Shout To The Devil first appeared on the Declaration album released on 13th February 1984
Originally written as “anti organised religion” song, Mike Peters changed the lyrics to reflect a more universal positive message after a conversation with some Christians. (see Alternative lyrics panel)
The first song we ever played live was called Shout To The Devil, and it was actually written before we made our first ever live appearance, which was a pub in Prestatyn called The Victoria Hotel. It was June 10th 1981. We only had four or five songs, but we thought that was good enough. We wanted to hammer into it, but the promoter of the gig wanted us to play for half an hour, but we only had like 25 minutes. So we thought “better write another song then!”. I just came up with this riff and Sharpy started jamming it, and I thought, “I’ll make up the lyrics when I get up there” – well being doing it every night ever since! We launched into it and it became the way we started most of our gigs throughout our early career. We used to come onto this music by Georgy Zanfir – all these pipes – and Twist would hammer into the tribal drums and off we’d go. Early on it felt like it was kind of a sound check in a way. Often we’d be playing in gigs where there were like 10 bands. There’d be no soundcheck, pile your gear on and we’d give the sound guy a bit of a chance by starting with the drums, then putting one of the acoustics over the top and then the other one, and Eddie would be bashing away at the tambourine and then he’d join in on guitar on the next number – Mike Peters, Alarm 2000 Day
This song was written in the dressing-room immediately before taking the stage for our first ever Alarm gig on June 10th 1981 in Prestatyn, North Wales. It’s a very simple song built round a cyclic acoustic guitar pattern. At first it was written to be some sort of live intro tape, which also created an opportunity for our sound man to get some levels and also grab the attention of the audience before we launched into the main body of the set. I would strike up the riff on the guitar first, Twist would come in with the “tom tom” drums and then Sharp would jam a second guitar figure over the top. Eddie would pick up the groove with tambourine and then join us with a third acoustic guitar for the second number. At the first show. I sang whatever words came out of my mouth and we all joined in unison on the chorus. It must have been effective, because we kept it going way beyond that first gig and opened most of our shows like that for years after – Mike Peters Alarm 2000 collection liner notes
During recording, I had been reading Mystery Train by Greil Marcus and the ad-libbed singing at the end of Shout To The Devil includes references from the book and thoughts on Woody Guthrie (This Train Is Bound For Glory), Elvis Presley (Graceland’s Child), Harmonica Frank and John Lennon (The Quarrymen) – Mike Peters Alarm 2000 collection liner notes
(Note since the 2000 quotes the dates for that first gig by The Alarm has been corrected to 5th June 1981 after Mike found old notes with more details of early shows)
Side two’s opener, Shout to the Devil, was written “when I came over to America, and saw how people wear their religion on their sleeves. In England, we always keep religion as a very private thing. That was the first time I’d seen religion on the television. It gave me the idea of a preacher on a train, to wherever he’s going after this life, leaving his impressions to the people he’s left behind – Mike Peters doing a track by track guide to Declaration – Boston Rock Magazine 1984
Declaration album recording details
Running length 4:23
Written by Macdonald / Peters / Sharp
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Dave Sharp – Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Backing track recorded at Good Earth Studios, Soho, London W1D, England 19th August 1983
Produced & Mixed by Alan Shacklock.
Engineered by Chris Porter
Alternative studio recording releases ~ Acoustic ~ Remastered
1997 – Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1981-1986
Running length 3:01
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Recorded in 1997 by Gethyn Evans at Mountain & Sea Studios, Wales
Produced by Michael Peters
2000 – The Alarm – The Alarm 2000 Collection Box Set : Declaration [Remastered]
Running length 4:33
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Dave Sharp – Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Remastered from the 1983 original recording by Mike Peters
Remastering engineered by Gary Butler @ RTS Liverpool in 2000
Album appearances and discography for studio versions
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
(All Images right click to open larger in new window)
(V) 
13th February 1984 : The Alarm – Declaration
Released in the UK on vinyl IRSA 7044, cassette IRSC 7044, CD IRS CDA 7044 by IRS Records
Declaration was released on vinyl, cassette and CD in USA, Canada, Japan, Australia. Vinyl only South Korea, New Zealand, Israel, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Europe. Cassette only Netherlands
Original 1983 recording
28th October 1997 – Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1981-1986 – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number No. 21C004. (CD) 1997 Mountain & Sea, Wales Acoustic Recording.
2000 – The Alarm – Declaration (1984-1985) – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C011 (CD). Appearing as part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set and then later as an individual disc. 1983 recorded version remastered.
2014 – The Alarm – Declaration – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C065 (CD). Reimagined new recording version.
2018 – The Alarm – Declaration (1984-1985) – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue numbers double vinyl LP 21C094 and double CD 21C096. 1983 recorded version remastered.
Single appearances and discography for studio versions
Officially released live recordings – Audio
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)
3rd February 1984. Recorded live at Top Rank, Brighton, England
Running length 4:07
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Released on CD in 2003 as The Alarm The Sound & The Fury Live 1981 to 1991. Shakedown records, catalogue number SHAKEBX112Z (UK, Export)
Released on CD in 2014 as The Alarm When The Storm Broke. Secret records, catalogue number SECDD098 (UK)
14th February 1984. Recorded live at Hammersmith Palais, London W6, England
Running length 4:11
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Released on CD in 2002 as The Alarm Record Collectors Club Vol II – Hammersmith 1984. Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number ARCC002
6th August 2005. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England
Running Length 6:32. Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III London Set 1 – Declaration [Take This Song Of Freedom]
29th January 2011. Recorded at The Gathering 19, Pontins Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park, Prestatyn, Wales Running length : 3:00
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams and Steve Grantley
Released in 2011 on CD/DVD – The Alarm – Live At The Gathering 2011 (audio disc), catalogue number 21CDVD015
17th November 2011. Record at Islington Academy, London N1, England
Running Length 3:16. Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2012 as Mike Peters of the Alarm – 30th Anniversary Acoustic Alarm Tour 1981-2011, catalogue number 21C059
5th April 2014. Recorded at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, England
Running length : 5:08. Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2014 on DVD – Declaration – Live From The Deaf Institute, (audio disc) catalogue number 21CDVD017
18th April 2014. Recorded at McCabe’s, Santa Monica, USA.
Running Length 5:36. Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2014 Mike Peters In Concert at McCabe’s, catalogue number 21C069
Officially released live recordings – Video / DVD
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)
13th January 2001. Recorded at The Gathering 9, The Town Hall, Rhyl, Wales
Band line-up
Released on DVD in 2005 – The Alarm – The Gathering History, catalogue number 21CDVD003
29th January 2011. Recorded at The Gathering 19, Pontins Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park, Wales.
Band line-up: Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams and Steve Grantley
Released on DVD in 2011 – The Alarm – Live At The Gathering 2011, catalogue number 21CDVD015
5th April 2014. Recorded at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, England
Running length : 5:08. Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2014 on DVD – Declaration – Live From The Deaf Institute, catalogue number 21CDVD017
Lyrics ~ Declaration Album
Hey hey hey hey hey yeah
“Son” said the preacher ” ‘for I break the news
Let me take you to the heart of this promised land”
Built on the green hill far away
Where somebody cried Somebody died in the wind
You don’t have to run to the palaces of gold
Bricks and mortar one day must surely fall
And son you will look Monroe right between the eyes
And pray that somehow
Someone’s gonna come along
And save her, save her soul
And we’re gonna
Shout to the devil, gonna shout to the sky
Shout to the Gods almighty high
Preacher Teacher
Preacher Teacher
It’s in the hearts it’s in the soul
Look no further than your own backyard
Live your life as it should be lived
Follow your heart for the truth is everlasting
Yeah yeah
And the wine runs cold in the blood of men
The bread is dry, stale pushed in the back of your mind
And the senator’s dream is running wild today
And the big duke’s star in death
Still fighting off the hounds of hell
For we all fall short of the glory my friend
Even all the king’s horses and all the king’s business men
I’ve got a golden eagle flying high
But I and I still find it hard to keep the wolves at bay
Howl
And we’re gonna
Shout to the devil, shout to the sky
Shout to the Gods almighty high
Preacher Teacher
Preacher Teacher
It’s in the hearts it’s in the soul
Look no further than your own backyard
Live your life as it should be lived
Follow your heart for the truth is everlasting
And we’re gonna
Shout to the devil, gonna shout to the sky
Shout to the Gods almighty high
And we’re gonna
Shout to the devil, gonna shout to the sky
Shout to the Gods almighty high
(Preacher)
This train is bound for glory
(Shout Shout Shout)
This train
(Shout)
It’s pulling away
(Shout)
Right away, Right away, Right away
(Shout)
On board tonight
Yeah we’ve got the Gracelands child
And over here
A young man, I call him the leader of our band
I name our band The Quarrymen
Yes that’s right, Sirs
And also, we’ve got the harmonica band
Yeah, climb aboard, climb aboard
(Shout Shout Shout)
(Shout Shout Shout)
IT IS FINISHED
(Shout Shout Shout)
Teach Them
Alternative Lyrics ~ Original Version
They take your heart
They take your soul
The devil commands and then they’re gonna use you
Well, Jesus died for on the cross
Haven’t you been told that He died to save you?
You don’t have to go to church
He looks upon the heart and not the appearances
And He tells you that the end is nigh
But even now you still do not believe Him
Shout to the Devil….
Live your life as it should be lived
Follow the Book for the truth is everlasting
They give you bread and they give you wine
They give you hope and then they take your money
And you confess with your soul undressed
To a preacher who is laughing from a pulpit
Even when you go to church
You are not told its the truth or how to find it
I said you better ask and receive my friend
Seek and you’ll be….?
There is only one way to heaven and to saved from hell.
(Lyrics transcribed and submitted by Paul Pedersen)
Alternative Lyrics – 1997 Acoustic Works
“Son” said the preacher ” ‘for I break the news
Let me take you to the heart of this promised land”
Built on the green hill far away
Where somebody cried somebody died in the wind
You don’t have to run to the palaces of gold
Bricks and mortar one day must surely fall
You will look Monroe right between the eyes
And pray that somehow
Someone’s gonna come along
And save her, save her soul
And we’re gonna
Shout to the devil, gonna shout to the sky
Shout to the Gods almighty high
Preacher (preacher) teacher (teacher)
Preacher (preacher) teacher (teacher)
It’s in the hearts it’s in the soul
Look no further than your own backyard
Live your life as it should be lived
Follow your heart for the truth is everlasting
Yeah yeah
And the wine runs cold in the blood of men
The bread is dry, stale pushed in the back of your mind
And the senator’s dream is running wild today
And the big duke’s star in death
Still fighting off the hounds of hell
And we all fall short of the glory my friend
Even all the king’s horses and all the king’s business men
Got a golden eagle flying high
But I and I still find it hard to keep the wolves at bay
Howl
And we’re gonna
Shout to the devil, shout to the sky
Shout to the Gods almighty high
Preacher (preacher) teacher (teacher)
Preacher (preacher) teacher (teacher)
It’s in the heart and it’s in the soul
Look no further than your own backyard
Live your life as it should be lived
Follow your heart for the truth is everlasting
And we’re gonna
Shout to the devil, gonna shout to the sky
Shout to the Gods almighty high
Preacher (preacher) teacher (teacher)
Preacher (preacher) teacher (teacher)
And we’re gonna
Shout to the devil, gonna shout to the sky
Shout to the Gods almighty high
Preacher (preacher) teacher (teacher)
Preacher (preacher) teacher (teacher)
IT IS FINISHED
Audio & Visual sources
(Page updated 17/07/2022)