Seven for the Devil

There was a simple man, and he walked a simple path
He was too simple for love, for hate, for craft
He fathered simple children, who simply could not learn
And he counted all his blessings, each in turn

One for sorrow
Two for mirth
Three for a funeral
Four for birth
Five for heaven
Six for hell
Seven for the Devil
His own self

There was a fearful woman, and she feared most to see
She begged the fearful priest, "Show your fears to me"
She mothered fearful children who feared the most to learn
And she counted all her blessings, each in turn

One for sorrow
Two for mirth
Three for a funeral
Four for birth
Five for heaven
Six for hell
Seven for the Devil
His own self

There was a crooked man, and he cried crooked tears
He found a crooked pulpit to teach simplicity and fear
His crooked words taught that most crooked is to learn
And he counted all his blessings, each in turn

One for sorrow
Two for mirth
Three for a funeral
Four for birth
Five for heaven
Six for hell
Seven for the Devil
His own self