https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Fri, 05 Jun 2026 03:39:08 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/paged/2/#post-287479 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:52:13 +0000
No Pressure At All ! I'll try to see what I do before Sunday.
The music for this is still in flux mode right now. I'm working
on the JLH style but haven't totally given up on Mr. Johnson yet.

If anybody wants to play with it and submit it for the SCG assignment feel free.

I really appreciate all the suggestions!

They truly helped make this a better song and that is what SSG is all about.

John]]> Sunday Songwriters Group Celt https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/paged/2/#post-287479 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287424 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:54:08 +0000
I really enjoyed reading this and how the comments from others played their part on the edit ...

I am very keen and eager to listen how this is transported into music , I am hearing a lot of sound effects like hissing ....

Just my weird mind ...

Nice one John

Cheers

Trev.. :wink:]]> Sunday Songwriters Group BarnaBus RoX https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287424 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287408 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:03:44 +0000 Sunday Songwriters Group Rum Runner https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287408 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287375 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:27:45 +0000

*taps foot impatiently*


*taps foot impatiently*


*taps foot impatiently*


*taps foot impatiently*

:D :D :D

Vic]]> Sunday Songwriters Group Vic Lewis VL https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287375 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287305 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:56:37 +0000 Assignment completed?
When can we expect to hear the mp3?]]> Sunday Songwriters Group KR2 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287305 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287298 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:34:46 +0000 Sunday Songwriters Group lavadave https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287298 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287222 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:37:10 +0000 imho, the first verse is so great that the second one seems a little weak. not that it is weak it's just that it follows somethiing real strong. the Boss man verse is somewhere in between. summary: work on the second verse! Good point maybe if I work it into a more traditional verse/chorus structure.
I noticed a strange thing with this song, namely these two lines....

"When you shake hands with the Devil
Better keep your other hand on your soul"
"Better keep one hand on your soul."

"So he keeps on beating yours into the ground" seemed one or two syllables too many, depending on phrasing - I tried "He keeps tryin' to beat yours into the ground" which seemed to flow a little smoother.

"Get a shiver up and down your spine" seemed to be easier to sing as "Get the shivers down your spine"....

Oh, one little question - are you thinking same rhythm/melody for the verses and choruses (ie all the way through) or one rhythm/melody for the verses, and another for the choruses? The latter way seemed to work better for me... Lots of good points and I tried to address them all in the rewrite. Yes it would be the same all the way though.
how about.......

when you shake hands with the devil
you loose your grip on your own soul

?

i really like this tune. but I grew up on blues, so any crossroads-style doomsday devil song is likely to appeal to my predilections. Sorry I went with Vic's suggestion but it's funny you mention "Crossroads" because this started with a
Robert Johnson groove but John Lee worked a little better or maybe not.
Had an idea about the forst verse. I thought the line after King of the World was a little awkward. How about replacing it with something like "... then tear your world apart"- adds a touch of irony there.

Also the line in the second verse after the boss man having no self respect. Same concern but I can't think of a fix offhand. Maybe something like:

The Devil's like the Boss man
he ain't got no respect
always beats he you to the ground
with his foot up on your neck
the devil's like the boss man
he ain't got no respect Definitely some food for thought that I digested during rewrite.
Another verse?
Maybe something like the devil's in the next drink? You asked for it. I loved the "next drink angle".



When You Shake Hands With The Devil (Edit)

The Devil's like that woman
Who will steal then break your heart
Treat you like the King of the World
Then tear that world apart
The Devil's like that woman
Who will steal then break your heart

When you shake hands with the Devil
Your blood runs bitter cold
Get a shiver down your spine
As you try to break his hold
When you shake hands with the Devil
Better keep one hand on your soul

The Devil's like that Boss Man
All he does is keep you down
He don't give you no respect
Keeps beating you to the ground
The Devil's like that Boss Man
All he does is keep you down

When you shake hands with the Devil
Your blood runs bitter cold
Get a shiver down your spine
As you try to break his hold
When you shake hands with the Devil
Better keep one hand on your soul

The Devil's like that next drink
When you swore you had your last
You'll only find more sorrow
In the bottom of the glass
The Devil's like that next drink
When you swore you had your last

When you shake hands with the Devil
Your blood runs bitter cold
Get a shiver down your spine
As you try to break his hold
When you shake hands with the Devil
Better keep one hand on your soul


Thank You All

John]]> Sunday Songwriters Group Celt https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287222 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287207 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:01:26 +0000 Thanks everybody I love all the suggestions.

I guess I have quite a bit to think about so I will get back
to you all later.

John]]> Sunday Songwriters Group Celt https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287207 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287200 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:29:11 +0000
Maybe something like:

The Devil's like the Boss man
he ain't got no respect
always beats he you to the ground
with his foot up on your neck
the devil's like the boss man
he ain't got no respect]]> Sunday Songwriters Group lavadave https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287200 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287170 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:59:35 +0000 Maybe something like the devil's in the next drink?

The devil's like the next drink
You drink to drown your sorrow
But you're just swallowing another problem
And your soul will be gasping for air
When you drink to hide from your fate
The Devil will buy the next round

No rhyme but the thought is there.
Making it rhyme is your job.]]> Sunday Songwriters Group KR2 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/year-6-wk-22-when-you-shake-hands-with-the-devil/#post-287170