Eban Post
Frank Hayes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Eban Post was pale as a ghost but his eyes were black and cold
He'd done with pity and he'd done with love for Eban Post was old
Two-hundred years he'd milked men's fears then picked them to the bone
Saying death is dark and Hell is deep and the devil takes care of his own
Death is dark and Hell is deep and the devil takes care of his own

The three men on the mountain cried, "We vow to see you dead."
But Eban Post through it only laughed. He cackled and he said,

"Two-hundred men have sworn my end yet here I stand alone!
For death is dark and Hell is deep and the devil takes care of his own."
Death is dark and Hell is deep and the devil takes care of his own

Then out of the sky came a deathly cry and a shadow rushing down
And it smashed the men and it plucked old Eban Post from off the ground
And he jeered with glee at the dying three and he answered every moan,
"Death is dark and Hell is deep and the devil takes care of his own"
Death is dark and Hell is deep and the devil takes care of his own

Old Eban Post cackled at the wrecks of the men below
And he laughed again but stopped for then he felt the bird let go
And he gave a cry but the bird let fly and dashed him to the stone
For death is dark and Hell is deep and the devil takes care of his own
Death is dark and Hell is deep and the devil takes care of his own

And the devil will acclaim his own

Overall Meaning

The song, Eban Post, is a haunting ballad with a distinctly supernatural theme. The lyrics describe an old man named Eban Post, who has done with pity and love, and is now pale as a ghost with dark and cold eyes. Eban Post had made a career out of exploiting people's fear, milked their fears, picked them to the bone, and declared that death is dark and Hell is deep, and the devil takes care of his own. The three men on the mountain had vowed to kill him, but Eban just laughed at them. He pointed out that two-hundred men had sworn to kill him throughout his life, but he stood alone. He was confident that the devil would protect him from all those who sought his demise.

As the song progresses, we witness Eban Post's downfall. A shadow rushing down from the sky smashed the men and picked Eban Post from the ground. He delighted in the dying men's misery, stating that death was dark, hell was deep, and the devil takes care of his own. Eban Post laughed until the bird that had picked him up let go, and he fell to his death upon the stone. This tragic end demonstrates that even those who make deals with the devil can't cheat death forever. The song and its imagery evoke a sense of dread and the macabre in their depiction of Eban Post's ultimate fate.

Line by Line Meaning

Eban Post was pale as a ghost but his eyes were black and cold
Eban Post appeared as a ghostly figure, but his eyes had a sinister and frigid expression.

He'd done with pity and he'd done with love for Eban Post was old
Eban Post had lost all sense of compassion and love due to his advanced age.

Two-hundred years he'd milked men's fears then picked them to the bone
For two centuries, Eban Post had exploited people's fears and taken everything from them, leaving them empty.

Saying death is dark and Hell is deep and the devil takes care of his own
Eban Post often preached about the horrors of death and Hell, and how the devil takes care of his own.

The three men on the mountain cried, "We vow to see you dead."
Three men on the mountain made a vow to kill Eban Post.

But Eban Post through it only laughed. He cackled and he said,
Despite the threat, Eban Post laughed and mocked the men.

"Two-hundred men have sworn my end yet here I stand alone!
"I have had two hundred people swear to kill me in the past, but I am still standing."

Then out of the sky came a deathly cry and a shadow rushing down
Suddenly, there was a terrifying scream from the sky, and a shadowy figure descended towards them.

And it smashed the men and it plucked old Eban Post from off the ground
The shadow attacked and killed the men, and then took Eban Post with it.

And he jeered with glee at the dying three and he answered every moan,
Eban Post taunted and delighted in the suffering of the dying men and responded to their moans with pleasure.

"Death is dark and Hell is deep and the devil takes care of his own"
Eban Post continued to preach about death and the power of the devil, even as he was being attacked and taken away.

Old Eban Post cackled at the wrecks of the men below
Eban Post laughed uncontrollably at the destruction of the men below.

And he laughed again but stopped for then he felt the bird let go
Eban Post continued to laugh, but stopped when he realized the bird carrying him had let go.

And he gave a cry but the bird let fly and dashed him to the stone
Eban Post screamed as the bird released him and he crashed into the rocks below, dying.

And the devil will acclaim his own
The devil will celebrate and reward those who follow his ways, as Eban Post had preached.

Contributed by Benjamin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS