01. The Devil
Written by Polly Harvey

Found on:
White Chalk

This song was inspired by the Leo Tolstoy short story "The Devil." Overall, the song summarizes the ending of the story, about a man hoping to commit adultery with a former lover but is also unsettled by the indulgance of his dark desire. Here are some lines from the book:

"What had formerly cheered him and been important was now insignificant."

"...but insanely and unreasonably expecting her; expecting that by some miracle she would be aware that he was expecting her, and would come here at once and go somewhere where no one would see them, or would come at night when there would be no moon, and no one, not even she herself, would see—on such a night she would come and he would touch her body..."

As soon as I'm left alone
The devil wanders into my soul
And I pretend to myself
And I pretend to myself

I go out to the old milestone
Insanely expecting you to come there knowing
That I wait for you there
That I wait for you there

Come
Come
Come here at once
Come
Come
On a night with no moon

Because

All of my being is now in pining
All of my being is now in pining

What formerly cheered me now seems insignificant
Insignificant