Well, I made a deal with the Devil. I thought I knew what I was getting. But that Devil done got me. I'm sitting here in Hell tonight, thinking 'bout the past, I loved one pretty woman, wanted a true love that would last, I wanted her beside me, cuz I loved her from the start. I was willing to give my soul just to satisfy my heart. I prayed every day, but she never changed her mind, Ol' Scratch came up jsut to see me and he said, "I can make her kind," I asked the Lord to guide me, but no answer came my way. I was so damn lonely, I listened to what that demon had to say. The Devil sat beside me and told me what he'd do, He laid down the list of his demands and said, "This deal is good for you," He said, "I'll make her love you, if you sign your name right here." I took that pen and signed it, thinking I was in the clear. I signed my name in my own blood, then I shook his hand, He said, "You'll have your woman, just like you always planned," Then he smiled and took that deal and he put it in his coat. But I'd never read that fine print underneath the name I wrote. That woman came to love me, as was the Devil's debt, I thought I'd found my Heaven, I thought my life was set, She held me close beside her and she sweetly called my name. I never saw the Devil hatching up his game. We had a little good time, we laughed and walked around, I thought my days were ever brightened, I thought my luck was sound, I thanked that Devil every night for the bargain he had done. I never knew the Devil hadn't even started having fun. We hadn't been together long when she got sick one day, By the next morning she was gone, and they took her away. I stood beside her coffin with nothing left to say, Then I went and found the Devil, and I cursed him for his play. I said, "You promised that she'd love me, you said she would be mine," He said, "You got what you wanted, and the contract's working fine," "You wanted her to be yours, and to love her as you would." Then he showed me where I'd signed it, just because he could. I made a deal with the Devil, I thought I knew what I had won, I gave my soul for her love, and thought my troubles were but done. She loved me like I asked her, but it didn't last too long, Now I'm down here in the fire, cuz the Devil done me wrong. I thought I beat the Devil, thought I played that old man smart, I gave away forever just to satisfy my heart, He gave me what I wanted, then he took it all away. Now forever's all I've got, and Hell is where I stay. I gave away my Heaven for the woman by my side, I gave away my soul just to have her as my bride. I got a little time with her, then she was gone, I thought we'd have forever, but forever wasn't long. She went down in the grave, and I went down below, I lost the woman I wanted, and now I finally know. She found a place to rest, but I got no end, The Devil took my soul, and he'll never give it back again. The Devil showed me my name there at the bottom of the page, I said, "You took my woman," he said, "You should act your age," "You asked me for her loving, and I gave you just the same." He said, "You should have prob'ly read it before you signed your name." "You never asked how long she'd live, you never asked me just how long, You gave me your etenal soul that deal is good and strong," "You never asked how long that I would keep her here." "Now you come runnin' at me with your crocodile tear Now the Devil laughs at me when I cry over my weddin' ring, I tell him I was foolish, but that don't change a thing, He smiles and then he tells me, "Preacher, I simply just don't care." "You made that bargain with me, and you made it fair and square." I ask him for my woman, but he says, "She's not down here," I gave away my soul for her, and now the truth is clear, I beg him for my Heaven, but he laughs at that as well. I got nothin' that I wanted and I'm stuck here in my Hell. "You never asked how long she'd live, you never asked me just how long, You gave me your eternal soul that deal is good and strong," "You never asked how long that I would keep her here." "Now you come runnin' at me with your crocodile tears." So if that Devil finds you, don't listen to his talk, He'll put a pen before you then make you walk that walk. He'll tell you what you want to hear and make it sound just right, Then you'll wish you'd walked away on that damned and fateful night. So read that paper twice before you make a promise that's so deep. For I gave away my Heaven for a woman I could not keep. I know what I'm speakin' 'bout, 'cause that day I made the deal, Now I'm down here forever, and this Hell is mighty real. I made a deal with the Devil, I thought I knew what I had won, I gave my soul for her love, and thought my troubles were but done. She loved me like I asked her, but it didn't last too long, Now I'm down here in the fire, cuz the Devil done me wrong. I thought I beat the Devil, thought I played that old man smart, I gave away forever just to satisfy my heart, He gave me what I wanted, then he took it all away. Now forever's all I've got, and Hell is where I stay.
