Rock Music

The song “Devil with a Blue Dress On” (aka “Devil with The Blue Dress On”) was written by Frederick “Shorty” Long and William “Mickey” Stevenson in 1964. Shortly Long recorded it on the Motown label in 1964, but it was not commercially successful. The version by Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels made it an uptempo medley combined with Little Richard’s song “Good Golly Miss Molly.” It’s a bit of sixties soul music — blue-eyed soul, they sometimes call it. It was produced by the prolific Bob Crewe. Their cover rose to #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.

Mitch Ryder, from Hamtramck Michigan, is known for his rough singing style and charismatic stage performances. The Detroit Wheels, not surprisingly, were from Detroit, Michigan, and were the backup band for Ryder from 1964-1967. Members of The Detroit Wheels changed over time, but the group has included Jim McCarty, Joseph Kubert, Earl Elliott, John Deleon, Jim McAllister, and Johnny “Bee” Badanjak.

Here are the lyrics to “Devil With a Blue Dress On” by Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels:

“Devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress
Devil with the blue dress on
Devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress
Devil with the blue dress on

Fee, fee, fi, fi, fo-fo, fum
Look at Molly now, here she comes
Wearin’ her wig hat and shades to match
She’s got high-heel shoes and an alligator hat
Wearin’ her pearls and her diamond rings
She’s got bracelets on her fingers, now, and everything

Devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress
Devil with the blue dress on
Devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress
Devil with the blue dress on

Wearin’ her perfume, Chanel No. 5
Got to be the finest girl alive
She walks real cool, catches everybody’s eye
They got to be nervous, they can’t say hi
Not too skinny, she’s not too fat
She’s a real humdinger and I like ’em like that

Devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress
Devil with the blue dress on
Devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress
Devil with the blue dress on

Good golly, Miss Molly
You sure like to ball
Good golly, Miss Molly
You sure like to ball
It’s late in the evenin’
Don’t you hear your mama call

From the early, early mornin’ ’til the early, early nights
See Miss Molly rockin’ at the House of Blue Lights
Good golly, Miss Molly
You sure like to ball
While you’re rocking and you’re rolling
Can’t you hear your mama call

Fee, fee, fi, fi, fo-fo, fum
Look at Molly now, here she comes
Wearin’ her wig hat and shades to match
She’s got high-heel shoes and an alligator hat
Wearin’ her pearls and her diamond rings
She’s got bracelets on her fingers, now, and everything

Devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress
Devil with the blue dress on
Devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress
Devil with the blue dress on”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ commercial free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Devil with a Blue Dress On” by Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels.