The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I got to keep movin', I got to keep movin'
Blues fallin' down like hail, blues fallin' down like hail
Hmm-mmm, blues fallin' down like hail, blues fallin' down like hail
And the days keeps on worryin' me
There's a hellhound on my trail, hellhound on my trail
Hellhound on my trail
If today was Christmas Eve, if today was Christmas Eve
And tomorrow was Christmas Day
If today was Christmas Eve, and tomorrow was Christmas Day
Aw, wouldn't we have a time, baby?
All I would need my little sweet rider just
To pass the time away, huh-huh
To pass the time away
You sprinkled hot foot powder, mmm
Mmm, around my door, all around my door
You sprinkled hot foot powder
All around your daddy's door, hmm-hmm-hmm
It keep me with ramblin' mind, rider
Every old place I go, every old place I go
I can tell the wind is risin', the leaves tremblin' on the tree
Tremblin' on the tree
I can tell the wind is risin', leaves tremblin' on the tree
Hmm-hmm, hmm-mmm
All I need's my little sweet woman
And to keep my company, hey, hey, hey
My company
Blues fallin' down like hail, blues fallin' down like hail
Hmm-mmm, blues fallin' down like hail, blues fallin' down like hail
And the days keeps on worryin' me
There's a hellhound on my trail, hellhound on my trail
Hellhound on my trail
If today was Christmas Eve, if today was Christmas Eve
And tomorrow was Christmas Day
If today was Christmas Eve, and tomorrow was Christmas Day
Aw, wouldn't we have a time, baby?
All I would need my little sweet rider just
To pass the time away, huh-huh
To pass the time away
You sprinkled hot foot powder, mmm
Mmm, around my door, all around my door
You sprinkled hot foot powder
All around your daddy's door, hmm-hmm-hmm
It keep me with ramblin' mind, rider
Every old place I go, every old place I go
I can tell the wind is risin', the leaves tremblin' on the tree
Tremblin' on the tree
I can tell the wind is risin', leaves tremblin' on the tree
Hmm-hmm, hmm-mmm
All I need's my little sweet woman
And to keep my company, hey, hey, hey
My company
Lyrics submitted by evildead167
Hellhound on My Trail Lyrics as written by Robert Johnson Peter Green
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great version of a great song,
"gotta keep moving blues falling down like hail" It was said that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at a crossroads, this line probably means that he's running from the devil.
The "Christmas" lines mean that he wants to spend time with a special girl, perhaps?
The "Hot Food Powder" could mean Salt around his door, preventing the Devil to enter the house. "It keep me with ramblin' mind, rider. Every old place I go" means that the devil is always around, waiting to kill him. It always keeps his mind "Ramblin'" because he can't always bring salt everywhere!
"I can tell the wind is risin'. Leaves tremblin' on the tree." line means that the Devil is approaching, causing a stir outside! "All I need's my little sweet woman to keep my company." means that he wants the spend the final moments of his life, with his little sweet women.
@NoahRose Thank you, this was the level of interpretation required for an artist of Robert Johnsons' history and demograpic.