Length: 4:50
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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The devil ain't a legend, the devil's real
In the empty way he touched me, where I hardly feel
In the empty hole inside me, the nothing that'll ride me
Down into my grave, it does not heal
Nothing is as something, it'll suck you dry
As the whisper you can hardly hear that tells you why.
They told me "You ain't got no problems, you're self-deceived"
These seeming contradictions, well they make believe
It was then that I decided my life was being guided
By a second-rate dependence on first-class thieves
They told me I was breaking through, I was breaking down
By the time I learned the difference they had long left town.
You know that they ain't so malicious, they ain't mean
They're just vaguely well-intentioned with no love I've seen
And it's the emptiness that kills you, cold comfort that'll fill you
With a sense of dread that maybe things are worse than they seem
They don't tell you nothing you don't already know
They just keep holding out the promise but they don't let go
You know they don't let go.
Well, it was hard luck and trouble, bad times too
I know I had 'em coming, but I got through
It was advice that you gave me in a dream that saved me
You said "Get a new life contract that spells out your dues."
Took good will to find it, a clear conscience to sign it
Now I dream about the good times and it all comes true.
In the empty way he touched me, where I hardly feel
In the empty hole inside me, the nothing that'll ride me
Down into my grave, it does not heal
Nothing is as something, it'll suck you dry
As the whisper you can hardly hear that tells you why.
They told me "You ain't got no problems, you're self-deceived"
These seeming contradictions, well they make believe
It was then that I decided my life was being guided
By a second-rate dependence on first-class thieves
They told me I was breaking through, I was breaking down
By the time I learned the difference they had long left town.
You know that they ain't so malicious, they ain't mean
They're just vaguely well-intentioned with no love I've seen
And it's the emptiness that kills you, cold comfort that'll fill you
With a sense of dread that maybe things are worse than they seem
They don't tell you nothing you don't already know
They just keep holding out the promise but they don't let go
You know they don't let go.
Well, it was hard luck and trouble, bad times too
I know I had 'em coming, but I got through
It was advice that you gave me in a dream that saved me
You said "Get a new life contract that spells out your dues."
Took good will to find it, a clear conscience to sign it
Now I dream about the good times and it all comes true.
Comments (17)add comment
Another gem found on RP.
I saw him in Portland a few years ago in a small club. The show was awesome and he was very gracious afterward spending time mingling with the crowd and talking to everyone. Great guitarist, great guy.
I can second, or third or whatever the comments about seeing Mr. Smither live. Yes, he's very good. I saw him last year at the Barns at Wolf Trap. He's well worth going to see.
Hell to the yeah. This song is SO real and heartfelt that I can't help but stop whatever I am doing to just listen when it comes on.
tompoll wrote:
Totally agree about his awesome live quality. I saw him about a year or so ago in a small venue in London playing to i guess about 100 people and he was awesome. The whole drumming with his foot on the box thingy was wicked too.
Everyone talks about how great Chris is live, and wow, is he ever. I had the pleasure of meeting him too, and he's one of the kindest, most humble people you'll ever meet.
Totally agree about his awesome live quality. I saw him about a year or so ago in a small venue in London playing to i guess about 100 people and he was awesome. The whole drumming with his foot on the box thingy was wicked too.
My wife's comment about Chris Smither after seeing him live was, "The most physically-unattractive man I've ever fallen in love with." 
Everyone talks about how great Chris is live, and wow, is he ever. I had the pleasure of meeting him too, and he's one of the kindest, most humble people you'll ever meet.
So great to hear Chris Smither on RP. Such a talented writer & performer.
Entertaining.
I've had the pleasure of hearing Chris live, and he's excellent. You're listening to Chris playing guitar, tapping, and singing simultaneously.
This isn't one of my favorites by Chris but good none the less. I've gotten to see him several times and it's always a treat.
I looked to see if I was listening to Dylan or Knopfler, but it was Smither. Very cool!
I adore Chris Smither. He puts on a really good show.
Have just had a look through the lyrics. And alongside with the man's sharp voice and edgy fingerpicking the message to me was:
Songwriting's not dead.
i went to see Chris on the strength of this song on a Global Gumbo CD - and was well-rewarded ... highly recommended
Never heard of this cat before, thought The Boss at first, yet the groove took off in another direction, and that direction is very cool indeed; thanks RP for introducing me to yet another spirited musician 