[Intro – whispered] Three knocks upon my door At twelve minutes after three Three knocks upon my door… But no one should know I’m here [Verse 1] I heard the knocking in the dead of night Three hollow blows beneath the pale moonlight I crossed the room, but something felt so wrong The hallway shadows stretched impossibly long I turned the lock and opened up the door A stranger stood where none had stood before Black coat, black gloves, a silver-headed cane He smiled at me… And whispered my name [Pre-Chorus – rising] How do you know me? Who sent you here? He only smiled And slowly drew near [Chorus] The Devil knows my name! He’s calling me tonight The Devil knows my name! He’s waiting out of sight I never signed I never prayed I never joined his wicked game But somewhere down below The Devil knows my name! [Verse 2] He stepped inside although I never said A single word to welcome what I feared He walked the halls as though he knew the place Then stopped before my old grandfather’s case He found a book I’d never seen before Behind a hidden panel near the floor Its leather cover cracked with age and flame He opened it… And there I saw my name [High Voice] “No! That cannot be!” [Low Voice] “Oh… but it can.” [Pre-Chorus] Written in crimson Dated at birth A debt carried down From heaven to earth [Chorus] The Devil knows my name! He’s calling me tonight The Devil knows my name! He’s waiting out of sight I never signed I never prayed I never joined his wicked game But somewhere down below The Devil knows my name! [Instrumental – Twin Guitar Passage] [Bridge – slow, theatrical] “My father never told me…” [Whisper] His father never told him… “My mother never knew…” [Whisper] Oh, yes she did… “What did they promise?” [Low Voice] Nothing… They promised… YOU. [Fast Guitar Break] [Verse 3] The candles died, the room began to freeze I heard a thousand whispers through the trees The stranger bowed and offered me his hand “Your family made a promise… Now surely you understand.” I backed away and screamed that he should go He laughed and said, “There’s something you should know You cannot break what blood has once proclaimed Before you breathed… I already knew your name.” [Chorus] THE DEVIL KNOWS MY NAME! He’s calling me tonight THE DEVIL KNOWS MY NAME! There’s nowhere left to hide I never signed I never prayed But still I’m bound unto his claim Since long before my birth The Devil knew my name! [Guitar Solo] [Final Chorus – faster] The Devil knows my name! The Devil knows my name! No cross can hide me now No prayer can break the chain I never signed I never prayed But blood remembers just the same And when my time has come… The Devil knows my name! [Outro – music box / whispered voices] Three knocks upon the door… [Knock] [Knock] [Knock] [Childlike Whisper] Daddy…? There’s a man outside. [Low Voice] I know.
