The Story Behind The Devil Was A Outlaw, Jesus Was a Saint
Sometimes a song title shows up before the song does. “The Devil Was an Outlaw, Jesus Was a Saint” was one of those titles that made me stop and think. It isn’t about making heroes out of outlaws or villains out of saints. It’s about the two roads that have always been in front of every one of us.
I’ve always been drawn to outlaw country because it celebrates independence, people who don’t fit neatly into society, and those who live by their own code. But there’s a fine line between being an outlaw and losing your way. The devil represents temptation, pride, and taking the easy road. Jesus represents sacrifice, grace, and choosing what’s right even when it’s the hardest path.
This song isn’t meant to preach. It’s meant to tell a story. Country music has always been full of flawed characters—drifters, gamblers, broken hearts, and people looking for redemption. I wanted to write a song that reminds us that every day we choose which voice we’re going to listen to.
Like most of my songs, this one comes from watching people, making my own mistakes, and realizing that none of us are perfect. We all wrestle with temptation, and we’ve all needed forgiveness at one time or another.
If the song gets people thinking, even for a few minutes, then it did its job. Good songs don’t always give you the answer. Sometimes they just ask the question that sticks with you long after the last guitar chord fades away.