The Civil Wars
Devil’s Backbone
[Verse 1: Joy Williams]
O Lord, O Lord, what have I done?
I’ve fallen in love with a man on the run
O Lord, O Lord, I’m begging you, please
Don’t take that sinner from me
Oh, don’t take that sinner from me

[Verse 2: Joy Williams & John Paul White]
O Lord, O Lord, what do I do
I’ve fallen for someone who’s nothing like you
He’s raised on the edge of the devil’s backbone
Oh, I just wanna take him home
Oh, I just wanna take him home

[Verse 3: Joy Williams & John Paul White]
O Lord, O Lord, he’s somewhere between
A hangman’s knot and three mouths to feed
There wasn’t a wrong or a right he could choose
He did what he had to do
Oh, he did what he had to do

[Verse 4: Joy Williams with John Paul White]
Give me the burden, give me the blame
I’ll shoulder the load and I’ll swallow the shame
Give me the burden, give me the blame
How many, how many Hail Mary's is it gonna take?
[Verse 5: Joy Williams with John Paul White]
Don’t care if he’s guilty, don’t care if he’s not
He’s good and he’s bad and he’s all that I’ve got
O Lord, O Lord, I’m begging you, please
Don’t take that sinner from me
Oh, don’t take that sinner from me