Michael Hutchence didn’t just sing. He breathed. When you listen to the lyrics Devil Inside INXS made famous back in 1987, you aren’t just hearing a pop song from the Kick era; you’re hearing a confession. It’s gritty. It’s kinda sweaty. Honestly, it’s one of those tracks that sounds better the louder you turn it up because it captures a specific type of human friction that most songwriters are too scared to touch.
The late 80s were weird. Pop was getting glossy, but INXS decided to go the other way with a riff that feels like it was dragged through a dive bar. Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence hit on something primal here. People always talk about the "devil" as some red guy with a pitchfork, but the song treats the concept more like a roommate you can’t kick out. It’s internal.
The psychology behind the lyrics Devil Inside INXS
Most people think the song is about literal evil. It isn't. Not really. It’s actually about the duality of man—that classic Jekyll and Hyde struggle we all deal with when we’ve had one too many or when we’re tempted to do something we know is gonna bite us later.
"The devil inside / The devil inside / Every single one of us the devil inside."
That’s the hook. It’s simple. It’s repetitive. But it works because it’s a universal truth. Hutchence wasn't claiming to be a demon; he was acknowledging that everyone has a shadow side. This idea is basically Jungian psychology set to a funky bassline. Carl Jung talked about "The Shadow," the part of our personality we try to hide from the world. INXS just made it danceable.
The lyrics mention "future truths" and "forgotten lies." Think about that for a second. It suggests that our past mistakes and our future potential for chaos are always present. It’s heavy stuff for a band that was dominating MTV at the time.
Why the Kick album changed everything for Australian rock
In 1987, the music industry was obsessed with hair metal and synth-pop. Then came Kick. It was a pivot point. The band’s manager, Chris Murphy, famously told the record label to shove it when they offered him a million dollars to re-record the album because they thought it didn't have "radio hits." He knew better.
- Production: Chris Thomas produced it. He’d worked with the Sex Pistols and Pink Floyd. He brought a raw edge to the polished funk.
- The Riff: That opening guitar line in "Devil Inside" is iconic. It’s dirty. It doesn’t follow the standard pop tropes of the time.
- The Vocal: Hutchence used a lower register here than on "Need You Tonight." It’s a growl. It’s intimate.
The lyrics Devil Inside INXS fans obsess over aren't just words; they are part of a rhythmic machine. The "devil" in the song is the impulse. It's the "look at me" energy that made Hutchence a superstar but also made his life incredibly complicated.
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Breaking down the verses: What are they actually saying?
The first verse starts with "Here come the woman / With the look in her eye / Raised on leather / With flesh on her mind."
It’s predatory. It’s carnal. The "leather and flesh" imagery sets a scene that feels very much like the underground club scene of the late 80s. This isn't a love song. It’s an appetite song. When he sings about "words as weapons" in the second verse, he's talking about how we hurt each other in relationships. We use our "devil" to protect ourselves or to lash out.
Interestingly, the bridge goes: "Burn the world / Burn the world / Make a playground out of it."
That’s pure hedonism. It’s the idea that if nothing matters, why not just set everything on fire and enjoy the glow? It’s a dark sentiment wrapped in a very catchy melody. That’s the INXS magic trick. They make the existential dread feel like a party.
The music video and the visual "Devil"
Director Richard Lowenstein, who was basically the seventh member of INXS, shot the video at the Balboa Fun Zone in California. It looks cold. It looks grey. It doesn't look like a sunny California day. It looks like the morning after a long night.
Hutchence is wearing this massive coat, looking like a rock star who hasn't slept in three days. The visuals reinforce the lyrics Devil Inside INXS provided; it’s about the grit underneath the glamour. The video shows people who look a bit frayed at the edges. It’s the perfect companion to a song about internal demons.
There’s a specific shot of Michael where he looks directly into the lens and smiles, and it’s genuinely unsettling. He’s playing the part. He’s letting the "devil" show for the camera.
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Misconceptions about the song's meaning
A lot of religious groups at the time tried to claim the song was satanic. Honestly? That’s hilarious. If you actually read the lyrics, it’s a moral song. It’s an observation of human nature. It’s not an invitation to worship anything; it’s a warning to watch yourself.
The "devil" is just a metaphor for ego.
When the band performed this live, especially during the Live Baby Live concert at Wembley in 1991, the song took on a whole new life. It became a stadium anthem. Seeing 72,000 people scream "the devil inside" back at a man who was clearly struggling with the pressures of fame is... well, it’s intense.
Technical brilliance in the songwriting
Let’s talk about the structure. It’s not a complex song musically—it’s mostly built around a swinging beat and that central riff—but the tension is what makes it work.
The way the drums by Jon Farriss stay so steady while the guitars and vocals get more frantic creates this "tightrope" feeling. You feel like the song might fall apart, but it never does. It stays right on the edge. That reflects the lyrical theme perfectly: keeping the "devil" contained just enough to stay functional.
- The Tempo: It’s mid-tempo, which is actually harder to make "heavy" than a fast song.
- The Space: Notice how much silence is in the track. The instruments "breath" between the notes.
- The Ending: It doesn't fade out with a happy resolution. It just keeps repeating the hook until it's burned into your brain.
Why we still care in 2026
Good art lasts because it’s true. The lyrics Devil Inside INXS wrote decades ago still resonate because humans haven't changed. We still have that internal conflict. We still have the "flesh on our mind" and we still use "words as weapons."
In an era of overly processed AI music (the irony isn't lost on me), there is something refreshing about a track that feels this human. It’s flawed. It’s got a bit of dirt on it. It’s the sound of six guys from Australia who figured out how to bottle lightning.
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The legacy of Michael Hutchence is often overshadowed by his tragic end, but songs like "Devil Inside" remind us why he was a force of nature. He understood the light and the dark. He wasn't afraid to sing about the part of us we usually try to ignore.
How to truly experience this track today
To get the most out of this song, don't just stream it on your phone speakers.
- Find the original vinyl: Or at least a high-quality FLAC file. The dynamic range on Kick is incredible.
- Watch the Wembley '91 performance: It’s the definitive version of the song. You can see the sweat. You can see the "devil" he’s singing about.
- Listen to the bassline: Follow Garry Gary Beers’ bass work. It’s the heartbeat of the entire "devil" metaphor—unwavering and slightly menacing.
When you really dig into the lyrics Devil Inside INXS gave us, you realize it’s a call to self-awareness. It’s about owning your mess. Next time you feel that impulse to do something a little reckless, just remember the riff. We’ve all got it. The trick is making sure you’re the one in the driver’s seat, not the passenger.
Study the interplay between the rhythm section and the vocals; it reveals how the band used syncopation to mimic the feeling of an elevated heartbeat. Notice how the backing vocals act as a chorus of "others" reminding the listener of the shared human condition. This isn't just a song; it's a mirror.
Go back and listen to the transition from the previous track on the album into "Devil Inside." It’s a masterclass in album sequencing. The way the energy shifts tells a story even before the first word is spoken. That’s the mark of an expert band at the absolute peak of their powers. They weren't just making hits; they were building an atmosphere that still feels heavy and relevant almost forty years later.
Don't just hear the words—feel the intent behind them. The "devil" isn't a monster under the bed; it's the person looking back at you in the mirror when the lights are dim and the music is loud. Handle it with care.