Where the Devil Don't Stay Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Tedvi 

Cover art for Where the Devil Don't Stay lyrics by Drive-By Truckers

Love this song. This line still baffles me:

"The only blood that's any cleaner is the blood that's blue or greener Without either you just get meaner and the blood you gave gives you away "

@Tedvi - members of the owner class are sometimes referred to as "blue bloods". "Greener" refers to accumulated wealth. So to be "clean" (i.e. not engaged in illegal activities) you either have to be born rich or have gotten wealthy some other way.

I think the "blood you gave gives you away" is a reference to leaving blood evidence during the commission of a crime (i.e. robbery or murder); evidence that is used to discover and convict you.

@Tedvi - members of the owner class are sometimes referred to as "blue bloods". "Greener" refers to accumulated wealth. So to be "clean" (i.e. not engaged in illegal activities) you either have to be born rich or have gotten wealthy some other way.

I think the "blood you gave gives you away" is a reference to leaving blood evidence during the commission of a crime (i.e. robbery or murder); evidence that is used to discover and convict you.