[Intro – Dirty Telecaster riff, funk bass, brushed snare, smoky tenor sax. Resonator slide answers the guitar. Instrumental, 8 bars.] [Verse 1 – Male baritone solo, conversational and slightly weathered, just behind the beat] Twenty years and a thousand bars; Somethin’ round a million neon lights Played behind all the best around, Backed them up and helped to make their sound Not even once cared who got the praise, I loved and lived every song we played But there’s one thing never yet seen— My name up on that big old marquee. [Verse 2 – Male baritone solo, relaxed storytelling] At a honky-tonk near Clarksdale I got me thinkin’ ’bout that old tale Said Robert Johnson made a deal. Started wondering if it was real They said the crossroads was not far So I drained my beer, grabbed my guitar And took a walk under the moon, Thinking I might see the devil soon [Pre-Chorus – Male baritone, half-spoken] Not askin’ for fortune, Not beggin’ for fame. Just want one time in the circle With the lights around my name. [Chorus – Male baritone] Maybe the Devil comes tonight Maybe I’ll be different come daylight Maybe the crossroad calls out fools Maybe, but it’s only mine to choose [Transition – One bar only: descending Telecaster lick, sax answer] [Verse 3 – Devil, female alto solo; low velvet, privately amused] I’d know those hands in any band, That touch was never hard to find. A thousand songs have passed through them, And each one left a little behind. [Devil – Female alto solo; amusement softens into fascination] And now he’s standing at my crossroads, That old guitar against his side. All those years he played for others, Tonight he’s come for one thing of his own. [Devil – Female alto solo, direct and warm, fully melodic] I know your music. I just wanted to put a face to the tune [Verse 4 – Devil, female alto solo; calm, intimate, quietly seductive] I can put you in that circle, Let those old floorboards know your name. Hear the room go still around you, When you finally get to play. [Devil – Female alto solo, playful and assured] But before we talk of payment, There’s one thing I’d have you do. Play me something that’s just yours, darlin’, [Male – spoken, curious] Just mine? [Devil – Female alto solo, playful and assured] Something no one’s heard from you. [Male – spoken, amused] I was expecting someone taller Someone less… easy on the eyes I expected fire and brimstone, not Black lace and Jasmine… Now you’re asking me to play Something just for you. Well, how about this? [Acoustic guitar solo, 16 bars ending in a ♯4/♭5–6 bend] [Band falls back to upright bass and brushed snare. Brief silence. No vocals during instrumental transition.] [DEVIL – FEMALE ALTO SOLO ONLY. Low velvet alto, fully melodic, subtle smoky warmth. Genuine surprise beneath her composure. NO MALE VOCALS OR HARMONIES.] Well, now… You really don’t know what you’ve been giving away. [MALE – SPOKEN SOLO ONLY. Weathered male baritone, relaxed and faintly amused. ONE LINE ONLY. Male voice ends completely after this question.] Was it worth the price? [DEVIL – FEMALE ALTO SOLO ONLY. FEMALE VOICE ENTERS IMMEDIATELY. Mature low velvet alto, warm chest resonance, silky melodic phrasing. NO MALE VOCALS, NO DUET, NO HARMONIES.] Who’s to say you haven’t paid? A little of yourself in every song you played. That circle’s yours. No debt to settle tonight. [DEVIL – FEMALE ALTO SOLO ONLY. CONTINUE SAME FEMALE ALTO VOICE. Smooth, intimate, quietly assured. NO MALE VOCALS OR HARMONIES.] Some things are worth more when you let ’em shine. [MALE – SPOKEN SOLO ONLY. Weathered male baritone, curious, smiling. ONE LINE ONLY.] And what do you get? [DEVIL – FEMALE ALTO SOLO ONLY. Mature low velvet alto, fully melodic. Intimate warmth, quiet smile. NO MALE VOCALS OR HARMONIES.] I got to hear you play. [Outro – Telecaster reprises his original melody. Tenor sax answers softly. Full band settles into a short, warm voodoo-blues turnaround. Clean instrumental ending. No further vocals.]
