Friend Of The Devil

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia, John Dawson

The Dead song most covered by other people since it was first released on "American Beauty." See below for background on the development of the song.

I lit out from Reno, I was trailed by twenty hounds (note a)
Didn't get to sleep that night till the morning came around

Chorus
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

I ran into the devil babe, he loaned me twenty bills
I spent the night in Utah in a cave up in the hills

[chorus]

I ran down to the levee but the devil caught me there (note b)
He took my twenty dollar bill and vanished in the air (note d)

[chorus]

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
Second one is prison baby, sheriff's on my trail (note c)(note e)
And if he catches up with me I'll spend my life in jail

Got a wife in Chino babe, and one in Cherokee
First one says she's got my child but it don't look like me

[chorus]

You can borrow from the devil, you can borrow from a friend
But the devil will give you twenty, when your friend got only ten

I lit out from Reno, baby, trailed by twenty hounds
I didn't stop that night, or till the next one came around

I ran into the devil, baby, he loaned me twenty bills
I stayed that night in Utah in a cave up in the hills

I walked out on a levee, baby, the devil found me there
Said don't forget that twenty, babe, and vanished in the air

I snuck back into Reno, baby, parlayed fifty cents (note aa)
Made it to five thousand, babe, and paid back what was lent

I lit out from Reno, I was trailed by twenty hounds
Didn't stop to sleep that night till the morning came around

I ran into the devil, baby, he loaned me twenty bills
I went to sleep in a bed that night in a cave up in the hills

I ran down to the levee but the devil caught my scent
So I coughed twenty dollars babe to pay back what was lent

Got a [?], baby, one in [?] (note bb)
The first one's named forgot you, baby, other [?}

Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night
The first one's named sweet Anne Marie and she's my [true] delight
Other one is prison baby, law is on my tail
[And if he catches up with me] I'll spend my life in jail

I lit out from Reno, I was trailed by twenty hounds
Didn't stop to sleep that night till the morning came around

"I was just remembering how Friend of the Devil got written. First off I wrote these four verses one afternoon back in 1969.

"I was living in Madrone canyon with the Garcias. The NRPS had asked me if I wanted to play bass with them and it seemed like a good idea at the time. So I worked up that song on bass, added a few verses plus a chorus and went over to where David Nelson and John Dawson were living in Kentfield and taught them the tune. The "Sweet Anne Marie" verse which was later to become a bridge was only one of the verses, not yet a bridge. The chorus went:

I set out running but I take my time
It looks like water but it tastes like wine
If I get home before daylight
I just might get some sleep tonight

"I'd changed the fourth verse, about parlaying the twenty dollars into five thousand and, except for the all important Friend of the Devil hook, the lyrics were pretty much as they stand today minus a fifth verse which goes:

You can borrow from the Devil
You can borrow from a friend
But the Devil give you twenty
When your friend got only ten

"We all went down to the kitchen to have espresso made in Dawson's new machine. We got to talking about the tune and John said the verses were nifty except for "it looks like water but it tastes like wine" which I had to admit fell flat. Suddenly Dawson's eyes lit up and he crowed "How about "a friend of the devil is a friend of mine." Bingo, not only the right line but a memorable title as well! We ran back upstairs to Nelson's room and recorded the tune. I took the tape home and left it on the kitchen table. Next morning I heard earlybird Garcia (who hadn't been at the rehearsal - had a gig, you know) wanging away something familiar sounding on the peddle steel. Danged if it wasn't "Friend of the Devil." With a dandy bridge on the "sweet Anne Marie" verse. He was not in the least apologetic about it. He'd played the tape, liked it, and faster than you can say dog my cats it was in the Grateful Dead repertoire. Although I learned all the tunes, I never did play a gig with the NRPS, who were doing strictly club dates at the time. For one reason or another I never quite fathomed, though I have my suspicions, I got shut out. Either that or I misread the signs and wasn't inclined to push. Nothing was ever said. In any event, a fellow named Dave Torbert showed up about that time. Just as well. One dedicated songwriter in the band was enough."