Let the Devil Take the Stand

Intro You heard the angel’s side. Now shut your mouth And hear mine.

Verse 1 He wore Sunday white when he came to town Smiled while he bought every lawman around Took the widow’s field in the Savior’s name When her barn went up, he handed me the flame He blessed his gold, he buried his books Made honest men into thieves and crooks Then stood in church with his hands held high While the whole damn county swallowed the lie

Pre-Chorus A halo don’t mean holy Wings don’t mean clean The brightest white you’ve ever seen Can hide the darkest thing

Chorus The devil is bad Because an angel told you the story Dressed up the slaughter And called it glory Put white on his lies Put black on my name Lit the whole town up Then handed me the flame Before you call him holy Before you call me damned Let the Devil tell the story Let the Devil take the stand

Verse 2 He fed them fear from a silver spoon Promised salvation was comin’ soon Said I was the snake underneath their beds While he built his kingdom on working men’s necks Every witness had a debt to pay Every judge knew which way to sway He rang that bell and the people came Hungry for blood and trained on my name

Pre-Chorus A halo don’t mean holy Wings don’t make a saint Sometimes Heaven’s finest coat Is coverin’ the stains

Chorus The devil is bad Because an angel told you the story Dressed up the slaughter And called it glory Put white on his lies Put black on my name Lit the whole town up Then handed me the flame Before you call him holy Before you call me damned Let the Devil tell the story Let the Devil take the stand

Bridge I never said my hands were clean I’ve broken law and bone But every scar that carries my name Is a scar that I still own I don’t hide behind a pulpit I don’t wash my hands and pray I look a man straight in the eye Before I make him pay Your angel keeps a ledger With the darkest pages sealed So tear the gold from off that book And see what blood reveals

Breakdown Who wrote the story? He did. Who bought the law? He did. Who struck the match? He did. Who took the fall? I did. Who filled the graves? His men. Who blessed the land? His church. Who called me Devil? The bastard did it first. The devil is bad Because an angel told you the story Turned all his greed Into Heaven and glory Put white on his lies Put black on my name Burned every witness Then handed me the blame Rip the halo from him Let the truth decide the man Let the Devil tell the story Let the Devil take the stand Let him take the stand Let him take the stand You heard the righteous lie Now hear the voice of the damned Let him take the stand Let him take the stand Every angel casts a shadow When there’s blood upon his hands

Outro The Devil may deserve the fire. But tonight— He ain’t burnin’ alone.

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