[Verse 1]
Little town
Tiny clocks
Cabbage rows in careful blocks
Every hat at the same dull slant
Every whisper a worried chant
Bell at one
Bell at two
Every tick approved by you
Narrow minds in tidy hats
Counting minutes like they’re maps
[Chorus]
Here comes the devil in the belfry
Boots on the rafters
Laughing loud
Tearing up your blessed schedule
Shaking dust from every cloud
Here comes the devil in the belfry
Twisting time like braided smoke
All your perfect little minutes
Snap and splinter as he jokes (hey!)
[Verse 2]
He waltzed in at a crooked hour
Wild grin
Cabbage-flower
Fiddle tucked beneath his chin
Let the wicked dance begin
Mayor’s monocle hit the floor
Priests forgot what prayers were for
Every pendulum lost its place
When he tapped the clock’s pale face
[Chorus]
Here comes the devil in the belfry
Boots on the rafters
Laughing loud
Tearing up your blessed schedule
Shaking dust from every cloud
Here comes the devil in the belfry
Twisting time like braided smoke
All your perfect little minutes
Snap and splinter as he jokes
[Bridge]
Twelve struck thirteen
Hands ran wild
Every cabbage
Turned and smiled (ooh)
You begged the sky
For discipline
But all you heard
Was his violin
[Chorus]
Here comes the devil in the belfry
You built a cage and called it peace
He broke the bars with crooked music
Gave your frightened clocks release
Here comes the devil in the belfry
Dancing on your sacred plan
Now every hour that dares to differ
Sounds a little more like man