First Receipt

I been keepin' books since Cain swung the rock I been writin' names since Judas took the drop I got a ledger long as Mississippi mud And tonight, brother, I'm readin' it in blood

I'll sing you twenty stories Of men and sins and saints Every one of 'em paid me One way or another — paid me And if you listen close You'll hear your own name in there 'Cause the devil keeps receipts And I don't take the fifth

First receipt — signed in teeth and whiskey First receipt — written in a motel key First receipt — bought and paid in bullets First receipt — the kind that never quiets Open the book, son, open the book Let me read you every line Every man who sold his shadow Every soul that crossed the line

You'll hear a preacher lose his collar You'll hear a brother lose his name You'll hear a trucker lose his heaven On a highway made of shame You'll hear a woman find her pillow You'll hear a son find his grave You'll hear a man who ran from nothin' 'Cept the devil he couldn't save

If you think this ain't for you Brother, you're in the wrong room Every one of us got a line in the book Every one of us got a tomb So pour one out, pull your hat down Light one up, slow your breath 'Cause tonight I'm readin' receipts And tonight we all meet death

First receipt — signed in teeth and whiskey First receipt — the one that starts the fire First receipt — the first name in the ledger First receipt — and you, sir, you're the buyer Open the book, son, open the book The devil keeps receipts, yeah The devil keeps receipts And the devil keeps 'em all The devil keeps receipts And the devil keeps 'em all

Find this song on YouTube