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The Devil Takes

from Virtually Alive EP by John Parkes

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about

URL for video of this song: youtu.be/ZT9Rf4tKpX0

The fact that this references the Devil is neither here nor there really. You may believe that the Devil is the cause of death and decay in the world or that that’s just the way it is. This is about falling apart physically and what you could or should be doing to fight it.

This was recorded live to start with but ended up not really very live at all. I think the drums ended up being loops – and the sound was changed completely in the studio when Alaric the bass player suggested he put a second bass on top - playing a sort of imitation loop. Which really changed the sound but sounded great to me. It still has the essence of the three of us just playing in the studio even though it’s got loops and imitation loops – perhaps it’s my guitar in the style of someone who doesn’t quite know what they’re doing – my favourite way of recording.

lyrics

The Devil Takes

The Devil comes for me, takes me piece by piece
Takes my skin and folds it all away
The Devil comes for me, he started with my teeth
Now he wants my hair and knees and feet

But I know I could be fighting with surgery and hooks
I could be fighting with Botox and tucks
I could be fighting with fishy oil and puzzle books

He got into my eyes, he’s fiddling with my size
He brings me stiffness in not at all a good way
He’s furring up my veins, he’s pitching up the pain
Jams my ankles, can’t see or touch my toes

And I know I should be fighting with Omega 3 and bran
Sharks’ cartilage capsules, Glucosamine not Spam
I could be fighting with screenings and scans

He’s slowing up my brain, chilling out my blains
Growing gout and slowing down the flows
He’s crumbling my joints, drying out my loins
Hairing up my orifices and brows

And I, I come out fighting with alcohol and smokes
I come out fighting with sexually unrealistic hopes
I come out fighting with magazines and naps
I come out fighting with ‘what the Hell is that?’s

So please God come for me, save me from my sins
From the Devil, the fall and daytime TV
Save me from this age, this small and lonely cage
Take me where I’m young and lovely still

And I know I should be planning for funerals for friends
Yes I should be planning insurance with free pens
Yes I should be planning to freeze my own head
To freeze my own head

credits

from Virtually Alive EP, released September 18, 2017
Drums by Simon Smith, bass(es) by Alaric Lewis.

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John Parkes Leeds, UK

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