Music / ↳ The Devil's Been Busy

The Devil's Been Busy

Written by: The full band, primarily driven by Tom Petty's verses Lead vocals: Tom Petty Length: 3:18 to 3:19 Album: Vol. 3, track 4

Beneath a deceptively upbeat arrangement, "The Devil's Been Busy" takes a genuinely cynical look at the people and forces that quietly run other people's lives, with lyrics that suggest the deck has been stacked long before anyone realizes it. It's one of Vol. 3's sharper-edged moments, delivered by Petty with just enough melody to keep the bitterness from curdling into something heavier.

Musically, the track is a showcase for George Harrison in a role he rarely got to play elsewhere on either Wilburys album: sitar player. Harrison adds sparse, strategically placed sitar lines through the verses before breaking into a full electrified sitar solo later in the song, a texture that instantly sets the track apart from the acoustic-guitar-driven sound that dominates most of the record. It's a small reminder that Harrison's musical vocabulary extended well beyond the guitar riffs most fans associate with him.

The song's melody and vocal harmonies are strong enough that the cynicism underneath goes down easy, which is very much the Wilburys' signature move: say something sharp, but make it sound like a party.

Previous track: If You Belonged to Me. Next track: 7 Deadly Sins. Or see the full Vol. 3 tracklist.