I was walking through the snow

When I saw a distant glow

Of a farmhouse nestled down beneath the trees

With a guitar on my back

I thought it sure can't hurt to ask

If I could stay the night

And sing a pretty song for free



I walked up to the house

And then I knocked hard on the door

That old dark piece of wood

She fell right in there on the floor

And as she did a fire burst out on all sides

I wondered what the hell was going on inside



Then the music that I heard

It was bizarre, it was absurd

Like no banjo fiddle bass I'd ever seen

I stepped into a room of flames

Shook my head and looked again

It was the kind of company to make you scream



It was a devil's hootenanny 

An old-time fire band

A drunken whiskey choir singing 

Round me you understand

And then they said, "We've been searching near and far

For a thing like you to sing and play guitar"



Well I opened up my case 

And all the blood rushed to my face

I sang a fragile note, picked a minor tune

Well those devils yelled and clapped 

And all their asses they did slap

Before too long we were arm and arm beneath the moon



Cuz that old house burnt on down

There were cinders on the ground

I snuggled up inside, closed my eyes

I was sleeping sound

And I dreamt of summer nights down by the sea

With a devil's banjo playing on my knee