Should I Stay or Should I Go?

The next morning – at least when the clock said nine
Since there is no day and night when there is no sunshine
I was shocked to be treated to breakfast in bed
With the food was a small note, and the small note said
That I had a date with the Devil to discuss what I’d read

I knew that my hopes of success would be toast
If I refused such a simple request by my host
So I went, and first he asked me what his age is
I said he’s a little over three thousand according to last night’s pages
Then he asked where the one billions call “God” was conceived
And I said on Mount Olympus, if what I read should be believed
The he asked if something can be good to believe if it isn’t true
And I honestly said I hadn’t thought about it and had no clue
He was fine with that, and then Nicholas paused a full
Minute then asked, of what I read, what seemed the most implausible

I said I had trouble believing that immortality
Had more to do with impact than it did with morality
Since then he’d save the dangerously insane
He was ready for that and he explained:

“Hitler and Stalin and Timmy McVeigh
Aren’t enjoying extended life, but all the way
In the deepest part of hell, doing things that must be done
Supervised by intelligent robots invented by Edison
And they work 12 hour days until they rid themselves of the greed
And hatred and intolerance that brought about their misdeeds
And when I’m sure they’re cured they have a choice to die
Or be brought up to live nearby the location of you and I

“ Torquemada and Pope Urban are two people who mended
Their ways after decades then chose to have their lives ended
And there are quite a few who repented and moved on
To better work and my favor - one of those is Genghis Khan
Which is of special significance, since that man just hap-
Pens to be the first one that you will have to rap
Against if you choose to attempt to return
Above ground with the one for whom your heart seems to burn

“ For these ‘battles’ I have several volunteers – you’ll face seven
If you win four you’ll go back home between here and heaven
With Samantha, but if you win less than three then
You’ll work down below for years and try again
Or you can leave now, alone, with 10 grand, which coincidentally
Is the same thing that will happen if you win only three”

The choice wasn’t easy; I really needed the money
But going back alone would make my eyes frequently be runny
I asked if I could ask Sam what she would prefer
But Satan objected since he said that I ought to know her
Well enough that there would not be a need to ask
But I didn’t, and had to choose between a far from easy task
And certain loneliness and probable regret
The odds were against me each way – and I don’t like to bet

Suddenly my choice became clear as an eagle’s vision –
If I went back alone I’d certainly end up in prison
Although the prospect of getting on stage made me scared
I knew I had to accept and get prepared
I didn’t want to go up there, nor did I want to wait
So I ate and worried and didn’t get to bed until quite late