About the Song
“(You’re the) Devil in Disguise” is a 1963 single by Elvis Presley, written by Bill Giant, Bernie Baum, and Florence Kaye. Published by Elvis Presley Music in June 1963, the song achieved notable success on various charts.
The single reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on August 10, 1963, and No. 9 on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues singles chart. It marked Presley’s last top-ten single on the R&B charts. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the single as “Gold” for sales exceeding 500,000 units in the United States.
In Japan, “(You’re the) Devil in Disguise” topped the Utamatic record chart in the fall of 1963. The song was also featured on the British television show Juke Box Jury in June 1963, where guest John Lennon of The Beatles voted it as a “miss,” stating that Elvis Presley was “like Bing Crosby now.” However, despite this assessment, the song went on to reach No. 1 in the UK for a single week.
The recording session for “(You’re the) Devil in Disguise” took place on May 26, 1963, at RCA Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, with Bill Porter as the engineer. The song was recorded alongside its flipside, “Please Don’t Drag That String Around,” for a full-length album scheduled for release in 1963. However, RCA opted to release the album piecemeal on singles and as bonus tracks on soundtrack albums.
The song features bass singer Ray Walker of The Jordanaires, Presley’s backing vocalists during much of his early career. Walker’s deep voice is prominent in the song, particularly in the repeated phrase, “Oh, yes, you are,” representing the devil. The recording was later included in the 1968 RCA Victor compilation album “Elvis’ Gold Records Volume 4.”
Video
Lyrics
You look like an angel (look like an angel)
Walk like an angel (walk like an angel)
Talk like an angel
But I got wise
You’re the devil in disguise
Oh, yes, you are, devil in disguise
You fooled me with your kisses
You cheated and you schemed
Heaven knows how you lied to me
You’re not the way you seemed
You look like an angel (look like an angel)
Walk like an angel (walk like an angel)
Talk like an angel
But I got wise
You’re the devil in disguise
Oh, yes, you are, devil in disguise
I thought that I was in heaven
But I was sure surprised
Heaven help me, I didn’t see
The devil in your eyes
You look like an angel (look like an angel)
Walk like an angel (walk like an angel)
Talk like an angel
But I got wise
You’re the devil in disguise
Oh, yes, you are, devil in disguise
You’re the devil in disguise
Oh, yes, you are, devil in disguise
Oh, yes, you are, devil in disguise
Oh, yes, you are, devil in disguise
Oh, yes, you are, devil in disguise