Don’t Let The Devil Steal Your Joy
Words and music ©2013 Joe Milligan
An angel climbed into my bed last night
She kissed me softly and she held me tight
She said, “I can see it in your eyes
I can read it on your face
Your mind’s been going to a dark, dark place
And it’s dragging your spirit, like Marley dragged that chain
You know you can’t change some things
That bring you pain
No you can’t”
Angel said, “I can hear the tapes keep playing in your head
Did that really happen?
My God, was that really said?”
Do I not understand, or can this not be understood?
Is mine a heart of darkness or is mine a heart that’s good?
And is there a way things really are
Or just the way they’re made to seem?
Is my place before a firing squad or somewhere in between?
I’d really like to know
As the angel climbed out of my bed last night
She said “there’s nothing to be done, there’s nothing to make right
It’s just the randomness of things, the indifference of the schemes
That can bring us to our knees
Deliver someone else’s dream
It’s how a stalled cold front can make for a perfect storm
It’s how the magic of conception plants the seed of a still born child”
Angel said “I’m leaving and I’m sure by now you know
There could be more of the same
God, let’s hope that that’s not so
Try to remember your first love down on the banks of Barker Creek
Where the preacher’s daughter slid your hand
And how it made your legs go weak
And how tenderly she looked at you and she said
'Now you listen to me boy
Don’t you let no devil steal this joy' ”
Don’t the devils of this life, steal it’s joy.