I do assume that Tom Waits is being ironic here, in the same way The Violent Femmes seem ironic when they sing "Jesus Walking on the Water". However, regardless of how he intended it, you don't have to take it that way. I'm sure he was drawing from similar lyrics from old songs. My ipod has a lot of songs, but this was coincidentally followed by "A Sinners Death (I am Dying)" by Roy Acuff. Like Johnny Cash singing that God will "cut you down", Roy is not being ironic. Acuff or Cash could sing these lyrics and you would take the meaning at face value. It's a cool song since you can easily equate "the devil" and "temptation" with non-religious concepts like "alcoholsim" though, as someone above mentioned.
I do assume that Tom Waits is being ironic here, in the same way The Violent Femmes seem ironic when they sing "Jesus Walking on the Water". However, regardless of how he intended it, you don't have to take it that way. I'm sure he was drawing from similar lyrics from old songs. My ipod has a lot of songs, but this was coincidentally followed by "A Sinners Death (I am Dying)" by Roy Acuff. Like Johnny Cash singing that God will "cut you down", Roy is not being ironic. Acuff or Cash could sing these lyrics and you would take the meaning at face value. It's a cool song since you can easily equate "the devil" and "temptation" with non-religious concepts like "alcoholsim" though, as someone above mentioned.
Actually, the Femmes aren't being sarcastic. At least, Gano isn't. He's a true believer. The others aren't. All the religious songs are genuine.
Actually, the Femmes aren't being sarcastic. At least, Gano isn't. He's a true believer. The others aren't. All the religious songs are genuine.