album cover
The Devil's Baptizin'
144
Folk
The Devil's Baptizin' was released on February 13, 1967 by Columbia/Legacy as a part of the album Sings the Truth
album cover
Release DateFebruary 13, 1967
LabelColumbia/Legacy
LanguageEnglish
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy
BPM

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Malvina Reynolds
Malvina Reynolds
Performer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Malvina Reynolds
Malvina Reynolds
Composer, Lyrics

Lyrics

There was a man who walked like a man
And worked as men have since time began
But the Devil said "Black!" and the people said "Black!"
And they named him and cursed him and loaded his back
And that was the Devil's baptism
At the Devil's baptism
The incense you smell
Is the sulfur from hell arisen
There was a man who thought like a man
And said life should move with an aim and a plan
But the Devil said "Red!" and they chopped off his head
And his children went hungry for comfort and bread
And that was the Devil's baptism
At the Devil's baptism
The incense you smell
Is the sulfur from hell arisen
There was a love that was clear as the day
And a babe like a flower that grows from the clay
But the Devil said "Sin!" and the people came in
And they offered the woman for sale to the men
And that was the Devil's baptism
At the Devil's baptism
The incense you smell
Is the sulfur from hell arisen
There was a child who walked all alone
And reached for the bread and rejected the stone
But the Devil said "Crime!" and the kid served his time
And he came out of prison all covered with slime
And that was the Devil's baptism
At the Devil's baptism
The incense you smell
Is the sulfur from hell arisen
Written by: Malvina Reynolds
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