I Watched the Devil Die

by Chris Cotton

supported by

Mike Powers "A sort of new breed of what folks might call Americana music with bits of hokum and hillcountry mixed together with Memphis streetcorner jug band, Piedmont picking... I don't know what to call it... but every song on there is damn good and will stand up to many listens." —Tweed's Blues Favorite track: Dying Crapshooters Blues.

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Actual compact disc packaged in jewel case with six-panel booklet with lyrics, shipped with care to anywhere in the world. Autographed by Chris Cotton.

Includes unlimited streaming of I Watched the Devil Die via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Morgan City, Mississippi 03:49	lyrics	buy track
Whoa now sheriff can you give me a ride, down to that old county line? What I’ll do for you boy is give you a ride, if you ain’t got no trouble on your mind. Whoa now sheriff can you give me a ride, Itta Bena’s down the, down the line. What I’ll do for you son is give you a ride, if you ain’t got no trouble on your mind. Getting dark but I ain’t worried, and I ain’t hungry, standing out by the highway side. So now sheriff, can you give me a ride, down to the town, down the line. You don’t come from Mississippi, and you sure aren’t looking hungry, Why you standin’ out on the highway side? I came from Colorado, but its getting mighty cold you know, Fright train from Pueblo to old Texline. Morgan City, Mississippi, rode that freight train down the line, Going to New Orleans, and when I get there, Goin’ to do that old piedmont guitar rag.
2.	Come On 03:20	lyrics	buy track
Hand me my pistol woman, just hold it down, I’ve got to take care of things on the other side of town. I’m seeing red woman but I feel the same, I’m going to take care of things in my own way. Come on…Come on…Come on…Come on Just got off work now, just got paid my check. Thousand dollars on my mind, but I didn’t see bad Bill behind, Now hit me on by back with a mean old Thirty-eight’. Knocked me down and he knocked me cold but I saw him run away. I’m seeing red woman but I feel the same, I’m going to take care of things, in my own way. Come on…Come on…Come on…Come on I never killed a man and I don’t intend to now, Well I get my money back I’m gonna’ get it some how I’m seeing red woman but please don’t complain, I’m going to take care of things, in my own way. Come on…Come on…Come on…Come on
3.	I Watched the Devil Die 05:12	lyrics	buy track
Well I went out last night. Well I went out last night. That moon was shining but something wasn’t right, but It don’t matter anymore. The Devil gets drunk all the time. The Devil gets drunk all the time. He ask you for a nickel and he’ll end up with all your dimes, but I ain’t worried anymore. I don’t mind all those things that you say, You want my soul mother - stay away! I don’t mind all those things you do, cause today’s your dyin’ day. I watched the devil die. Well I watched the devil die. Came down from his house with his Presidential eye, and I ain’t worried anymore. That Devil tried to get to me, devil tried to get to me. But it don’t matter cause I wasn’t listening, and I ain’t worried anymore. I don’t mind all those things that you say, You want my soul mother - stay away! I don’t mind cause things gonna change, today’s your dyin’ day. If that devil tried to get to you, devil tried to get to you. Tell him you ain’t worried cause you know just, what he do. It don’t matter anymore I don’t like the way you do. No one likes the way you do. It’s too small for Satan like you, I aint worried anymore. I don’t mind all those things that you say, You want my soul mother - stay away! I don’t mind all those things you do, cause today’s your dyin’ day.
4.	Dying Crapshooters Blues 04:54		buy track
5.	That's It 02:47		buy track
6.	I'm So Glad 03:42		buy track
7.	Was it Low? 05:21	lyrics	buy track
Was it low, as low as low can get? Was it slow, boy now I don’t know yet? When I die, well now I surely may, Will things just keep on going the same? I’m a fool, in my heart. In my mind, well lord what makes me smart? If it is, well if I do, well tell all those mother-----, shame on you. Well is it strange, that I feel this way? I’ll pick it all up the very next day. Well in my mind and in my heart is what makes this man stand apart. Do my questions, disrupt your soul? My reputation, requiring you to be bold. When my mind, my heart don’t feel so good, just put that dirty mother down six feet for good. Well is it strange, that I feel this way? I’ll pick it all up the very next day. Well in my mind and in my heart, is what makes this man stand apart, from all the others, it’s what makes this man stand apart.
8.	Black Night 09:22	lyrics	buy track
Black night, no tellin’ what your man’s gonna’ do. Black night, no tellin’ what your man’s gonna’ do. Go home in the morning; don’t tell your man what I do. Black night, woman I hear him callin’ you. Black night, woman I hear him callin’ you. After he kills me, he might just kill you too. Black night, go home in the morning tell your man I ain’t around. Black night, go home in the morning tell your man I ain’t around. If he finds me, I know I’ll be the first man out of town.
9.	Louis Collins 03:13		buy track
10.	Blues for Big Bill 03:22	lyrics	buy track
Lord the greatest bluesman that ever lived, tell me please do. The greatest bluesman that lived, tell me please do. Big Bill Broonzy on my mind, he should be on yours too. You can do all those things, that you want to do. You do all those things, that you want to do. Come sit down right here, play these Big Bill Blues. Well you got some no good hustler, standin’ by your side. Some no good hustler, standing by your side. Why don’t you drop that hustler off and let old Cotton ride. Well you know some people don’t like me, they want to put me down. Some people don’t like me, they want to put me down. Come on now you’ll need CC around. Now some people get lucky, some have no luck at all. Some people get lucky, some have no luck at all. I got enough to go around girl and, that ain’t all. You can do the things, that you want to do. Do all those things, that you want to do. Come baby just sit down right and hear these Big Bill Blues.
11.	Bill Bailey 02:43		buy track
12.	Goin' Back Home 05:13	lyrics	buy track
It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been home, well and I know just what I’ll do. I’m going back to California and I know just what to do, what to do. Chorus I’m going back to my family’s house, well, and you know just what it seems. I tried so hard to bring you back, well, and you know just what it means, to me. Chorus Your coming back with me, and you know just what we’ll do. You tried so hard to understand all the things that you never ever wanted too. Chorus

about

An aural portrait that owes a debt to Southern bluesmen and Americana pioneers alike, Chris Cotton’s Yellow Dog Records debut sounds like a house party caught on tape – world-weary men effortlessly strumming their guitars and bass, while passing around a jug of whiskey for sustenance. The barrelhouse piano, is, of course, pushed up against one wall; Cotton’s gravelly voice reigns over the debauchery. The scene is timeless – harkening back to days when the distinction between blues and country was hopelessly blurred.

Former Blue Eyed Devils frontman Cotton traveled to Clarksdale, MS to record I Watched the Devil Die at producer Jimbo Mathus’ vintage-equipment studio, housed in the city’s historic WROX radio building. Employing Memphis and Clarksdale sidemen including special guest Big Jack Johnson, Cotton and Mathus concocted a modern-day jam session with all the boisterous spirit of a classic down-home revival.

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released March 8, 2005

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Chris Cotton San Francisco, California

Harkening back to the days when the distinction between blues and country was hopelessly blurred, rising Americana / blues guitarist Chris Cotton places his own stamp on roots styles ranging from the Piedmont to North Mississippi.

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