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To Beat the Devil chords by
Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
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N/A•18 views•
5.0 (1)
Key: G major•
Verse 1
G
G

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A couple of years back I come across a great and wasted friend of mine in the hallway of a recording studio. And while he was reciting some poetry to me that he had written, I saw that he was about a step away from dying,
D
D

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G
G

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D
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G
G

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and I couldn't help but wonder why. And the lines of this song occurred to me. I'm happy to say he's no longer wasted, and he's got him a good woman. And I'd like to dedicate this to John and June, who helped showed me how to beat the devil.
Verse 2
G
G

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D
D

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It was wintertime in Nashville
G
G

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D
D

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G
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Down on Music City Row

And I was looking for a place
D
D

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And to get my self out of the cold
C
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D
D

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To warm the frozen feeling that was
G
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D
D

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Em
Em

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C
C

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eating at my soul
D
D

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Keep the chilly wind off my guitar
G
G

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My thirsty wanted whiskey
C
C

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G
G

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But my hunger needed beans

But it had been a month of paydays
D
D

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Since I'd heard that eagle scream
C
C

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D
D

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So with a stomach full of empty
G
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Em
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And a pocket full of dreams
C
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D
D

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G
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I left my pride and stepped inside a bar
Em
Em

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Actually I'd guess you'd call
C
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it a tavern
Am
Am

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Cigarette smoke to the ceiling
D
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And sawdust on the floor
G
G

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Friendly shadows

I saw that there was just one
C
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G
G

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old man sitting at the bar

And in the mirror I could see him
D
D

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checking me and my guitar
C
C

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And he turned and said,
D
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Come up here,
G
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Em
Em

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boy, and show us what you are
C
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D
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I said I'm dry, and he bought me a beer
G
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He nodded at my guitar and said,
C
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G
G

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It's a tough life, ain't it?

I just looked at him
D
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He said, you ain't making

any money, are you?
C
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D
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I said, you been reading my mail
G
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He just smiled and said,
Em
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C
C

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let me see that guitar
D
D

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I got something you ought to hear
G
G

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And then he laid it on me
Verse 3
C
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If you waste your time a talking To the

people who don't listen
G
G

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To the things that you are saying
D
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Who do you thinks gonna hear?
G
G

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And if you should die explaining how
C
C

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The things that they complain about
G
G

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Are things they could be changing
D
D

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G
G

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Who do you thinks gonna care?
D
D

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There were other lonely singers
C
C

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G
G

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In a world turned deaf and blind
C
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G
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Who were crucified for what they
D
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tried to show
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G

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And their voices have been scattered by the
C
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G
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swirling winds of time

‘Cause the truth remains that
D
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G
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no one wants to know
Verse 4
G
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Well the old man was a stranger
C
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But I'd heard his song before


Back when failure had me locked out
D
D

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On the wrong side of the door
C
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D
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When no one stood behind me
G
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Em
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But my shadow on the floor
C
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And lonesome was more than
D
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a state of mind
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C
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G
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You see, the devil haunts a hungry man

If you don't want to join him
D
D

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You gotta beat him
C
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D
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G
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I ain't saying I beat the devil
Em
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C
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But I drank his beer for nothing
D
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G
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Then I stole his song
Verse 5
G
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And you still can hear me singing
C
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To the people who don't listen
G
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To the things that I am saying
D
D

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Praying someone's gonna hear
G
G

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And I guess I'll die explaining how
C
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The things that they complain about
G
G

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Are things they could be changing
D
D

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G
G

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Hoping someone's gonna care
D
D

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I was born a lonely singer
C
C

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G
G

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And I'm bound to die the same
C
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D
D

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But I've gotta feed the hunger in my soul
G
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And if I never have a nickel
C
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G
G

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I won't ever die ashamed


‘Cause I don't believe
D
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G
G

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that no one wants to know

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An acoustic guitar head with tuning pegs

Tuning:Standard Open Tuner
Chords

  • G

  • D

  • C

  • Em

  • Am

Capo: 0

Transpose: 0

0

Autoscroll20%

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Frequently asked questions

The original key of To Beat the Devil by Kris Kristofferson is G major.

The primary chords used in To Beat the Devil are G, D, C, Em, Am.

No capo is required for this song.

Yes, this version uses open chords like G, D, C, Em, making it a great song for beginner guitarists.

The tempo of To Beat the Devil is approximately 48 beats per minute.

You can easily change the key of To Beat the Devil using our Transpose button located in the toolbar. This will automatically update all chord diagrams on the page to match your new key.

Yes! Click the Print icon to generate a clean, one-page version of the chords and lyrics for To Beat the Devil. This is perfect for practicing offline or adding to a physical songbook.

Yes, we have integrated a Mini-Tuner directly on this page. Use it to quickly check your string pitch (Standard Tuning: E A D G B E) before you start playing along with Kris Kristofferson.

Absolutely. Click the Save or Heart icon to add To Beat the Devil to your account. You can access all your saved songs under My Library at any time.

You can view the full chord sheet and lyrics for To Beat the Devil by Kris Kristofferson on this page for free. We provide high-quality, verified chords to help you start playing immediately.