The Devil is a recurring character in country music, taking on many forms – the theological villain, the moral educator, the all-too-relatable companion – that vary greatly from one song to the next.

He could be down in Georgia with Charlie Daniels or alongside Jason Isbell as his running mate. But whatever role he’s playing, the Devil has no doubt been the ultimate storyteller for decades of country music.

Here is Holler's playlist of The Best Country Songs About The Devil.

1. 1.

   Rattlesnake Preacher

   Ashley McBryde

2. 2.

   To Beat the Devil

   Kris Kristofferson

3. 3.

   The Devil Went Down to Georgia

   The Charlie Daniels Band

4. 4.

   Tying Knots in the Devil's Tail

   Colter Wall

5. 5.

   Devil Always Made Me Think Twice

   Chris Stapleton

6. 6.

   Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down

   Uncle Tupelo

7. 7.

   The Devil Made Me Do it the First Time

   Billy Joe Shaver

8. 8.

   If I Was the Devil

   Justin Townes Earle

9. 9.

   Satan Is Real

   The Louvin Brothers

10. 10.

    Devil Don't Know

    Morgan Wallen

11. 11.

    DEVIL YOU KNOW

    Tyler Braden

12. 12.

    Devil Woman

    Marty Robbins

13. 13.

    The Devil I Know

    Ashley McBryde

14. 14.

    If I Were the Devil

    Colby Acuff

15. 15.

    The Devil Don't Sleep

    Brantley Gilbert

16. 16.

    Devil in My Bed

    Vincent Neil Emerson

17. 17.

    The Devil's Right Hand

    Steve Earle

18. 18.

    Devil in a Sleepin' Bag

    Willie Nelson

19. 19.

    Devil in This Holler

    The Steel Woods

20. 20.

    Conversations With the Devil

    Ray Wylie Hubbard

21. 21.

    The Devil to Pay

    Johnny Cash

22. 22.

    The Devil is My Running Mate

    Jason Isbell

23. 23.

    Devil Off My Back

    Flatland Cavalry

24. 24.

    Devil in Me

    Anderson East

25. 25.

    I'm Not the Devil

    Cody Jinks

26. 26.

    The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie

    Colter Wall

27. 27.

    Devil Don't Even Bother

    Kane Brown

28. 28.

    Where the Devil Don't Go

    Elle King

29. 29.

    Devil May Care

    Sarah Shook & the Disarmers

30. 30.

    Take the Devil Out of Me

    Lee Ann Womack

31. 31.

    Old Devils

    William Elliott Whitmore

32. 32.

    The Silver Tongued Devil and I

    Kris Kristofferson

33. 33.

    Where the Devil Don't Stay

    Drive-By Truckers

34. 34.

    The Devil Had a Hold of Me

    Gillian Welch

35. 35.

    Land of the Red Man

    Parker Millsap

36. 36.

    The Devil Always Made Me Think Twice

    Hailey Whitters

37. 37.

    The Devil in Us All

    Kat Hasty

38. 38.

    Run Amuck

    Lindi Ortega

39. 39.

    If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)

    Joe Diffie

40. 40.

    Never Let the Devils Get the Upper Hand of You

    Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives

41. 41.

    Yup

    David Rawlings

42. 42.

    Old Lady and the Devil

    Bill & Belle Reed

43. 43.

    Friend of the Devil

    Grateful Dead

44. 44.

    Tell the Devil I'm Gettin' There as Fast as I Can

    Ray Wylie Hubbard

45. 45.

    Pray the Devil Back to Hell

    Lucinda Williams

46. 46.

    Pickin' to Beat the Devil

    Pure Prairie League

47. 47.

    The Devil is in Her Eyes

    The Jayhawks

48. 48.

    Between the Devil and Me

    Alan Jackson

49. 49.

    Wallace

    Drive-By Truckers

50. 50.

    Devil Callin' Me Back

    Tim McGraw, Faith Hill

Read our full article on The Devil and Country Music below:

feature LONG READ • The Devil and Country Music

The Devil appears in a number of country tunes, continually shapeshifting from an imposing caricature – horned and crimson – to something more human. Here, Holler explores the Devil's role in the genre.