Hack-Poets Guild, Marry Waterson, Lisa Knapp and Nathaniel Mann - The Devil's Cruelty

The Devil did it, to be sure,


else he could never proceed
,

No strength of heart could ever endure,

to do that cruel deed
.



I've been tempted by the Devil;

To extinguish my own flame.



Good people come and lend your ears,

to this my doleful song,


A sadder tale you’ll never hear 

expressed by any tongue;

The Devil's very busy been,

in these later days


For to entrap and to draw in,

poor souls in several ways.



Your Swearing, Damn-me, Ranting-boys 

he minds them not at all,


They are so wedded to his ways,


he has them at his call,

He has no need to tempt those boys,

who’ll give in to any vice
,

But those who live most civilly
,

he strives most to entice.



Just like our subject now at hand,

which here I shall unfold
,

As much as I could understand,

the truth by neighbours told.



I've been tempted by the Devil;

To extinguish my own flame.



George Gibbs a Sawyer by his Trade,

not married long I hear
,

No children weighed upon his hand,

no debts he had to fear,

I understand he and his wife,

lived lovingly and with no strife,

But often-times the Devil came,

and asked of George his life.



The Devil he said did tempt him long,

and many times before
,

And though george did resist him strong,


the Devil he won’t give o’er.



Last Friday night he lie asleep,

but as the clock struck 12 he rose,

His wife she begged him for to stay,

but out the door he goes.



Last Friday night, they lie asleep,

but as the clock struck 12 he rose,

His wife she begged him ‘George, please stay’,

but out the door he goes.



The Devil did it to be sure,


else he could never proceed,


No hand or heart should ever endure,

To extinguish their own flame.

Written by:
Nathaniel Mann

Publisher:
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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