"Friend of the Devil" is a song by the Grateful Dead, the second track on their 1970 album American Beauty. Jerry Garcia and John Dawson wrote the music, and Robert Hunter wrote the lyrics. Here is my cover of it with the Yazoo Ramblers, which I posted to the channel on May 29, 2026.
Like most of American Beauty, it is largely acoustic. It opens with Garcia playing a descending G major scale in the bass register.
Why I picked it
Everyone should be able to sing this one as they lean back towards God.
Credits
- Song: Friend of the Devil
- Original artist: the Grateful Dead
- Written by: Jerry Garcia and John Dawson (music), Robert Hunter (lyrics)
- Played by: Cal Carter and friends: Peggy Fenton, Bob Young and Gary Geurts
Session notes
- Posted to YouTube: May 29, 2026
- Length: 4:32
- Recorded in the garage in Milton, GA, at my May 15, 2026 practice session (it is in my "Yazoo Ramblers May 15, 2026 Practice" playlist).
Join the ramble
Song Stories is where I share the story behind each cover on Cal Carter's Yazoo Ramblers Channel. I record the covers in my garage in Milton, GA, and I put the story and the credits here. If this song means something to you, tell me about it in the YouTube comments. I'd like to hear it.
If you are new here, the playlist below has the rest of the Yazoo Ramblers covers, and my music page has them all in one place.
Keep rambling
- Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L1jVzhGQakw
- More of my covers: https://www.gulfshoreslife.com/the-yazoo-ramblers-band-covers
- Playlist: Yazoo Rambler Covers - Americana & Blues Classics Covers: The Yazoo Ramblers Sessions (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaYy11pUoiVYXStCbXs7Th_FcOKuj5TMR)
- Previous song story: Sway
- Next song story: Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
Be a Rambler: subscribe to youtube.com/@yazooramblers