The devil went down to Georgia
He was lookin' for a soul to steal
He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind
And willing to make a deal

When he came across one young man
Sawing on a fiddle and playing it hot
And the devil jumped up on a hickory stump
And said, "Boy, let me tell you what"

"I bet you didn't know it
But I'm a fiddle player too
And if you'd care to take a dare
I'll make a bet with you"

"Now you play pretty good fiddle, boy
But I'll give the devil his due
I bet a fiddle of gold against your soul
I think I'm better than you"

The boy said, "My name's Johnny
And it might be a sin
But I'll take your bet, you're gonna regret
I'm the best that's ever been"

Johnny you rosin up your bow
And play your fiddle hard
'Cause Hell's broke loose in Georgia
And the devil deals the cards

And if you win
You get this shiny fiddle made of gold
But if you lose
The devil gets your soul

The devil opened up his case
And he said, "I'll start this show"
And fire flew from his fingertips
As he rosined up his bow

And he pulled the bow across the strings
It made an evil hiss
Then a band of demons joined in
And it sounded something like this

When the devil finished, Johnny said
"You're pretty good, old son
But sit down in that chair right there
And let me show you how it's done"

Fire on the mountain, run, boys, run
Devil's in the house of the rising sun
Chicken in the bread pan, pickin' out dough
Granny does your dog bite, no, child, no

The best that's ever been
I'm the best that's ever been

The devil bowed his head
Because he knew that he'd been beat
And he laid that golden fiddle
On the ground at Johnny's feet

Johnny said, "Devil, come on back
If you ever want to try again
I told you once, you son of a bitch
I'm the best that's ever been"

Fire on the mountain, run, boys, run
Devil's in the house of the rising sun
Chicken in the bread pan, pickin' out dough
Granny does your dog bite, no, child, no

The best that's ever been
I'm the best that's ever been
I'm the best that's ever been