I was riding my horse thru the Black Hills
on a dark and stormy night,
when the devil appeared before me
in the midst of a blue-green light.
He cut quite a figure
standing there on the trail,
from his long and shiny horns
to the end of his long black tail.
He asked, "Where are you going boy,
thru these Black Hills of mine?"
I said, "That’s no concern of yours
but I’m just traveling down the line."
The lightning flashed, the thunder roared,
the wind blew up a gale
the night I met the devil
on that lonely Black Hills trail.
He told me I couldn’t pass that way.
I’d have to turn around.
I’d have to take another trail
if one could be found.
Now I’m a peaceable sort of guy.
I don’t look for a fight,
but I won’t go far to avoid one
when I think I’m in the right.
I sunk my spurs into my horse
and tried to ride the devil down,
but he pulled me from my saddle
and threw me to the ground.
I kicked his shin and grabbed his tail
and hit him with a right.
We bit, clawed, hit, and wrestled;
he put up quite a fight.
It seemed we fought for hours
before I saw dawn’s light.
I knew I had to do something fast
or I would lose this fight.
It was then I saw a boulder
I had a sudden thought.
I retreated toward that rock
while the devil and I fought.
I grabbed the devil by the tail
and threw it across my shoulder.
I dragged that devil across the trail
and wrapped his tail around the boulder.
I tied his tail in a double knot.
That devil had been beat.
He raved and cursed and ranted
but had to admit defeat.
The lightning flashed; the thunder roared;
the wind blew up a gale
on that dark and stormy night
I tied a knot in the devil’s tail.
I’ve been to every state in these U. S. of A.
The Black Hills is the only place
where I’ve had an encounter with
and met the devil face to face.
Now most folks doubt my story
of meeting the man from hell.
They say my horse must have thrown me
and I landed on my head when I fell.
Just go to the Black Hills
on a dark and stormy night.
You can hear the devil roar
as he relives that fight.
The lightning flashes; the thunder roars;
the wind blows up a gale;
each time the devil recalls
I tied a knot in his long black tail.