The Devil went down to Georgia,
He was looking for a soul to steal
He was in a bind, ‘cause he was way behind,
So he was willing to make a deal
When he come across this young man
Sawing on a fiddle and playing it hot
And the Devil jumps up on a hickory stump

And said,”Boy let me tell you what:
I guess you didn’t know it,
But I’m a fiddle player too
And if you’d care to take a dare,
I’ll make a bet with you
Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy,
But give the Devil his due
I’ll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul
‘Cause I think I’m better than you”

The Boy Said:
“My name’s Johnny and it might be a sin,
But I’ll take your bet, you’re gonna regret
‘Cause i’m the best that’s ever been”
Johnny, rosin up your bow
And play your fiddle hard,
‘Cause hell’s broke loose in Georgia
And the Devil deals the cards
And if you win you’ll get
This shiny fiddle made of gold,
But if you lose, the Devil gets your soul!

The Devil opened up his case and said,
“I’ll start this show”
And fire flew from his fingertips
As he rosined up his bow
And he pulled the bow across
The strings and it made an evil hiss
Then a band of demons joined in and it
Sounded something like this
When the Devil finished,

Johnny Said:
“Well you’re pretty good old son
But sit down in that chair right there,
And let me show you how it’s done”
(Fire on the Mountain! Run, boys, run!
The Devil’s in the house of the rising sun
The Chicken in the bread pan picking out dough
Granny does your dog bite? No, child, no)

Devil bowed his head because
He knew that he’d been beat
And he laid that golden fiddle
On the ground at Johnny’s feet

Johnny Said:
“Devil, just c’mon back
If you ever wanna try again
‘Cause I told you once, you son of a gun,
I’m the best that’s ever been!”
(Fire on the Mountain! Run, boys, run!
Devil’s in the house of the rising sun
Chicken in the bread pan picking out dough,
Granny, does your dog bite? No, child, no)