Devil Rides Backwards

Album: Automatic For The People 25th Anniversary Edition (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Written, but never completed for 1992's Automatic for the People album, "Devil Rides Backwards" eventually ended up on the record released in 2017 in honor of the disc's 25th anniversary.
  • Guitarist Peter Buck expressed his regret in the reissued Automatic For the People's liner notes that singer Michael Stipe never completed the lyrics.

    "I really loved that song. Michael just didn't feel that he had it and he likes to work by inspiration... It got pretty close but it was never finished. So it's on this.'"
  • During the track, Michael Stipe sings "mule" rather than horse," which he calls a "mistake" in the liner notes.

    "It's supposed to be a horse," he explained. "I think that phrase might have been something that Peter pulled from literature. He thought it had a nice ring to it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.