Runnin' with the Devil

country rock, bluegrass, blues, and gospel, with a crescendo and maybe a fiddle, quick tempo

[Chorus] 
This wasn’t some piker, or upstart, or peer,
This was something much different, something to fear,
Now I was runnin’, runnin’ like a rebel,
Cuz I was runnin’, runninnnn’ with the devilllll.
 
I held up my shades, to see the mirror image behind,
His bib number was flapping, it was nine, nine, nine.
“You’re on!” I cried, as we passed mile three,
He laughed like a grackle, and stroked his goatee;
“Now that we've wagered, there's a thing you should know,
If you finish behind me, you owe me your soul;”
I answered with speed, as I quickened my pace,
Sparks spat from his hooves; I was in for a race;
He flashed right past me, in a red blinding blur,
Out of sight was my rival, just the stench of sulfurrr.
 
I knew right then, that to change my fate,
I must shrive my soul and shed this dread weight.
“Dear Mother,” I prayed, “for the troubles I’ve caused you,
Forgive your dear son, and know that I love you;
My father, my friends, my dog and my God,
Forgive this sad soul, so sinful, so flawed.”
Cuz then I knew:  
(Chorus) I was runnin’, runnin’ like a rebel,
Cuz I was runnin’, runninnnn’, ‘racin’ with the devillll.
 
Light as a feather, my burdens now lifted,
I caught up with my foe, our fates had now shifted;
With mere meters to run, I raced on wide open,
Ol’ Slewfoot was wended, from a lifetime of smokin’;
Then he called them by name, and they crawled from the mud,
“Now Serpent, now Mammon, now Be-el-ze-bub;”
His minions rose up, to block my straight way,
And I knew that to win this, I must stop… kneel, and praaaay.
 
[chorus]
 I was runnin’, runnin’ like a rebel,
Cuz I was runnin’, runninnnn’, racing with the devil.
 
With dark demons ahead and great Satan behind,
I dropped to my knees and I cleared my mind;
“Dash away Sloth, Greed, Envy and Pride,
Be gone Gluttony, Wrath, and the dark Lust inside.”
I denounced the Great Seven, the most Deadly Sins;
Hence, absolved from their burden, I rise now to win.
 
His hooves hot behind me, a wall of demons ahead,
I sprint to the finish, my heart cleansed from dread;
I leap like a reindeer, bounding up to the sky,
Three demons are gnashing, but I am too high;
I soar through the heavens, then lightly to earth,
The race I have finished, and YES, I am first.
 
[chorus]
 I’m runnin’, runnin’ like a rebel,
Now I’m runnin’, runninnnn’ with the devil.
 
Contrite there behind me, with a medal of gold,
He bows his horned-head, bereft of my soul;
I nod and hold it, so precious a thing,
‘Round my head now I swing it, and give it a fling,
Deep into the marsh, where the gators did feed,
I have no use for treasures, for gone is my greed;
Now I turn to the Devil, and this I do say,
“You can go straight back to hell, I’ll stay in GA.”
I was runnin’, runnin’ like a rebel,
Cuz I was runnin’, runninnnn’ with the devil,
I raced like a rebel,
(Get the hell out of Georgia),
 I beat the devil, 
I beat the devil.

3491/7500

The anthem was sung, and we all held our hearts, Then the report of the pistol, that’s how this all starts. We shuffled, we elbowed, we jockied for space, ‘Twas the Turtle Crawl 10k, a South Georgia race. The miles flew like eagles, and the competition thinned, Could it be happening, could I possibly win? Then up from the marsh he sprang like a flash, ’Twas a fiery red runner with intentions to pass; I threw out my elbow and quickened my step, But he stayed just behind me, hot breath on my neck; And then he in-treeted, so brazen, so bold, “Race me, my friend, for a medal of gold;” And then I knew: [Chorus] This wasn’t some piker, or upstart, or peer, This was something much different, something to fear, Now I was runnin’, runnin’ like a rebel, Cuz I was runnin’, runninnnn’ with the devilllll. I held up my shades, to see the mirror image behind, His bib number was flapping, it was nine, nine, nine. “You’re on!” I cried, as we passed mile three, He laughed like a grackle, and stroked his goatee; “Now that we've wagered, there's a thing you should know, If you finish behind me, you owe me your soul;” I answered with speed, as I quickened my pace, Sparks spat from his hooves; I was in for a race; He flashed right past me, in a red blinding blur, Out of sight was my rival, just the stench of sulfurrr. I knew right then, that to change my fate, I must shrive my soul and shed this dread weight. “Dear Mother,” I prayed, “for the troubles I’ve caused you, Forgive your dear son, and know that I love you; My father, my friends, my dog and my God, Forgive this sad soul, so sinful, so flawed.” Cuz then I knew: (Chorus) I was runnin’, runnin’ like a rebel, Cuz I was runnin’, runninnnn’, ‘racin’ with the devillll. Light as a feather, my burdens now lifted, I caught up with my foe, our fates had now shifted; With mere meters to run, I raced on wide open, Ol’ Slewfoot was wended, from a lifetime of smokin’; Then he called them by name, and they crawled from the mud, “Now Serpent, now Mammon, now Be-el-ze-bub;” His minions rose up, to block my straight way, And I knew that to win this, I must stop… kneel, and praaaay. [chorus] I was runnin’, runnin’ like a rebel, Cuz I was runnin’, runninnnn’, racing with the devil. With dark demons ahead and great Satan behind, I dropped to my knees and I cleared my mind; “Dash away Sloth, Greed, Envy and Pride, Be gone Gluttony, Wrath, and the dark Lust inside.” I denounced the Great Seven, the most Deadly Sins; Hence, absolved from their burden, I rise now to win. His hooves hot behind me, a wall of demons ahead, I sprint to the finish, my heart cleansed from dread; I leap like a reindeer, bounding up to the sky, Three demons are gnashing, but I am too high; I soar through the heavens, then lightly to earth, The race I have finished, and YES, I am first. [chorus] I’m runnin’, runnin’ like a rebel, Now I’m runnin’, runninnnn’ with the devil. Contrite there behind me, with a medal of gold, He bows his horned-head, bereft of my soul; I nod and hold it, so precious a thing, ‘Round my head now I swing it, and give it a fling, Deep into the marsh, where the gators did feed, I have no use for treasures, for gone is my greed; Now I turn to the Devil, and this I do say, “You can go straight back to hell, I’ll stay in GA.” I was runnin’, runnin’ like a rebel, Cuz I was runnin’, runninnnn’ with the devil, I raced like a rebel, (Get the hell out of Georgia), I beat the devil, I beat the devil.

0/500