The Devil Comes up to Dance

He looks so peaceful with smiling eyes,
His grin, the warm kindness of a priest.
The cloak of truth covers all his lies,
Imprisoned in fear yet now released.

Darkness arrives with the noon day light.
The gifts you're given are not by chance.
Lifting of pain in Heavenly sight,
The Devil has come up here to dance

Making instant friends to all he meets,
Promises believed in dogma speech.
A latent memory just after he speaks,
His words become a universal reach.

Every neighbor wants to pick a fight.
It's not safe to take a backward glance.
Prayers said in secret out of sight,
The Devil has come up here to dance

The hills of rage show a beaten path,
But nothing but kindness gifts to bear.
Confrontations in the canyons of wrath,
Rain pouring from ruin clouds of fear.

Gamblers' Highway to Babylon's shore
Hide in wilderness of circumstance.
Life and nation you loved is no more,
The Devil has come up here to dance.

Your best friend and my worse enemy.
Son, pay attention to what I said before.
Behind the eyes, kind words are angry,
Freedom's dead at the feet of a whore.

So many have come to worship and bow.
One look, like a lover, creates the trance.
Unquestioned by most, the sacred cow
And the Devil have come here to dance.

Shame and disgrace will clothe the ones who
Rage against you and expose the lie.
The bells are silent, dust on the pew,
Bloody streets; soldiers unable to cry.

Seven golden lamps melted and coined,
Bronze feet are hammered into a lance.
Salvation promised to those who joined,
The Devil has come up here to dance.

Sins repealed, bed of suffering decoyed,
The sea of glass, iron scepters broken
Respect, discipline, repentance voided,
Doors closed without last words spoken.

Time fails both the scientists and priest
Who both march to his gay hoofed prance,
And turn to love that they trust the least,
When the Devil comes up here to dance.

The pale horse gallops to the steeple
Posting news of the richest's demise.
Everything's has been made fair and equal
From molting layers of skin, slitted eyes.

His tattooed name on every man's hand,
His face painted on sheets of romance.
Many futures were carefully planned,
The Devil has come up here to dance.

But woe to the truth, the earth, and sea
With his wound healed, the man of peace,
When troubled, is all you need him to be.
With his tender touch all stress will cease.

With the foulest words, he teaches speech
To the parents and the children enhance
What his demons at the schools can preach,
When the Devil comes up here to dance.

His days are numbered, his dance subsides, the scrolls resealed.
The damage is done, but not easily denied; nothing is revealed.