Songtexte The Book - Magazine

This man is at the door of Hell
Somehow, it seems to be his destination
After a life of subtle stubbornness
He doesn't expect to find himself waking up out of a dream
He doesn't expect to pinch himself and wake up and that kind of thing
In fact, the thought of that happening makes him smile
He's just mildly surprised to find himself there
At the door of Hell
To all accounts, the kindly old man who's the doorman
And who conceivably reminds him of his father
Is sat reading a book
But he gets up smartly and, without allowing time for either
Of them to feel that they're standing on ceremony, says
"Hold my book for me a minute, would you?
While I get the door open?"
Presumably, you know, you need two hands to open the door
For some reason, the old man doesn't
Just put his book down on the chair
It all happens quite quickly
He finds that he's made a decision and
Is already holding the old man's book
As just about anybody else would
But it seems a bit curious because it's as if he
In however small a way you like to consider it
He's helping himself enter Hell
He's taking the path of least resistance
Of course, at the same time, he suddenly
Thinks, even as he finally grips the book
"This is my chance for a reprieve, the final test
The straw which will tip the good deeds over the bad"
Next thing he knows, they've exchanged opinions on the book
And he has handed it back to the old man
And is being shown into Hell