The Devil You Know

Anthrax's song "The Devil You Know" delves into the darker aspects of human nature and the inevitability of facing one's inner demons. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a protagonist who is unapologetically brutal and unrepentant. The opening lines, "I've been a man of brutal means / Dealing out my business it's so obscene," set the tone for a character who is both feared and recognized for his ruthless actions. This individual is not seeking redemption but rather embracing his identity as a force of chaos and destruction.

The chorus, "Let the right one in / Ya gotta go with the devil you know," suggests a resigned acceptance of one's darker side. The phrase "the devil you know" is a common saying that implies it's better to deal with a familiar adversary than to face an unknown one. In this context, it reflects the protagonist's acknowledgment that his brutal nature is an intrinsic part of who he is. The repeated line, "It's a goddamn sin," underscores the moral ambiguity and the internal conflict of accepting one's darker impulses.

The song also touches on themes of inevitability and the cyclical nature of violence. Lines like "What goes around comes around / And what comes around is gonna get beat down" highlight the idea that actions have consequences, and the cycle of violence perpetuates itself. The protagonist's acceptance of his role in this cycle is evident in the line, "Another right that I made wrong / Another place I don't belong." The song concludes with a stark declaration of self-awareness: "It's just the devil in me / There's no hypocrisy / What you see is what you see / What you get is what you get." This final statement reinforces the theme of embracing one's true nature, no matter how dark it may be.