Noel Haggard w/ Ben Haggard “Dealing With The Devil”

You ever feel like life’s handing you a deck of cards, and the dealer’s got a sly grin you can’t quite trust? That’s where “Dealing With The Devil” comes from—it’s the kind of song that grabs you by the shoulders and says, “Hey, we’ve all danced with trouble at some point.” I wrote this one late at night, when the world was quiet but my head was loud, thinking about those moments when you’re stuck at a crossroads, bargaining with your own demons. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s got a heartbeat you can feel in your chest.

The song kicks off with this gritty little guitar riff—nothing fancy, just enough to pull you in, like a stranger lighting a cigarette in the dark. Then the words hit: “I shook his hand, the fire was free / Sold my soul for a melody.” It’s about that temptation we all know—chasing something you want so bad you’d trade anything for it, even if it burns you later. Maybe it’s love, maybe it’s a dream, or maybe it’s just that one dumb choice you can’t take back. Whatever it is, this song doesn’t judge—it just sits with you in the mess.

There’s a chorus that I swear could wake the dead—it’s big, it’s bold, and it’s got this howl of defiance: “Dealing with the devil, I’m still standing tall / Took his bet, but I won’t fall.” It’s not about winning some grand battle; it’s about staring down the consequences and saying, “I’m still here.” I picture people screaming it at a bar, or whispering it to themselves when the odds feel stacked. That’s what makes it special—it’s yours, however you need it.

The bridge? Oh, man, that’s where it gets heavy. There’s this quiet moment—just a slow drumbeat, like a pulse—and the line: “Every deal’s a scar, every scar’s a song.” It’s the gut-punch truth: those deals we make, they mark us, but they also make us who we are. I wanted it to feel like a confession, something you’d tell a friend over a whiskey after midnight. By the time the last chord fades, you’re not sure if you’re redeemed or just tougher for it—and honestly, that’s the point.

This isn’t some polished pop tune—it’s rough around the edges, a little bruised, like the people it’s for. It’s the sound of kicking dirt off your boots after a long night, knowing you’ve got a story to tell. So, what’s your deal with the devil? Bet you’ve got one. This song’s here to remind you you’re not alone in it

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