Slim and The Devil

Slim Greer went to Heaven, St. Peter said

"Been a good, right boy, Slim, but now you's dead

Been a travelin' rascal in your day

You can roam once more, then you come to stay"

"So put these wings on your shoulders and save your feet"

Slim spoke up and said, "Thank you, Pete"

Then Peter said, "Go to Hell and see

All that they're doin', tell it back to me

But be sure to remember how everything goes"

Slim said, "I'll see you on the late watch bow"

So he got to cavortin' swell as you choose

Like Lindy in the Spirit of the St. Louis blues

He flew and he flew till at last he hit

A hangar with a sign readin' "This is it"

So he parked his wings and he strolled around

Gettin' used to his feet back on solid ground

Then he come to a mansion and walked right in

Up looked the Devil with a sickly grin

"No, I didn't think to look for you, Mr. Greer

Tell me, how could it be that you come by here?"

Said, "I just dropped by for a little spell"

"Make yourself at home, here's the keys to Hell"

Said the Devil to Slim, "Let's go downtown"

Took the Devil's hand and he showed him around

Showed him bawdy houses and cabarets

Made him think of New Orleans and Memphis days

Showed him folks all fightin' 'round the roulette wheel

Like Rampart Street in the south of Beale

Then he took him 'round the corner where Slim did see

A preacher with a woman sittin' on each knee

Showed him whiskey stills goin' everywhere

With a passel of devils stretched dead-drunk there

Then he took him to a furnace that some devils was firin'

Hot as hell, Slim's a-mean perspirin'

White devils with pitchforks threw black devils on

Slim thought he'd better get movin' along

Said Slim, "This makes me think of home

Vicksburg, Little Rock, Jackson, and Rome"

Then the Devil gave Slim the big ha-ha

Turned into a cracker with a sheriff's star

So he ran for his wings, lit out from the ground

Hauled it back to Peter, he was Heaven-bound

Said Peter to Slim, "Man, you got back quick

Tell me how's the Devil, what's his latest trick?"

"Oh no," said Slim, "I can't really tell

That place was Dixie that I took for Hell"