The old story/song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” isn’t about a young man winning a bet against the Devil that he’s a better fiddle player. It’s the devil tricking poor Johnny into the sins of pride and greed.
The Devil pretended to lose so that Johnny would think that he was the best fiddle player in the world, even better than the all-powerful devil himself. (Pride) And then Johnny claims a reward of a solid-gold fiddle. (Greed) Johnny just cursed his soul to damnation, thinking he could actually beat the devil at his own game. It was a no-win scenario; the devil claims his soul either way.
The interpretation I’ve heard is that the Devil does genuinely lose, because he doesn’t understand the cultural aspects of what it means to “fiddle.”
Like, what’s the difference between a fiddle and a violin? They’re the same instrument, but played differently. The Devil is able to master the technical aspects, but the point of a fiddle is to play songs to get people to dance - standards that they know and love. It’s not about hitting all the notes right, it’s about being the right kind of performer.
Arguably wrath too (“I done told you once, you son of a bitch”). Also, isn’t God the only thing you could reasonably call the Devil’s parent? Did Johnny call God a bitch?
That’s certainly an interpretation, but I don’t think it’s necessarily canon. The sequel makes it ambiguous as to whether Johnny committed the sin of pride, or if he was simply correct about being the best there’s ever been. The fact that The Devil Comes Back to Georgia opens with the devil being furious that he lost kind of implies the latter
He’s a magical being. Any competition is pointless, you’ll lose. It’s just another way to torture people.
I’d refuse. What’s he going to do? Torture me?
The old story/song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” isn’t about a young man winning a bet against the Devil that he’s a better fiddle player. It’s the devil tricking poor Johnny into the sins of pride and greed.
The Devil pretended to lose so that Johnny would think that he was the best fiddle player in the world, even better than the all-powerful devil himself. (Pride) And then Johnny claims a reward of a solid-gold fiddle. (Greed) Johnny just cursed his soul to damnation, thinking he could actually beat the devil at his own game. It was a no-win scenario; the devil claims his soul either way.
This is emphasized in the song by the fact that the Devil’s fiddling is way better than Johnny’s.
Well the fucker cheated (surprise surprise) by having a band of demons join in.
That was just for flair. The isolated fiddle part was better alone anyway
The interpretation I’ve heard is that the Devil does genuinely lose, because he doesn’t understand the cultural aspects of what it means to “fiddle.”
Like, what’s the difference between a fiddle and a violin? They’re the same instrument, but played differently. The Devil is able to master the technical aspects, but the point of a fiddle is to play songs to get people to dance - standards that they know and love. It’s not about hitting all the notes right, it’s about being the right kind of performer.
Arguably wrath too (“I done told you once, you son of a bitch”). Also, isn’t God the only thing you could reasonably call the Devil’s parent? Did Johnny call God a bitch?
Johnny could have just said “Beat it, dipshit.” When the devil offered him a bet.
Yrah, he could have said “beat it, just beat it.”
Isn’t that what OP is proposing?
But he didn’t want to be defeated!
No one does!
That one wouldn’t come out for another 8 years unfortunately
That’s certainly an interpretation, but I don’t think it’s necessarily canon. The sequel makes it ambiguous as to whether Johnny committed the sin of pride, or if he was simply correct about being the best there’s ever been. The fact that The Devil Comes Back to Georgia opens with the devil being furious that he lost kind of implies the latter
People may say, “Well Charlie Daniels beat him.”
Charlie Daniels is also a magical creature.
So is Les Claypool. (Primus covered it)
The dumbest thing he could do is appear and offer a deal.
If He exists, than so does God, so it makes sense to be good, because you know it’s worth it in the end.
Which gives a different slant to the saying ‘the best trick the Devil ever pulled was making people stop believing in Him.’
No, magic stuff is for nerds so it’s always some logic puzzle…
…just challenge him to a devil defeating competition. You win, he’s defeated. He wins he’s defeated. Either way he has to wither and die.
That’s just how nerds be.