The Devil Went to Georgia, Redux

Back in 1979, as the song informs us, the Devil went down to Georgia looking for a soul. Its quota on new souls was below the required level. One has to consider who made this quota. But that's a question to be answered at another time. Now I'm referring to the song about a fiddle player named Johnny.

Johnny, self-proclaimed and as well by others, was the best fiddle player in the universe. And on one fateful day happened to meet up with the Devil. The Devil noting the hubris by which this Johnny fellow proclaimed he was the best, figured, "yep I got me one" and made a bet. We all know the bet, a contest between the two where the looser would forfeit something of value. If Johnny lost, he would forfeit his soul and if the Devil lost, it would forfeit its solid gold fiddle.

Now this was no ordinary gold fiddle. It weighed an approximate 22kilos. Only a human being with a strong physical constitution could play it and yes Johnny was big in body as he was big in pride. He took the bet. Remember folks, you can't renege on a bet with the Devil or the Mafia, written or verbal.

The song-story continues on to inform us that yes Johnny did beat the Devil and won the solid gold violin or fiddle as it's called in some parts. And oh how he bragged and berated the Devil to another contest any time of his choosing. The Devil left that scene. Where he went I am not at liberty to say, mostly because I don't know. What I do know is the Devil is true to its word when it comes to a bet, yet because of the prideful manner in which the bet was consummated, ungentlemanly to state in the least, the Devil wondered in what manner it might get even.

Johnny, as he was wont to do, bragged up and down Georgia and other locales denigrating the Devil while promoting his universal skill as a fiddle player. The results of the contest were displayed and played in order to cement that fact. Johnny traveled a bit and was hardly ever home. Hell, he was never home. He had invitations from churches and fans to play for them all over the planet. And Johnny was a one man organization, no manager, no bookkeeper, no anybody else.

So one day while he is getting ready to open in some venue, he's approached by two very well dressed men in dark suits. They introduce themselves from the government and hand him a letter.

Johnny says, "I'll read it later. I'm getting ready to put on a show."

"No", they both state in unison, "you will read it now and comply."

Johnny understands that maybe he should and opens it. What he reads turns his face pale white. He feels dizzy. He looks up at both of them and shouts, "What the hell do you mean I owe the government money? I owe you nothing for my win with the Devil. It's none of your business."

"Sorry Johnny but all winnings and prizes are taxed including if there is a monetary value. Your pure gold violin weighs 22 kilograms. The value on the instrument, is $550.00 USD an ounce comes to $426,838.50 plus interest. You were sent a 1099 Winnings Form three times and you never responded. Pay your bill now or we'll confiscate the violin. You have 15 minutes to come up with the money. A check made out to the Treasury Of The United States will be fine as will cash. But in the order of full disclosure, then we'll have other questions for you regarding the origin of that cash.

The violin was forfeit and auctioned off some time later. The winner remained anonymous. The agent for the winner paid with a wire transfer paying all the required fees. She got into the drivers seat and drove off in a black and gold blacked out Rolls Royce. Some people stated a deep voice could be heard laughing as it drove off and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Some even claimed there was a smell of sulfur along with other noxious fumes.

And Johnny? We never heard from him again. We do know one thing though, the value of a soul can now be computed by actuaries and by the IRS. The soul is the exact weight of a solid gold violin which according to Wiki would be 22 kilograms. The value is based upon the rate of one ounce of 24 caret gold at the current price.

Any claims that Rossario Luis appeared in a puff of sulphur-scented smoke are strongly denied.

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