If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)

"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]

"If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)"
Single by Joe Diffie
from the 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
Songwriter(s)	Ken Spooner, Kim Williams
Producer(s)	Bob Montgomery, Johnny Slate
Joe Diffie singles chronology
"If You Want Me To" (1990) "If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)" (1991) "New Way (To Light Up an Old Flame)" (1991)

Music video

The music video was directed by Michael Salomon and premiered in early 1991.

Critical reception

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]

Chart performance

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.

Charts

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[3]	4
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)	Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[5]	64
US Country Songs (Billboard)[6]	22

Other versions

Koe Wetzel and Jack Ingram covered the song on Hardy's 2024 mixtape, Hixtape: Vol. 3: Difftape.