[Verse 1] I know these dirt roads Like the lines on my hand I know which doors get kicked in And which ones stay slammed I was born past the feed store Where the creek cuts low If trouble comes sniffin’ I already know [Verse 2] I’ve broken my share of windows I’ve made my own kind of mess I ain’t saying I’m a saint now I’m just saying I’m the less Of a choice in a bad hour When the night gets mean You don’t need a stranger You need a local thing [Pre-Chorus] I know the old sins I know the family names If I didn’t hold the line here Some other wolf’d be claiming stake So if you’re gonna fear somebody Let it be somebody you know I’ve been hell in these hollers But I keep it from the road [Chorus] The devil you know The devil you know Better than the devil you don’t Better than the devil you don’t I keep this town from burning I keep this town from the cold The devil you know The devil you know [Verse 3] I’ve stood on your front steps When the cattle were loose I’ve pulled boys out the river And I’ve paid for their dues I’ve let hard men walk crooked When a hard word would do ’Cause a stranger with a bad heart Will cut cleaner than you [Pre-Chorus] So don’t call me your savior Don’t pin a halo on me I’m a man with a ledger And a debt I can’t leave But I know the whole backwoods I know what’s hidden below If it ain’t me at your gate It’ll be worse at your door [Chorus] The devil you know The devil you know Better than the devil you don’t Better than the devil you don’t I keep this town from burning I keep this town from the cold The devil you know The devil you know [Bridge] There’s a black dog in every driveway There’s a knife in every smile I learned to walk beside mine So it wouldn’t run wild You can curse my name at sunset You can pray me out by dawn But when the wolves come to the wire I’ll be the one they’ve got [Final Chorus] The devil you know The devil you know Better than the devil you don’t Better than the devil you don’t I keep this town from burning I keep this town from the cold The devil you know The devil you know
