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It's on the beaten path, but how can you resist (and how did the New Yorker resist?) "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_Went_Down_to_Georgia

Most of the deals in the article do not end well for the human, but here there's no lesson about hubris, nor the curse of knowledge, or anything else. No, Johnny's just a better fiddle player, he beats the devil, and he wins a golden fiddle fair and square.

(The article might allude to this story: "Satan is not the real God, because there is only one God; the Devil doesn’t have the best tunes.")




There is a lesson about hubris, but most people miss it. The Devil's deal is false, he doesn't play "fair and square." Johnny wins the bet but still loses his soul to the sin of pride. It's even in the lyrics: "My name's Johnny and it might be a sin, but I'll take your bet and you're gonna regret 'cause I'm the best that's ever been!"

At least that's how I've always interpreted it.


Very interesting interpretation! I see your point.


Which always seemed to me just a retelling of the Robert Johnson “crossroads” legend.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson#Devil_legend


If we're mentioning songs then I'd pick T..... & Beer by Frank Zappa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPO1QGhYDjM


Maybe shifting further but ’the silver tongued devil’ by Kris Kristofferson is a beautiful song with a beautiful message in my opinion


funny enough, "To Beat the Devil" of his is my pick for the best riff on the trope of country songs about musicians taking on the devil


A modern take I've always enjoyed is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1tcj6bUv98




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