The devil laughed

i own the town of whelan west virginia
come from a proud line of money and coal
every sunday i pray to jesus
sin and temptation stain my soul

Chorus:
but i know my saviour will forgive me
i have prayed for him to call me home
i will walk down to the water and laugh
at the devil when he come to take my soul

those who know me they know to mind me
my wrath is swift my hand is hard
and the one man who tried to bind me
wound up swinging from a tree
in the jailhouse yard

Chorus

she had eyes shone like diamonds
she tempted me wehn
she let her long hair down
and though she spurned me
i knew i must have her
i was making her pray when she fell in the river
and drowned she drowned

Chorus

last night i dreamed the shadow fell upon me
and i knew my time had come
i made ready for to meet a host of angels
but nowhere could i see the chosen one

then i knew my saviour did not forgive me
though i prayed for him to call me home
and when i walked down to the water
the devil laughed when he come to take my soul