| If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets) | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Joe Diffie |
| Album: | A Thousand Winding Roads |
| B-Side: | I Ain't Leavin' 'Til She's Gone |
| Released: | April 2, 1991 |
| Genre: | Country |
| Length: | 2:45 |
| Label: | Epic |
| Producer: | Bob Montgomery, Johnny Slate |
| Prev Title: | If You Want Me To |
| Prev Year: | 1990 |
| Next Title: | New Way (To Light Up an Old Flame) |
| Next Year: | 1991 |
"If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)" is a song written by Ken Spooner and Kim Williams, and recorded by American country music singer Joe Diffie. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart. It was released in April 1991 as the third single from his debut album, A Thousand Winding Roads.[1]
The music video was directed by Michael Salomon and premiered in early 1991.
Cashbox magazine published a positive review of the song, stating that it "focuses on a much lighter storyline, compared to previous releases. This cut humorously sheds a 'devil-made-me-do-it' theme swallowed up by a fun and bouncy tempo."[2]
The song debuted at No. 47 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart dated April 6, 1991. It charted for 20 weeks on that chart, and peaked at No. 1 on the country chart dated June 15, 1991, giving Diffie his second No. 1 single.
| Chart (1991) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[3] | 64 | |
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[4] | 22 |
Koe Wetzel and Jack Ingram covered the song on Hardy's 2024 mixtape, Hixtape: Vol. 3: Difftape.