Slim and The Devil

Slim Greer went to heaven
St. Peter said
“You been a good right boy, Slim
But now yous dead”

“Been a travelin’ rascal
In your day
You can roam once more
Then you come to stay”

“So put these wings on your shoulders
And save your feet”
Slim spoke up and said
“Thank you, Pete”

Then Peter said
“Go to hell and see
All that they’re doin’
Tell it back to me”

“But be sure to remember
How everything goes”
Slim said
“I’ll see you on the late watch, bo”

So he got to cavortin’
Swell as you choose
Like Lindy in the spirit
Of the St. Louis blues

He flew and he flew
‘Till at last he hit
A hangar with a sign
Readin’ “This is it”

So he parked his wings
And he strolled around
Gettin’ used to his feet
Back on solid ground

Then he come to a mansion
And walked right in
Up looked the Devil
With a sickly grin

“No, I didn’t think to look for you
Mr. Greer
Tell me how could it be
That you come by here”

He said “I just dropped by
For a little spell”
“Make yourself at home
Here’s the keys to hell”

Said the Devil to Slim
“Let’s go downtown”
Took the Devil's hand
And he showed him around

Showed him bawdy houses
And cabarets
Made him think of New Orleans
And Memphis days

Showed him folks all fightin’
‘Round the roulette wheel
Like Rampart street
In the south of Beale

Then he took him ‘round the corner
Where Slim did see
A preacher with a woman
Sittin’ on each knee

Showed him whiskey stills
Goin’ everywhere
With a passel of Devils
Stretched dead drunk there

Then he took him to a furnace
That some devils was firin’
Hot as hell
Slim’s a-mean perspirin’

White devils with pitchforks
Threw black devils on
Slim thought he’d better
Get movin’ along

Said Slim “This makes
Me think of home”
Vicksburg, Little Rock
Jackson, and Rome”

Then the Devil gave Slim
The big “Ha-ha”
Turned into a cracker
With a sheriff’s star

So he ran for his wings
Lit out from the ground
Hauled it back to Peter
He was heaven-bound

Said Peter to Slim
“Man you got back quick
Tell me how’s the Devil
What’s his latest trick?”

“Oh no,” said Slim
“I can’t really tell
That place was Dixie
That I took for Hell”