Frequently down at the open-air bar,
The regulars run a dirty jukebox
And scowl at the weekenders swilled in their mock veneer.
And I take my tricks, like a miner for coal.
I shake their hands until the slippery voice.
Waitress lends me a smile and some good advice.
She says:
“don’t walk with the devil (don’t walk with the devil),
If you can’t run with him too.
Don’t walk with the devil,
If you can’t run with him.
Well, the opulence fades with the bottles and cans,
And I eavesdrop in on the localsdemands,
Slither down their olives, one by one.
Little they heed the saying that goes,
“if you talk to loud, then you really don’t know.the best words of advice I can
Never give them:
“don’t walk with the devil (don’t walk with the devil),
If you can’t run with him too.
Don’t walk with the devil,
If you can’t run with him.
The street is tired and the fever is high.
Strangers creeps till the sweet delight
Of an unknown comfort in taking what’s forbidden.
Yeah, it was such a night when a man rolled in
With a gold toothed brow and a silvery grin.
I knew for sure salvation was his profession.
And he sat next to me and I can already tell,
He had a question to ask, he had come to collect on a promissory paid.
And I knew that I’d deliver.
And I said:
“don’t walk with the devil (don’t walk with the devil),
If you can’t run with him too.
Don’t walk with the devil,
If you can’t run with him.
“don’t walk with the devil (don’t walk with the devil),
If you can’t run with him too.
Don’t walk with the devil,
If you can’t run with him.
And I swallowed my drink,
Rolled the rust in my mouth
And motioned to him he should follow out to the alley in back.
I said, “step into my office.and he finally looked at me straight in the eye.
I could see his jaw drop and shutter inside
Surprised in the wake of his newest epiphany.
He said “sir you are not who I thought you were.
I never believed, but now I’m too sure.
I sold you my soul, leave me some words of mercy.and I whispered:
“don’t walk with the devil (don’t walk with the devil),
If you can’t run with him too.
Don’t walk with the devil,
If you can’t run with him.
Don’t walk with the devil (don’t walk with the devil),
If you can’t run with him too.
Don’t walk with the devil,
If you can’t run with him.
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