This post is for Eleni over at jackmegwhite, who writes: “I love Music, Jack White and Whiskey.” Those are three of my favorite things, too, so I’ll imagine she’s my girl behind the bar. In this narrative blues tune, I twist and make new the story of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil to learn to play the guitar; instead, the speaker in my song sells his soul to Jesus in exchange for a woman’s love. Enjoy!

     For the girl behind the bar

Well, I was in Mississippi,
and I went into a bar.
I yelled, “‘Tender give me a whiskey,”
as I took a seat.

To my sweet surprise,
a pretty little thing brought me my drink.
And I said, “Hey, baby,
why don’t you take a seat?”
But she laughed as she walked away.

So I took my shot
and went up to the bar.
And I said, “Hey, baby,
what’s it gonna take?”

She said, “Are you a God fearing man?”
I thought, I could be if that’s what it takes
to get in your pants.
But I just grinned and said, “Baby,
I ain’t afraid of nothing.”
She said, “If I was yours,
you’d be afraid to lose me.
And a jealous man
is the one who beats.”

With that she turned away,
And for the first time in my life I prayed.
“Lord, lord, what will it take?”

You know they say Robert sold his soul to the devil
just to learn to play guitar.
Well, I sold my soul to Jesus
for the girl behind the bar. X2

Oh, Devil, I miss you
and all of your sweet sin.
But I’d trade it all in
to be in a Kingdom with her
that never ends.