The Devil
Stephen Wilson Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴Hand on The Bible lies
Maggots turn to flies
The whole world's gone to Hell
Momma's back in jail
Just can't get enough
Think we've had too much
Gunfire in the schools
Melt down the golden rule Wear your promise ring
The preacher's got a thing for me
Keep it to yourself
The whole world's gone to Hell
A snake will crawl the earth to shed its skin to make more room for the poison
And the filthy rich will rob you clean until you raise your voices
The louder one above the rest will call himself a rebel
There's the one you know and there's the one you don't
But they're still both the devil
Work hard for the man
Spare the rod Hell, use your hands
The hate will break you down
You're the toughest guy in town
Oh say can you see
The nearest pharmacy
A needle to the vein
Might be the thing that'll kill the pain
Go trade away your soul
You swear the world will never know
That you were even here
How he whispers in your ear
A snake will crawl the earth to shed its skin to make more room for the poison
And the filthy rich will rob you clean until you raise your voices
The louder one above the rest will call himself a rebel
There's the one you know and there's the one you don't
But they're still both the devil
As I lay me down
Go on, get behind thee now
A snake will crawl the earth to shed its skin to make more room for the poison
And the filthy rich will rob you clean until you raise your voices
The louder one above the rest will call himself the rebel
There's the one you know and there's the one you don't
But they're still both the devil
Overall Meaning
In Stephen Wilson Jr.'s song "The Devil," the lyrics paint a dark and cynical depiction of society and its many vices and corrupt influences. The opening lines, "Hand on The Bible lies, Maggots turn to flies, The whole world's gone to Hell, Momma's back in jail," suggest a world filled with dishonesty, decay, and broken relationships. The reference to maggots turning to flies represents the escalating decay and corruption that has spread throughout society.
The lyrics further highlight societal issues such as gun violence in schools, the erosion of moral values, and the manipulation by religious figures. The lines "Gunfire in the schools, Melt down the golden rule, Wear your promise ring, The preacher's got a thing for me" emphasize the dark realities of violence and distorted morality. The repetition of "The whole world's gone to Hell" reflects the general despair and hopelessness that lingers throughout the song.
The chorus delves deeper into societal problems, suggesting that those in power exploit and manipulate the masses. The lines "A snake will crawl the earth to shed its skin to make more room for the poison, And the filthy rich will rob you clean until you raise your voices" portray a depiction of a corrupt system where the rich get richer at the expense of the less fortunate. The reference to a "rebel" signifies the false image of defiance adopted by those who are actually part of the problematic system.
The lyrics also touch on addiction and the desperation to escape pain through substances, as seen in the lines "A needle to the vein, Might be the thing that'll kill the pain." The song suggests that individuals might trade away their soul and hide their struggles from the world, influenced by the seductive whisperings of the devil.
Overall, "The Devil" portrays a bleak and critical view of society, shedding light on various societal issues and the manipulation of power and values.
Line by Line Meaning
Hand on The Bible lies
With deceitful intentions and false promises, people swear upon sacred scriptures
Maggots turn to flies
The corrupt and immoral gradually gain power and influence
The whole world's gone to Hell
The state of the world is filled with chaos, corruption, and suffering
Momma's back in jail
Even the most innocent and vulnerable are trapped and punished
Just can't get enough
The insatiable desire for wealth, power, and pleasure takes hold
Think we've had too much
Realizing the consequences of excessive indulgence and materialism
Gunfire in the schools
The presence of violence and danger even within places of education
Melt down the golden rule
The fundamental principles of kindness, empathy, and morality are discarded
Wear your promise ring
Symbolizing a commitment or vow, but concealing hidden agendas
The preacher's got a thing for me
A trusted figure exploits their position for personal gain and manipulation
Keep it to yourself
Maintain secrecy and silence amidst the prevailing chaos and corruption
The whole world's gone to Hell
Reiterating the prevailing state of chaos, corruption, and suffering in the world
A snake will crawl the earth to shed its skin to make more room for the poison
Evil individuals constantly evolve and adapt to spread their harmful influence
And the filthy rich will rob you clean until you raise your voices
Wealthy and unscrupulous individuals exploit others until they stand up and demand justice
The louder one above the rest will call himself a rebel
The most influential figure who goes against societal norms claims to be a rebel
There's the one you know and there's the one you don't
There are both visible and hidden villains who contribute to the world's problems
But they're still both the devil
Regardless of their disguises or differences, they are still equally malevolent
Work hard for the man
Toil extensively for those in power who exploit and manipulate
Spare the rod Hell, use your hands
Instead of following the traditional approach, resort to violent means for revenge
The hate will break you down
Allowing hatred to consume oneself leads to personal destruction
You're the toughest guy in town
Maintaining a facade of strength and toughness amidst vulnerability and pain
Oh say can you see
Questioning the ability to perceive and acknowledge the truth and reality
The nearest pharmacy
Seeking solace and escape from the pain through medication and substances
A needle to the vein
Injecting drugs directly into the bloodstream for temporary relief
Might be the thing that'll kill the pain
Believing that drugs can alleviate the suffering, but they can also lead to harm
Go trade away your soul
Selling one's morals, values, and self-worth for material gain and temporary pleasure
You swear the world will never know
Vowing to keep one's destructive behavior and actions hidden from the world
That you were even here
Desiring to leave no trace of one's presence and impact on the world
How he whispers in your ear
The devil subtly tempts and influences, manipulating thoughts and actions
As I lay me down
In moments of vulnerability and reflection before sleep or death
Go on, get behind thee now
Urge to leave behind the devil and his malevolent influence
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Stephen Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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