Colter has said this song is about the legend of an old blues artist named Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil in exchange to play the blues.
[Verse 1]
Well Reverend, Reverend, please come quick
'Cause I got something to admit
I met a man out in the sticks of good Ole Miss
He drove a Series 10 Cadillac and wore a cigar on his lip
[Chorus]
Don't you know the devil wears a suit and tie?
I saw him driving down The 61 in early July
White as a cottonfield and sharp as a knife
I heard him howling as he passed me by
[Verse 2]
And he said, "I know you, I know you, young man
I know you by the state of your hands
You're a six-string picker, just as I am
Let me learn you somethin': I know a few turns to make all the girls dance"
[Chorus]
Don't you know the devil wears a suit and tie?
I saw him driving down The 61 in early July
White as a cottonfield and sharp as a knife
I heard him howling as he passed me by
[Verse 3]
Oh foolish, foolish was I
Damn my foolish eyes
'Cause that man's lessons had a price, oh sweet price
My sweet soul everlasting, a very own eternal light
[Chorus]
Don't you know that the devil wears a suit and tie?
I saw him driving down The 61 in early July
White as a cottonfield and sharp as a knife
I heard him howling as he passed me by
Well, the devil wears a suit and tie
I saw him driving down The 61 in early July
White as a cottonfield and sharp as a knife
I heard him howling as he passed me by
The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie was written by Colter Wall.
The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie was produced by Jason Plumb.
Colter Wall released The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie on Tue Jun 02 2015.
In his Jeff’s Musical Car session, Colter said:
It’s about a figure in American folklore named Robert Johnson, sorta the godfather of the delta blues. He allegedly sold his soul to the devil in order to be able to play the guitar. So the song’s sorta about that exchange."