The Devil Keeps Time (Zyle - Spooky Swing Contest)

[Intro — Sparse Piano, Brushes] Rain on the windows. Midnight on the door. I heard an old piano From a club I'd never seen before. [Verse 1] There were twenty people drinking. There were five men in the band. The drummer never looked up. Just raised one steady hand. The piano started walking. Then the upright joined the line. The horn leaned into something blue. The devil kept the time. Nobody spoke between the songs. Nobody called a name. They'd finish one. The drummer'd count. And start it up again. Then I looked toward the corner Where a couple used to be. Two glasses sweating on the table. But no one in the seats. [Pre-Chorus] One... Two... One, two, three... The drummer smiled And looked at me. [Chorus] The devil keeps time On the two and the four. He'll swing you around, Then he'll show you the door. You can fight that rhythm. You can pray for daylight. But once that old band starts swinging, Somebody leaves tonight. So keep your feet still. Don't fall in line. When the devil starts swinging, The devil keeps time. [Verse 2] I counted twelve around me When the trumpet started low. By the time it hit the chorus, There were only nine or so. I grabbed the man beside me. Said, "Where'd everybody go?" He stared straight through the question. Said, "Brother, I don't know." Then his fingers started tapping. His heel fell with the snare. He smiled like he'd remembered Something waiting somewhere. One step toward the dance floor. One turn beneath the light. The band hit one hard accent... And the bastard vanished right. [Pre-Chorus] One... Two... One, two, three... The drummer laughed And winked at me. [Chorus] The devil keeps time On the two and the four. He'll swing you around, Then he'll show you the door. You can fight that rhythm. You can pray for daylight. But once that old band starts swinging, Somebody leaves tonight. So keep your feet still. Don't fall in line. When the devil starts swinging, The devil keeps time. [Instrumental — Dark Swing Break] [Verse 3] Six became four. Four became three. Then every empty chair Was pointing straight at me. The bartender was missing. The front door wouldn't move. And every clock behind the bar Was ticking with the groove. I shouted at the band, "What the hell is going on?" The piano kept on playing Like it hadn't heard me wrong. Then one by one the players Stopped and lowered what they held. All except that drummer... Still swinging straight through hell. [Breakdown — Piano, Upright Bass, Finger Snaps] He tapped the ride. I felt my right foot move. He hit the snare. My left one found the groove. I grabbed the bar. I held on tight. He leaned toward me And smiled beneath the light. [Drummer — Quiet] One more. [Bridge — Building] I said, "No." He counted, "One." I said, "No." He counted, "Two." The bass came back. The piano too. The trumpet screamed. The whole room moved. I dug my heels Into the floor. But that rhythm pulled me Toward the door. One step. Two steps. Three in time. And every goddamn heartbeat Swung in line. [Final Chorus — Full Progressive Swing-Rock] The devil keeps time On the two and the four! He'll swing you around, Then he'll show you the door! I fought that rhythm! I prayed for daylight! While that whole damn room kept swinging Like it wanted me that night! I broke the rhythm! I broke the line! And ran while the devil Was still keeping time! [Instrumental — Violent Swung Finale] [Outro — Piano Only] The lights came up. The chairs were bare. I ran like hell And left them there. But sometimes late, When sleep won't come, I hear that drummer Start to drum. [Soft Brush on Snare] One... [Pause] Two... [Long Pause] One... [Pause] Two... [Final Cymbal Tap]