Kick the Devil Out

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a defiant stance against a pervasive, negative influence, framed as 'the devil.' The opening lines immediately establish a sense of disillusionment, suggesting a world where truth is elusive and false promises are common. The narrator feels trapped, acknowledging a prolonged struggle with this entity, stating, "I'm living with the devil." This isn't a sudden encounter but a sustained, wearying engagement. The central tension lies in the narrator's decision to finally confront and expel this influence. Despite the weariness of "dealing with the devil now," there's a clear resolve to "kick the devil out." This internal battle is characterized by a desire to stop 'keeping score,' implying a draining cycle of conflict that the narrator is determined to break. A striking element is the redefinition of 'the devil.' The chorus insists, "he's no more real than you or me," stripping away supernatural power and suggesting this 'devil' is a construct, perhaps a bad habit, a destructive mindset, or a manipulative person. The repeated phrase "same old tricks" reinforces this idea of a predictable, human-level adversary. This song hits hard because it transforms a grand, abstract concept into a tangible, personal struggle. The narrator's shift from weary acceptance to active expulsion, grounded in the idea that the threat is self-created or manageable, offers a powerful message of agency. The lyrics suggest that recognizing the 'devil's' lack of inherent power is the first step to leaving it behind.