I'll be with them asleep or dreaming
I'll be there when they wake up screaming
at the hour of death I will nurse them
to have a moment more to curse them
Watch the maggots crawl out of them
hear the angels call above them
see them as the cold wind sucks them
down to hell good night good luck then
If any should escape above me
I'll beg and cheat until they trust me
drag them down to be damned with me
laugh at them as they forgive me
My love's eyes are sparkling diamonds
Still the moon shows no light
This rose is withered may god deliver
The rake at the gates of hell tonight
I wish that they could walk forever
on the earth alone unfettered
until they beg for consummation
until they pray for sweat damnation
Then I'll come and bring them water
share their hopes, share their laughter
raise their hopes both sad and sunken
slash them up as they lie there drunken
Push them down into the foul mud
until they choke up on their own blood
drag them out before their last breath
and take away the mercy of death
My love's eyes are sparkling diamonds
Still the moon shows no light
This rose is withered may god deliver
The rake at the gates of hell tonight
copyright 1986 Shane McGowan
