The Devil's Footprint

Album: Battering Ram (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song references a strange event that occurred one snowy February day in 1855 in southwest England. The local people woke up one morning to unexplained hoof prints in the snow which they followed, looking for an answer in vain. The footprints were so called because some people believed that they were the tracks of Satan, as they were allegedly made by a cloven hoof. "When I'm writing lyrics I like to switch back and forth between complex things, reality and rock'n'roll," vocalist Biff Byford said, "I thought the whole folklore behind 'The Devil's Footprint' made it great material for a metal song, being that it's both historic and mythical."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

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.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.