Do you see the devil coming?

Written in Oct 1972

Do you see the devil coming?
Do you see him standing there?
See him standing by your gravesite?
Can you cure him with a prayer?

Can you see him in the pulpit? Can you see him breathing fire?
Can you hear him in the pulpit, telling true his one desire?

Can you see him by your gravesite? Can you see him smiling wide?
Have you made you such a friend, now, who should be so glad you died?

See him standing with him arms out, see him grinning, beckoning on?
See him welcome you so gladly, like a father to a son?

Have you lived your life unwisely, hurt too many, loved too free?
You been his servant all your life, now? Is he just collecting his fee?

Is he standing by your side, now? is he waiting, watching close?
Is he standing by your side, now, seeing who you love the most?

Will he take them to his bosom? Will he touch them with his flame?
If they pick his road to travel, are you now the one to blame?

If you've had a friend to bury, is he there to lay them down?
When you visit at a graveyard, do you see him hangin' 'round?

Do you see him in the graveyard, beckoning to me and you?
Do you see him in the Kirkyard, helping all the people through?

Do you hear him in the pulpit, preaching fire, damnation, hell?
Do you see your people buying the ideas he has to sell?

Do you feel him in your mind, now, leading you toward your end?
Do you hear him in your head, now, telling you that he's your friend?

You know he'll be there by your gravesite, in cheer and exaltation
Yes, he'll be there by your gravesite, leading you into damnation.

Watch him closely, Oh my friend, now, for he'll sneak up from behind
He'll buy your soul in a minute, now, if you let him in your mind.

©1997 by Doug Franklin
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