Lainey Wilson was raised on country music so she knows a thing or two about the songs that have shaped the genre. Not only is she inspired by other artists, she’s working in a shout out or two in the lyrics of her own music.
In her track “Devil Don’t Go There” Wilson references not one, not two, but three other country songs. And — you guessed it — they all have to do with the devil.
What is Lainey Wilson’s Song “Devil Don’t Go There” About?
The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year sings of being done so wrong by a former lover that the devil himself couldn’t have crafted something so evil. In other words, the hell she has had to endure is too intense even for the devil.
Her lyrical references come in the bridge of the song as she tips her hat in rapid fire fashion to three other country singers.
“He’d go to Georgia / Looking for a soul to steal / Spitting smoke out the back / Of his Coupe DeVille / He’d take a long black train / Down to hell and back / But boy, I can tell ya that,” she belts out.
What are the Songs Lainey Wilson References in “Devil Don’t Go There”?
First she makes a nod to Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”. He opens the song with “The devil went down to Georgia / He was looking for a soul to steal.”
Up next, she finds inspiration in Joe Nichol’s “Brokenheartsville” as he sings about the man who stole his girl. “I think the devil drives a Coupe de Ville / I watched ’em drive away over the hill,” he sings in the chorus.
Finally, Wilson pays tribute to “Long Black Train” from Josh Turner. In the song, he sings about a long black train that carries people to hell. He compares the train’s conductor to the devil as he sings, “He’s just a-waitin’ on your heart to say, ‘Let me ride on that long black train.'”
Jess hosts the syndicated radio show, Taste of Country Weekend, which can be heard on country stations nationwide. Tune in for all of the best new country music, spotlights on new tracks and emerging artists, plus Double-Downs on all of your favorites. The weekend is always better with a little Taste of Country in it.
Surprising Things We Learned Watching Lainey Wilson’s Documentary
Lainey Wilson has taken the country music scene by storm! What most people don’t understand though is that she’s not an overnight sensation. In fact, Wilson spent 10 years in Nashville before gaining any traction in her career.
ABC’s documentary Lainey Wilson: Bell Bottom Country takes fans back to her small hometown of Baskin, La., where the seeds of her dreams of becoming a country singer were planted.
Here are some surprising things we learned while watching the documentary.
Gallery Credit: Jess