[Verse 1]
You pray with your back to the wall
Tongue tied, teeth ground down to chalk
They smell your fear on your skin
Halo crooked, coming apart again
You want a saint, get a sermon
You want the truth? it keeps swerving
You want safe, you want clean
But the wolves out there don’t speak peace
[Chorus]
I’m the devil that protects you
Claws out in the pews
I’ll be the sin that saves you
When mercy won’t move
You don’t need angels
You need something they fear too
I’m the devil that protects you
The dark that guards you
[Verse 2]
They all smile with their hands in your pockets
Blessed knives, tucked inside lockets
Every promise, sharpened and hollow
Every “trust me” hard to swallow
So when they circle, I circle closer (yeah)
Red grin over your shoulder
Let ‘em call me curse, call me doom
I’m the reason they won’t touch you
[Chorus]
I’m the devil that protects you
Claws out in the pews
I’ll be the sin that saves you
When mercy won’t move
You don’t need angels
You need something they fear too
I’m the devil that protects you
The dark that guards you
[Bridge]
(Yeah) say you want light, but you live in a trap
You want a way out, I’m the map in the black
Every scar on my back is a deal that I kept
Every tear that you shed is a vow that I’ve kept
I’m the red line they don’t cross
I’m the locked door, I’m the cost
You say my name when you’re shaking in bed
And I laugh, and I laugh, “I got you,” I said (hey!)
[Chorus]
I’m the devil that protects you
Claws out in the pews
I’ll be the sin that saves you
When mercy won’t move
You don’t need angels
You need something they fear too
I’m the devil that protects you
The dark that guards you
I’m the devil that protects you
And I die before they harm you