when the devil is too busy
and death's a bit too much
they call me by name you see
for my special touch
to the gentleman i'm Miss Fortune
to the ladies i'm Sir Prise
but call me by any name
any way it's all the same

i'm the fly in your soup
i'm the pebble in your shoe
i'm the pea beneath your bead
i'm the bump on every head
i'm the peel on which you slip
i'm the pin in every hip
i'm the thorn in your side
makes you wriggle and writhe

and it's so easy when you're evil
this is the life you see
the devil tips his hat to me
i do it all because i'm evil
and i do it all for free
your tears are all the pay i'll ever need

while there's children to make sad
while there's candy to be had
while there's pockets left to pick
while there's grannies left to trip down the stairs
i'll be there
i'll be waiting round the corner
it's a game i'm glad i'm in it
cuz there's one born every minute

and it's so easy when you're evil
this is the life you see
the devil tips his hat to me
i do it all because i'm evil
and i do it all for free
your tears are all the pay i'll ever need

i pledge my allegience to all things dark
and i promise on my damned soul
to do as i am told
for beelzebub has never seen
a soldier quite like me
not only does his job but does it happily

i'm the fear that keeps you wake
i'm the shadows on the wall
i'm the monsters they become
i'm the nightmare in your skull
i'm the dagger in your back
an extra turn upon the rack
i'm the quivering of your heart
a stabbing pain, a sudden start

and it's so easy when you're evil
this is the life you see
the devil tips his hat to me
i do it all because i'm evil
and i do it all for free
your tears are all the pay i'll ever need
and i do it all for free
your tears are all the pay i'll ever need
and i do it all for free
your tears are all the pay i'll ever need

it gets so lonely being evil
what i'd do to see a smile
even for a little while
and no one loves you when you're evil
i'm lying through my teeth
your tears are all the company i need


Lyrics submitted by faust

When You're Evil song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    The meaning of the song's pretty clear, but what does "an extra turn upon the rack" mean?

    ForeverRetroon November 09, 2010   Link

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