It's human nature to gravitate towards the devil we know, even if it's not perfect, rather than taking a leap into the treacherous unknown. Ashley McBryde, though, is known for being true to herself and blazing her own trail no matter how unconventional it may seem. That determined mindset is at the center of this song.

McBryde's momma is urging her to find solace in the church, daddy is pushing her towards the grind, and the doctor demanding she give up her vices. But amid it all, McBryde holds her ground, standing tall and unyielding, ready to embrace the devil she knows. Everybody's got something to say About how I gotta change my ways Well, I got something to say of my own Hell, there's hell everywhere I go So I'm sticking with the devil I know McBryde co-wrote the song with Jeremy Stover and Bobby Pinson. "I walked in and sat down with Bobby Pinson and Jeremy Stover on August 12, 2020 and THIS song came out," she said. "We're all the time hearing something from somebody who thinks they know what's best for us. Lose weight, your hair's too curly, change this, change that. When things just seems to go better when you trust your own lens to see what's good for you, stick to the devil you know."

"The Devil I Know" is the title track of Ashley McBryde's sixth studio album. The singer ignored the naysayers and critics as she laid down the record with her band. Instead, she set out to explore the vast spectrum of her musicality, transcending genres from country to rock to bluegrass. "When it was time to put together The Devil I Know, my band and I did what we always do: got together in the purple building in East Nashville, played through a bunch of songs and discussed where we wanted it to go," McBryde shared. "We decided to take all the things that people tend to give us a hard time for and turn it up. We listened to all those opinions and said, 'I hear you. I understand what you're saying. But sadly, there's no room on the record for your opinion. We'll do what we want.'"