Who Needs the Devil?

Powerful and evil and loves to do wrong.

I want to tell you, he's none of these.

He's a murderer who loves to tease.

Who needs the devil when we have man*?

His evil is hidden behind a mask.

In shadows he plans his murderous tasks.

A thundering lion, he falls on his prey,

To maim, to torture, to murder, to flay.

Who needs the devil when we have man?

He tricks and tempts you, and vies for your soul,

And they say he offers riches untold.

No need to have gold fall like a shower,

Many sell out for a handful of power.

Who needs the devil when we have man?

"Peace! Let's talk peace!" cries a country's head,

While he unleashes brutes even brave men dread,

And men, women and children cruelly die.

"Peace! but first let's cut up this political pie."

Who needs the devil when we have man?

As the devil sits on his fiery throne,

His demons tell him of man's evil known.

He sits slack-jawed, half with envy, half with awe;

That he didn't think of it first, sticks in his craw.

Who needs the devil, when we have man?

*I use man as a generic term, meaning humans, people.