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Procol Harum — The Devil Came From Kansas
Album: A Salty Dog
Avg rating:
5.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 212









Released: 1969
Length: 4:31
Plays (last 30 days): 0
The Devil came from Kansas
Where he went to I can't say
Though I teach I'm not a preacher
And I aim to stay that way
There's a monkey riding on my back
Been there for some time
He says he knows me very well
But he's no friend of mine

I am not a humble pilgrim
There's no need to scrape and squeeze
And don't beg for silver paper
When I'm trying to sell you cheese

The Devil came from Kansas
Where he went to I can't say
If you really are my brother
Then you'd better start to pray
For the sins of those departed
And the ones about to go
There's a dark cloud just above us
Don't tell me 'cos I know

I am not a humble pilgrim
There's no need to scrape and squeeze
And don't beg for silver paper
When I'm trying to sell you cheese

No I never came from Kansas
Don't forget to thank the cook
Which reminds me of my duty:
I was lost and now I look
For the turning and the signpost
And the road which takes you down
To that pool inside the forest
In whose waters I shall drown

I am not a humble pilgrim
There's no need to scrape and squeeze
And don't beg for silver paper
When I'm trying to sell you cheese
Comments (18)add comment
 thewiseking wrote:
This is remarkably badass. Absolutely love this lost nugget.
 

You have good taste.
Listen,

If you've been be to the western 2/3's of Kansas,  you know this song is true.  
 Sweet_Virginia wrote:
A paler shade of white?
 

Paler shade of white cheese?
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Kansas?
I thought he went down to Georgia.
 
Don't be a doofus.  The Devil came from Kansas, then went down to Georgia where he  allegedly lost a fiddle playing contest.

You're welcome.

(Touching song about heroin addiction.)
Kansas?
I thought he went down to Georgia.
Clearly a bad day in the Harum when this was composed
I surely appreciate hearing Procol Harum. Somehow, in the cacaphonic late 60s and 70s, although this was a pretty interesting band, they never quite got the level of recognition I feel they merited. If only Whiter Shade of Pale had faded into obscurity, instead of so many of their other compositions. Still, I like old Procol Harum. Even if the name means nothing in any language.
Great - now I want some cheese
Cool tune!!
Agreed, nice to hear something that's not A Whiter Shade of Pale :-)
I really like the album Arrrht ;-)
Dug a bit on it, don't know who the bearded fellow is, apparently was designed by Keith Reid's then girlfriend using cigarette packaging as an inspiration,

I like what she did with it. Here's an interesting article on the album. 
Impressive for a Big Hump at 4 rating.  First I've seen
This is remarkably badass. Absolutely love this lost nugget.
A paler shade of white?
This one just doesn't float my boat.
Have not heard this before, but I like!
Wow, totally forgot about this song.  Good to hear it again.
Pretty Good. Don't know much about this band. Thanks Bill.
Way better than John Cougar or Counting Crows !
not dated at all 
Fantastic, a staple album from my days at Uni, so great to hear something other than a Whiter Shade of Pale played!