The Devil's Home

Halfway to nowhere desert sun beating down In a dusty saloon at the edge of the town Last coin on the counter still had problems to drown Told the barkeep tomorrow I'ma ride down south I know a lode just over the pass And I'll cut you in for half if you keep filling my glass Bartender laughed old man you must be mad Think I'd have to be a halfwit to believe that Just in the back sat a man in all black Shadows hid his face beneath the brim of his hat Had a shooter on his hip hint of blood on his hands Had some greed in his heart that started forming a plan And not long after the old man at the counter Stood in sway he said just wait tipped his hat and stepped backwards Stumbled towards the door one last word from the tapster Thanks for stopping in come back rich you old bastard There's a place No man should go Where the angels sleep And the demons don't You bet your life til there's no price left on your soul Just hope and pray that you never stay in the devil's home Up before the sun he kissed his wife on the head Told her he loved her said goodbye as she slept Stepped down the hall checked on his son in his bed Then gave his dog a pat said you're in charge as he left Bout fifty yards he reached a horse and a wagon Reckon we should make some tracks before we miss all the action Climbed aboard once me made sure he had his tools and his rations Then left a trail of dust when headed off to the canyon Hours past he wiped the sweat from his brow White knuckles grip the reins with every bump in the ground He almost lost a wheel when he was on the way down But somehow held it together til he got up and out Only miles went from close to arrived Setup up his camp and watched the day turn to night Early morning hear the pick as it strikes And by the time the sun was high he had a hole bout his height Hit after hit could note the change in the pitch Til he started pulling nuggets out the size of his fist Once he had himself a pile he filled the hole back in Told the horse won't overload you, that's enough for the trip Evening closed as he was resting his bones Like a ghost a man approached then he sat down and spoke Old-timer I don't mean to impose I only came for the gold, then I'll be on the road And if I don't leave with it neither of us 'll go There's a place No man should go Where the angels sleep And the demons don't You bet your life til there's no price left on your soul Just hope and pray that you never stay in the devil's home Pool of blood is how the old man was left Plead for his life before the shot in the head Without remorse would never hold a regret He drove a wagon into town that was owned by the dead Made a stop at the same dusty saloon Hitched the wagon wiped some blood off his boots Swung the door open and stepped in the room And saw the old man at the counter raise a cup full of booze Cheers my friend, I saved you a seat Why don't you come and join me let me buy you a drink He sauntered over without words he could speak Old man said we're alike we both prey on the weak Greed I could see it all it took was a reason And you would walk yourself right into a trap Only took a little gold and you sold me your soul And you ain't ever get'n it back Welcome to hell