Johnny was a country boy Made his living off the land Every Saturday night he'd play the guitar With the boys in the local band Now the devil he played with golden fingers Near the waters he did dwell Made your backbone shiver, when you walked by the river And you listened to his tunes from hell The river runs on so freely, the river runs to the sea Johnny sold his soul to the devil down below Who will never more set him free And he never can again be free Johnny talked to the river Shouted into the deep You can have my soul if you give me your guitar Make her laugh, make her mourn and weep Up came the devil and he spoke to Johnny You'll be the best in all the land You'll play hot, you'll play well, as the fires from hell But your soul will be at my command The river runs on so freely, the river runs to the sea Johnny sold his soul to the devil down below Who will never more set him free And he never can again be free Johnny can jive and Johnny can boogie Let the music flow so free Play the strings so you can hear them ring Through the bayou country Now the people came from near and far When they heard about the guitar-man Johnny's voice got h***se and his fingers were all b***** But his lpaying never took an end Sometimes in the dead of night There's music sounding through the trees The devil plays a tune on the bank of the river Johnny's soul sings harmony The river runs on so freely, the river runs to the sea Johnny sold his soul to the devil down below Who will never more set him free And he never can again be free