Some Devil by Dave Matthews

Album: Some Devil (2003)

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Songfacts®:

In 2003, Dave Matthews released a solo album called Some Devil, recording outside the ambit of his Dave Matthews Band for the first time. The title track finds him with some devil stuck inside him that he's trying to set free. He hasn't offered details but did say the album was very personal to him.

The album ended up being Matthews' only solo foray; the band never broke up and grew stronger in the ensuing years.
Matthews performed an acoustic version of this song on his 2007 Live at Radio City Music Hall album.
"Some Devil" plays at the end of the 2005 "Love Hurts" episode of House, in which the protagonist, House, is looking at a photo of a couple; either himself and his ex or perhaps his parents.
The song is entirely Matthews with his electric guitar, making it very much a solo effort. He sometimes performs it at Dave Matthews Band concerts but usually by himself.

Comments: 6

Dmbfan from NjHe talks of a lover, not sister. He has the devil inside him when he's not doing right by her. He knows he's hurting her, feels unable to change, feels he should set her free because, despite it all, she can't seem to set herself free. He wants her to see that he does really love her and has a lot of good in him, but apparently he doesn't believe "the devil will leave him" til he's dead.
Confused from UsaI really like this song, but I am thinking it is a little too dark. I think it is written from the perspective of Dave's brother in law who killed his sister, then committed suicide. I think it is in between the time the murder occurred and the suicide occurred. I listened to it for days and am a big DMB fan, and am sort of hoping I am wrong, but the lyrics make sense. I think Dave was trying to humanize his brother in laws actions, which I understand the need for, but it is haunting.
David from FlaI’m a little late, considering this song is now 17 years old. But I still felt a need to comment. I never was a fan of DM, but this song blew me away! I played it over and over for days. It’s obviously about lost love. The big question is: is it a break up or did she die? Most lyric sites have the key to this question wrong: the line, “Wish I was dead and you were GRIEVING “. I saw a video of him singing the song live in Brazil. I watched and listen multiple times and the proper lyric is: “Wish I was dead and you were BREATHING”. She died. Now it all comes together. By the way, his sister was murdered just prior to him recording the album. Anyway, I’m a little long winded and no one will probably read this anyway, considering how old the post is.
Deck from Syracuse, NyPlays over end credits of the 2003 movie 21 Grams.
The song is not on the soundtrack CD.
Joel from Princeton, NjI played this song over and over when I lost my girlfriend. I still play it at times and it makes me think how luck can change life in different ways.
Joel from Port Elizabeth, South AfricaI like Dave Matthews. He did a stint on the American medical drama House MD. Some Devil was used in an episode. It is a depressing song but then the episode it was featured in was also depressing. Cheers.

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