The Devil Made Me Do It!
My father said, advising me
On a winter's afternoon,
'If you ever sup with the devil, son,
Then sup with a long spoon.'
'He'll always try to cozen you,
To draw you into his schemes,
Whenever you're down and out, my son
He'll fill your head with dreams.'
'He'll make you feel grandiloquent,
With a power so sublime,
You'll think you're all but immortal, son
As you stray from the bottom line.'
'And slowly, slowly, he will fix
His hooks into your soul,
You'll never notice the hooks, my son
As you head toward your goal.'
'But come the day of reckoning
When your hens come home to roost,
It's - 'Sign on the dotted line…', my son,
Too late then for a truce! '
'So don't you ever sign your name,
That's my advice to you,
That parchment's never the worst of things
The Devil has plans to do.'
'He has a place set up for you
In his deep and dark dominions,
Stoking the fires of hell, my son
With the rest of the Devil's minions.'
* * * * *
Many a year has passed since then,
Time tends us to forget,
I only thought of his words as those
Of some long lost vignette.
But then I started a business up
In a modest little shop,
With fishing tackle and bait, it boomed,
I thought it would never stop.
The profits soared, I built a store
So large, grandiloquent,
My rivals slandered me more and more
In terms quite eloquent.
I saw them off, I bought them out
I started a fishing chain,
Both Lord and Emperor now I felt
Surveying my own domain.
But then a salesman came to call
Who looked at me long and hard,
He shuffled up to the counter, then,
And pulled out his calling card.
'A. Lucifer & Assoc.', it said,
'Fishhooks, Sinkers & Line'.
He reached in his pocket and spilled them out
Hooks large and small, and fine.
'We're far the biggest and best, ' he said,
We cater for every whim…'
But then he stopped as he saw my face
Turn grey, while glaring at him.
'We have accounts, ' he muttered, and then,
'You don't have to pay, old son.
Just sign on the dotted line just here…'
But I'd reached for my Elephant Gun.
I grabbed his collar, I tweaked his nose,
Stuck all those hooks in his pants,
Then dragged him off to the goldfish pool
To watch the Devil recant.
'You're not going to get your hooks in me,
Old Nick, ' I raved at the wall,
But he lay splashing about, neck deep
Right under the waterfall.
'So that, your Honor, is why I'm here,
The police locked me up in a cell,
I was only protecting my soul, m'lud,
From Lucifer's hooks, and Hell.'
'The Devil, he made me do it, m'lud,
Old Beezlebub, there in the court,
I shouldn't be here in the dock today
If the Devil could only be bought.'
'He offered to sell me my freedom, sir,
Just sign, and he wouldn't sue…
I'd rather spend time in a prison cell,
But I guess… that's up to you! '
4 March 2008
poem by David Lewis Paget
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Hoks In You
Track 8 of _Season's End_
'I feel so strange what's wrong with me'
You've got a problem that you can't see
But I've got a feeling that the rumours are true
I see the girl's go a hook in you
You carry on believing
That you can take or leave it
Now who are you deceiving
Cause when it's own up time
She's in the back of you mind
She's got her hooks in you
You said you'd never let it happen again
You spend your money and you're deeper in
Your fairweather friends call two by two
To let you know what's wrong with you
But now your heartbeat's thumpin'
You watch you nerve ends jumpin'
Well I can tell yo somethin'
When it's own up time
You're gonna toe the line
She's got her hooks in you
She's got her hooks in me too.
[JOHN HELMER and STEVE HOGARTH
song performed by by Marillion
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hooks In You
(music: marillion lyrics: steve hogarth & john helmer)
I feel so strange whats wrong with me?
Youve got a problem that you cant see
But Ive got a feeling that the rumours are true
I see the girls got a hook in you
You carry on believing
That you can take or leave it
Now who are you deceiving
Cause when its own up time
Shes in back of your mind
Shes got her hooks in you
You said youd never let it happen again
You spend your money and youre deeper in
Your fairweather friends call two by two
To let you know whats wrong with you
But now your heartbeats thumpin
You watch your nerve ends jumpin
Well I can tell you somethin
When its own up time
Youre gonna toe the line
Shes got her hooks in you
Shes got her hooks in you
Shes got her hooks in me too
I feel so strange whats wrong with me?
Youve got a problem that you cant see
But Ive got a feeling that the rumours are true
I see the girls, I see the girl got a hook in you
Shes got her hooks in you
song performed by by Marillion
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Advertising
Hooks in our psyche floating free
Waiting for our greed to grab them
Fishing for fools in the consumer pool
That's the job of the Ad-Men
If I could steal the bait off hooks
I would do it in every river
I'd tie the lines to crannies and nooks
And watch the baiters quiver
Let truth let out its barbed string
Keeping all greed at bay
Let the jingle singers sing
But
Let the facts have their say
poem by Kishore Asthana
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Master & Slave
Life, a movie in my head
A page of lines we read
The words remain unsaid
Time, a race you never win
Look back at where we've been
And throw the towel in
(chorus)
Every time i see a sign
Tell me what's the bottom line
Tell me
I just wanna take my turn
Now before i crash and burn
Yeah
Hope, a candle burning bright
A temporary light
'till we return tonight
Love, the mighty drug we crave
The master and the slave
Will rule us to our grave
Everytime i see a sign
Tell me what's the bottom line
Tell me
I just want a place to rest,
Count to four and catch my breath
One, two, three, four...
I don't know what to feel
Don't know what to say
Don't know what to do
I don't know where to go
Don't know who to be
Don't know who to know
Life is never what it seems
It shakes you from your dreams
Wake up and start to
Everytime i see a sign
Tell me what's the bottom line
Tell me
I just want a place to rest
Stop and let me catch my breath
Everytime i see a sign
Tell me what's the bottom line
Tell me
Forget all that i've been told
I just wanna lose control
Everytime i see a sign
Tell me what's the bottom line
Tell me
I just wanna take my turn
Now before i crash and burn
song performed by by Kiss
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Contract In Love
written by Lamont Dozier, Janie Bradford, & Brian Holland
(c) 1962 Jobete Music Co., Inc. (ASCAP)
Baby, baby, sign my contract on love
Baby, baby, sign my contract on love
Baby, baby, sign my contract on love
Baby, baby, sign it
Sign it
Sign it
Sign it
You say you love me
And I believe it's true
But before I let myself go
Here's what you've got to do
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
You've got to sign
(You, you, you'd better sign it)
My contract on love
(You, you, you'd better sign it)
Write it in your heart
(You, you, you'd better sign it)
That you'll never do anything
To ever make us part
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
Yeah, I know it may seem strange to you
Yeah, but I've lost a love so many times before
Yeah, and now that I know the score
No one's gonna hurt me no more
And I'm takin' all my chances with romances
Yeah
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
So just sign
(You, you, you'd better sign it)
Right here on this dotted line
(You, you, you'd better sign it)
Where it says you'll be mine, all mine
(You, you, you'd better sign it)
Until the end of time
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
So come on, come on, come on, and
Sign, yeah
(Baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
Sign, yeah
(Baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
Sign, right here on this line
(Baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
Yeah
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
(Sign it)
Sign, yeah
(Baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
Sign, yeah
(Baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
Sign my contract on love
(Baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
FADE
song performed by by Stevie Wonder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Master Slave
Life, a movie in my head
A page of lines we read
The words remain unsaid
Time, a race you never win
Look back at where weve been
And throw the towel in
(chorus)
Every time I see a sign
Tell me whats the bottom line
Tell me
I just wanna take my turn
Now before I crash and burn
Yeah
Hope, a candle burning bright
A temporary light
till we return tonight
Love, the mighty drug we crave
The master and the slave
Will rule us to our grave
Everytime I see a sign
Tell me whats the bottom line
Tell me
I just want a place to rest,
Count to four and catch my breath
One, two, three, four...
I dont know what to feel
Dont know what to say
Dont know what to do
I dont know where to go
Dont know who to be
Dont know who to know
Life is never what it seems
It shakes you from your dreams
Wake up and start to
Everytime I see a sign
Tell me whats the bottom line
Tell me
I just want a place to rest
Stop and let me catch my breath
Everytime I see a sign
Tell me whats the bottom line
Tell me
Forget all that Ive been told
I just wanna lose control
Everytime I see a sign
Tell me whats the bottom line
Tell me
I just wanna take my turn
Now before I crash and burn
song performed by by Kiss
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Devil Dance
lucifer falls from grace
the host of heaven watch
his disgrace
satan walks the earth
doing the devil dance
man is mine to take
evil lurks within his heart
woman calls to man come here
man walks over to eve to talk
takes the apple she does hold
bites deep in the forbidden fruit
as satan does the devil dance
man is mine to take
evil lurks within his heart
two for one done done
the devil walks across the molten sea
deep below the deep blue sea
devil dance he begins
man and woman both
ill take for evil lurks
within their breast
as lucifer
as satan
as devil
do the devil dance.
poem by Graham Russell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Hooks In You
I got the keys to view at number 22
Behind my green door theres nothing to see
Stone cold sober and sitting in silence
Laid back and looking for sympathy
I like a girl who knows where shes bound
I dont like girls whove been hanging aroung
Hooks in you hooks in me hooks in the ceiling
For that well hung feeling
No big deal no big string strung up on love i
Got the hooks screwed in
Shes tied up she cant come to the phone
You must have got your wires crossed cos she aint home
Knock on wood - you know I like that sound
She never could keep her feet on the grou7nd
Right on the money got it wrapped up tight
New ideas for the decor tonight
Gonna make this house a peservation zone
Gonn set her in concrete set her up on her own
song performed by by Iron Maiden
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Grandpa's Lake
He was sitting by himself all alone,
Down in a little corner.
Looking out of place, in the funeral home,
And away from all the mourners.
His dad walked up, and I heard him say,
Daddy can I go home?
I don't know why grandpa went away,
But he might be home alone.
I want to be there, when he gets back,
We were going fishing today.
He'll need his hooks and rods, and that burlap sack,
Where he puts the fish away.
His dad looked up, a tear in his eye,
And said 'grandpa's fishing now.'
But it's a great big lake, up in the sky,
And you can't go there right now.
He's fishing with his dad today,
They'll be fishing for some time.
They have a lot to do and say,
Cause to that lake it's a long steep climb.
They haven't seen each other,
In oh, so many years.
And grandpa's glad to see his father,
And both their eyes have tears.
And grandpa's a little boy again,
Just a fishing with his dad.
And on his face there's no more pain,
I hope for him your'e glad.
The little boy just smiled and said,
I guess I'm happy about that.
Yes for grampa I'm very glad,
But for me, I guess I'm sad.
I wanted to go fishing, with my grampa today.
But if you can take me,
To the lake, maybe the bay,
I'll go, my time is free.
I guess I'll wait to fish with grampa,
Till I can make it to his lake.
Maybe he'll find some secret spots,
I sure hope so, for my sake.
1/4/11 Alton Texas
poem by Juan Olivarez
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Washing Of The Water
River, river carry me on
Living river carry me on
River, river carry me on
To the place where I come from
So deep, so wide, will you take me on your back for a ride
If I should fall, would you swallow me deep inside
River, show me how to float
I feel like Im sinking down
Thought that I could get along
But here in this water
My feet wont touch the ground
I need something to turn myself around
Going away, away towards the sea
River deep, can you lift up and carry me
Oh roll on though the heartland
til the sun has left the sky
River, river carry me high
til the washing of the water make it all alright
Let your waters reach me like she reached me tonight
Letting go, its so hard
The way its hurting now
To get this love untied
So tough to stay with thing
cause if I follow through
I face what I denied
I get those hooks out of me
And I take out the hooks that I sunk deep in your side
Kill that fear of emptiness, loneliness I hide
River, oh river, river running deep
Bring me something that will let me get to sleep
In the washing of the water will you take it all away
Bring me something to take this pain away
song performed by by Peter Gabriel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Devil Dance
I can see it but you wont
I look around you are alone
Memories they seem to fade
And I said I would stand by your side
But his side seems to be your side
Dont let me get in the way
So you can do-si-do with the devil in the dark
And around and around you go, no
Do-si-do with the devil in the dark
And desperate for a sense of self
But you only look to someone else
When the answers buried in your head
Grow farther from the life you crave
Grow empty with each passing day
Oblivious to every thing
But you still do-si-do with the devil in the dark
And around and around you go, no
Do-si-do with the devil in the dark
Around and around you go you go
With no way out
No screams allowed
So be still you feel fine
Dont escape you are mine
Illusions following you fast
Reality left in the past
The floor has fallen from your feet
But you still do-si-do with the devil in the dark
And around and around you go, no
Do-si-do with the devil in the dark
Its been upon his finger all the time
All the time
You feel fine.
song performed by by Vanessa Carlton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Devil Dance
I can see it but you wont
I look around you are alone
Memories they seem to fade
And I said I would stand by your side
But his side seems to be your side
Dont let me get in the way
So you can do-si-do with the devil in the dark
And around and around you go, no
Do-si-do with the devil in the dark
And desperate for a sense of self
But you only look to someone else
When the answers buried in your head
Grow farther from the life you crave
Grow empty with each passing day
Oblivious to every thing
But you still do-si-do with the devil in the dark
And around and around you go, no
Do-si-do with the devil in the dark
Around and around you go you go
With no way out
No screams allowed
So be still you feel fine
Dont escape you are mine
Illusions following you fast
Reality left in the past
The floor has fallen from your feet
But you still do-si-do with the devil in the dark
And around and around you go, no
Do-si-do with the devil in the dark
Its been upon his finger all the time
All the time
You feel fine.
song performed by by Vanessa Carlton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Runny’s Heading Rabits
Runny lent to the wibrary
And there were bundreds of hooks—
Bistory hooks, beography gooks,
And lots of bory stooks.
He looked them over one by one
And guess which one he took—
A bience scook? A boetry pook?
Oh, no ---a bomic cook!
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Rebel, Rebel, Rebel
We’re in the station line up for something
It’s crowded like hell and nobody cares
About patience, about tolerance
Oh, they all vapor in hot air
They say I should keep move but they don’t give me a room
They keep pushing me back and front
And there’s little devil pop up in my head
Rebel, rebel, rebel
It’s enough!
I will say it clear, I will tell till you can hear
Why I should do what you want but you don’t
I can’t please everyone, I will stay if I want
No matter how hard I should stand my right
By the end you will learn not to ignore
We’re living in mechanical world
Everything out of system will be called junk
Even for a dream, even for change
They won’t believe if there isn’t a proof
They say I should have all but they surround me by wall
And there’s little devil pop up in my head
Rebel, rebel, rebel
Is that enough?
I will say it clear, I will tell till you can hear
Why I should corrupt my heart just to meet your standard
I can’t please everyone, I will do what I want
No matter how long I should fight
By the end you will accept my point
We’re too much having senseless war
They claim they who on the way
To give justice, to make promise
Damn, it’s just a lie as usual
They say they’re who right but they’re wasting my time
They keep covering up and up
And there’s little devil pop up in my head
Rebel, rebel, rebel
It’s really enough!
I will say it clear, I will tell till you can hear
Why I should follow this game when you order with power
I’ll stop you now, I’ll prove you wrong
No matter how hard reality is I will stand for peace
By the end you’ll not get anything worth over
We’re running out the world
Everything exploited till the limit
Only for money, only for greed
And anybody should pay for it
They say there’ll be better life but it’s only lullaby
They keep robbing my land and culture
And there’s little devil pop up in my head
Rebel, rebel, rebel
It’s better enough!
I will say it clear, I will tell till you can hear
Why I should suffer with your own doom
I’ll stop you now, there’s no other direction
No matter how long we must protect we should love more this earth
By the end our children could also feel that their home is a beautiful place
poem by Maria Sudibyo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Hot Date
When I met Lucifer, I thought him cute
all dressed up in a whistle and flute.
Immaculate nails and shiny locks
with a smile to make my wee heart rock.
He took me out and bought me drinks,
my head felt dizzy, I couldn't think.
Lucifer's smile had me weak,
I lost my voice, I couldn't speak!
The moon shone bright as midnight chimed,
the flame of the candelabra died
and there came a change in Lucifer's eyes
from blue to amber, no disguise!
I decided to run, escape and flee,
for fear of Lucifer's plans for me
and as I neared the exit gate
I thought, at last, I had escaped.
I held my breath, a car drew up
the guy inside looked nice enough
but when I turned and looked to see
a devil sat right next to me!
poem by Ruth Walters
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Origin Of The Liquor Dealer
The devil in hell gave a festival,
And he called his imps from their wine-
Called them up from the ruddy cup,
And marshalled them into line.
And each to his place sprang the imps apace,
And they stood there, side by side.
'Now, listen well, O ye hosts of hell!
And mark me,' the devil cried.
'There is work to do for all of you,
Held for this night in store.
Then stir up the fire, till it burneth higher
Than ever it burned before.
When the coals glow hot, set ye the pot
Half full of the best brimstone.
And three of the worst and the most accursed
Hell claimeth as its own
Of demons bring, when the pot shall sing,
And cast them into the boil.'
Then over the region scattered the legion
Away to the fiendish toil.
They work with a will, and they work until
Three imps are aboil in the pot;
And the devil stands, and stirs with his hands
The liquid, seething hot;
And the demons revel around the devil
With many a fiendish shout,
Till he cries 'Ho, ho!' and the demons go
And turn the liquid out.
Turn it in, to a lake of gin,
Where the devil bathes, to cool.
Then lift it up, and turn on a cup
Of wine they dip from a pool.
Then they dip it in ale, till it turneth pale,
In beer, till it gloweth red.
It? nay, HE! for the thing they see
Is a man, from heel to head.
And he clasps the hands of the devil who stands
Bowing before his face.
And he says, 'Dear friend, will you please to send
A lad to show me my place?'
And the devil winks sly: and he says, 'Ay, ay!'
Old fellow, I guess you'll do.
You can work more wrong with that oily tongue
Than all my malicious crew.
'You must go to the earth! In th' halls of mirth,
In the teeming city's heart-
In any place that you show your face
I will help you do your part.
I will give you a name-it is steeped in shame,
But the world will use you well.
It is 'Liquor Dealer.' It means
soul stealer
And Major-General of Hell.
Go forth, my friend, and work to the end,
I will pay you in gleaming gold;
For every soul you drown in the bowl,
I will give you wealth untold.'
Then forth he went, this fiend hell-sent,
And he doeth his work to-day-
Doeth it well; and the hosts of hell
Are singing his praise alway.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Devil in Kansas
The devil went up to Kansas looking for a soul to steal
Came across a hillbilly driving thunder with some new mag wheels
He said, I got my eye on your motor and I want to take a ride.
that ain't gonna happen, cause Suzy Mae never leaves my car and she's always by my side"
Devil's not impressed, you're sporting some power there and i'm gonna make it brief
I want that motor cause it's the best and since I'm no thief
I'll take your car and give you all you could ever want, all you could ever eat
The finest silks, you wouldn't ever dream of another treat
The devil has a muscle car And Suzy Mae's by his side
He likes the feel of it and is off for a ride
When he releases many horse of thunder
This is something he's never had, what's more it's bound to cure his hunger
Good vibrations begin to find places he'd forgot
And most of all it's even found his wotnot
Devil says, this charging around has got me too
Mile after mile is slipping by, this is fun, this I could do
Devil up in Kansas likes the look of suzy mae, he takes a look across and lets go of the wheel
Suzy mae's not impressed about the details of their deal
Keep your eyes on the road, your mind on the driving and your hands on the wheel
Devil's steaming down the highway passing sign after sign
Suzy mae takes no nonsense, stick to the limit if you don't mind
Devil's now beginning to wonder why, of all the places he could stop, why didn't he just go by
Devil's had enough he's got the fear of god and is in a spot
He's beginning to think, home wasn't this hot
This gal beside him is a fine thing that's got him beat
He'll just mosey on home and stoke up the heat
A telepathic message to the hillbilly, I'm returning your car along with Suzy Mae
Visits to your world will be in the night, never in the day
Much as I love this motor with all it's chrome
I'm giving it back as I've something burning at home.
poem by Brian Roy Skyers
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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End Of The Line
This is the end of the line
I've clearly read ever sign
the way you glance at me
indifferently
and take your hand from mine
this is the end of the line
how can I ever be fine
how helpless I've become
i feel like some discarded valentine
remeber in the biginniunfg
your winning ways excited me
and all the while I was certain
that we two found a love that comes just to a few
we've reached the end of the line
I hope your dreams turn out fine
I'm awfully tired
and so I guess I'll go
Although it's only nine
but this is the end of the line
the end of the line
song performed by by Nina Simone
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Contract On Love
Baby, baby, sign my contract on love
Baby, baby, sign my contract on love
Baby, baby, sign my contract on love
Baby, baby, sign it
Sign it
Sign it
Sign it
You say you love me
And I believe its true
But before I let myself go
Heres what youve got to do
(sign it)
(sign it)
(sign it)
(sign it)
Youve got to sign
(you, you, youd better sign it)
My contract on love
(you, you, youd better sign it)
Write it in your heart
(you, you, youd better sign it)
That youll never do anything
To ever make us part
(sign it)
(sign it)
(sign it)
(sign it)
Yeah, I know it may seem strange to you
Yeah, but Ive lost a love so many times before
Yeah, and now that I know the score
No ones gonna hurt me no more
And Im takin all my chances with romances
Yeah
(sign it)
(sign it)
(sign it)
(sign it)
So just sign
(you, you, youd better sign it)
Right here on this dotted line
(you, you, youd better sign it)
Where it says youll be mine, all mine
(you, you, youd better sign it)
Until the end of time
(sign it)
(sign it)
(sign it)
(sign it)
So come on, come on, come on, and
Sign, yeah
(baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
Sign, yeah
(baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
Sign, right here on this line
(baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
Yeah
(sign it)
(sign it)
(sign it)
(sign it)
Sign, yeah
(baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
Sign, yeah
(baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
Sign my contract on love
(baby, baby, sign my contract on love)
song performed by by Stevie Wonder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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When I Was The Devil
When I was the devil
I sent many a devil
To my brother the devil
In Hell his abode.
.
When I was the devil
I lived half my years
In darkness and fear
I never had rest.
.
So glad I found Christ
Who brought me light
Never again shall
I wander from your sight.
poem by Efe Benjamin
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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