Danny and the Devil

Daniel was a man of the musical bent,

Here is how his story went:

Danny's family owned a music shop,

Inside he pushed a well-worn mop.

When the business day was through,

Everyone gathered for some fat to chew,

Danny didn't like to sit and talk,

Instead, on the goods he would rock,

And roll, and jam, and beat new tunes.

From the mandolin to the spoons,

There was little Dan couldn't do.

One day, then, a girl came by the shop,

Her beauty caused Danny's jaw to drop.

He hurried to introduce himself,

For she was certainly top-shelf.

"Excuse me, miss," he said,

Bowing down his head,

"My name's Danny, see?

I'm the best musician there'll ever be.

Won't you for a minute stay,

And let me for you play?"

Charmed, the girl let out a little laugh.

"Oh, Danny, of it you don't know the half.

In music I believe you're probably quite good,

To say you are the best, though, well that's a little rude.

I know the greatest of all time, you see,

He is very dear to me."

Intrigued, Danny had to go and show

This man she claimed to know,

Who it was that was the best,

Danny had to put it to the test.

"Who's this man of which you speak?

Tell him don't play hide-and-seek,

For I maintain I am the best,

I will show it in a contest.

Name the time and place,

And there I will make my case,

For there's little I can't do."

The girl flashed a beautiful smile.

"Okay, I'll call him for this trial,

I promise, his fame precedes him,

His names, you already know them-"

Danny stopped her short,

To casually retort,

"The only name I care about is yours."

"Lily," in response she purred,

"But you really ought to listen,

To the names by which he's christened.

They are Ba'al, Beelzebub, and Devil,

I assure you I am on the level.

The truth about this man,

Is that he is known as Ha-satan,

Lucifer, the Morning Star,

This man with which you want to spar,

He is the Negative One,

He is God's other son,

And he'll accept your challenge, see?

This man who is so dear to me.

For as it happens, he's my father,

So are you sure you wish to bother,

He they call the Lord of Flies,

He they call the Prince of Lies?

Take a chance to reconsider,

Before I go to call him hither.

Know before you take your stand,

That if you wish to have my hand,

And keep yourself from being damned,

You must defeat him and his band."

Danny raised an eyebrow high,

"You're right that I've heard about this guy,

I think I've heard this tale before,

I think in Georgia there's a little lore,

Down there they sing a little song,

About how the Devil was done wrong,

He lost a violin of gold,

To someone very bold?"

"Of my dowry that violin had been a part,

And the man who stole it broke my heart.

See, He left me waiting at the altar,

As his love had begun to falter,

I waited for him night and day,

Until I learned he'd run away.

The only thing he loved, I'm told

Is that violin of solid gold."

Danny listened to her words,

As sweet as singing birds,

And while she spoke he thought it through,

He decided what he'd do.

"Go ahead and call him here,

Call your father, Lily dear.

Tell him to bring his demon band,

For I will have your gorgeous hand.

There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

So Lily clapped her hands a certain way,

And the bright blue sky turned to silver-gray.

A wicked wind began to howl,

Bringing with it something foul.

The man himself, you know the one,

Had arrived for a little fun.

In the doorway the Devil stood,

Glaring with eyes that knew no good.

He wore a crisp black suit,

The same color as his boots,

On his head a proper hat.

Satan wiped his feet on the mat,

And came inside to look about.

"Lily, daughter, I don't doubt,

You've summoned me for a reason,

To this humble music shop.

Please explain yourself to Pop?"

"I asked to meet you, sir," Danny said,

Bowing down his head.

"See, I wish to take your daughter's hand,

Even if I must beat your band,

In a contest of musical skill.

Would you let me have the thrill,

Of showing you that I'm the best?

I will play at your behest,

And if I win, I'll have your daughter's hand,

If you do, my soul be damned."

The Devil let out a mighty snort,

"Lily, dear, why do they always try to thwart,

The master of hell below?"

What is it with your beaus,

That makes them think this way?

To think I'd want to hear him play!

For my daughter's hand, no less?

Really, now, I must confess,

I thought you'd ask for treasure,

Or perhaps something for your pleasure?

Maybe chests and chests of gold,

Jewels are nice, or so I've been told.

Won't you change your mind here, see,

Ask for something not so dear to me."

Lily threw up her hands and rolled her eyes,

"Father, please, time surely flies,

I am a little girl no more.

Please don't be such a chore.

Accept this challenge now!

Go on and show Dan how

A master makes the bow to sing.

Go and throw your hat into the ring,

And if you fail again this time,

Don't consider it a crime.

If you lose, Dan will have my hand,

If you win his soul be damned."

The Devil let a sigh escape,

And removed his flowing cape.

"Very well, I'll go first," he declared.

He raised his bow, his nostrils flared,

Up from the ground demons sprang,

They gathered round and sang

While the Devil played his rhythmic tune.

"The time is now high noon,

And they've begun to duel,

But one of them's a fool,

You see, He'll never give her up,

To some pretentious pup.

Listen well, you silly kid,

You're gonna lose this bid,

And your eternal soul too,

There won't be a thing you can do."

Danny listened to the bow,

To the Devil's grand ol' show.

When it at last concluded,

Danny for a moment brooded,

And then chose his favorite violin.

He began to play for the devil and his kin,

There was no one to sing to Danny's song,

So Danny's feet stomped along,

To the lively nature of the beat.

The Devil's eyes Dan did meet,

And a smile Dan tossed his way.

Danny then chose to play

Up and down the stave,

His heart had never been more brave.

At long last the ending came,

When Devil had been put to shame.

Dan lowered down his bow,

And waited then to know,

If he'd won fair and square,

If he'd had a hope and prayer.

The Devil folded up his hands,

And dismissed the demon band.

"Well, Lily, you're the judge.

How do we end this grudge?"

Danny found himself shocked,

And at Lily gawked.

"You decide this contest?

It's you who picks the best?"

He for a minute wondered

If he had surely blundered.

Lily reassured him with a smile,

She had known all the while,

It was she who would decide,

If she would be Danny's bride.

"Boy, don't be a fool," The Devil growled.

He spoke as he scowled.

"If it were up to me,

I'd have your soul, you see.

I'd still have that golden violin,

To tuck beneath my chin.

The only thing I love more than myself,

Is my daughter's happiness and health.

So when Lily decides upon a beau,

I will play this little show.

She's a daddy's girl you see,

And she picks musicians like me.

Ones that can hold their own

Whenever the gauntlet is thrown.

So count your lucky stars, son,

That when all is said and done,

She didn't decide I've won."

Danny and Lily kissed,

As the Devil gave one final hiss,

"Remember, boy, if you break her heart,

I'll go and tear you apart.

If you ever reject her hand,

Your soul I will damn.

Don't believe me? Ask that guy from Georgia."