Waking Up the Devil
Hinder Lyrics


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Almost midnight
I'm just sittin' at the bar
You slide right up
Whisper "I know who you are"

And you want a little company tonight
You need a little love, I can give it to you right
Be careful what you wish for
If I'm gonna drive, girl it's gonna be one hell of a ride

Wakin' up the devil
Rattlin' the cage inside of me
I miss him a little
When he gets out, we're one hell of a team
I know when I leave
He locks up and throws away the key
But his hand's on the wheel and my foot's on the pedal
Wakin' up the devil

Up walks some guy
Starin' a hole through me
Grabs her too tight
Then he pulls her off my knee

I didn't come here lookin' for a fight
But if you're gonna bark boy, you better have a bite
I ain't been crazy in a really long time
But you're about to need a good friend tonight

Wakin' up the devil
Rattlin' the cage inside of me
I miss him a little
When he gets out, we're one hell of a team
I know when I leave
He locks up and throws away the key
But his hand's on the wheel and my foot's on the pedal
Wakin' up the devil

Pretty girls and whiskey
Quarter bags and dimes
Put it in my face, I'm gonna do it every time
But try to keep me quiet
Try to hold me down
Damn it feels like heaven every time he comes around





Wakin' up the devil
Wakin' up the devil

Overall Meaning

Hinder's song "Waking Up the Devil" is a hard rock anthem about letting one's inner wild side take control. The lyrics describe the singer sitting at a bar when he is approached by a woman looking for company. He warns her that if he's going to take the wheel, it's going to be one hell of a ride. The chorus talks about the singer waking up the devil inside him and how he misses the feeling of being crazy. He knows that the devil inside him will take charge but it's an experience he craves.


The song's message is about embracing the wild and free aspects of oneself. The singer acknowledges that his wild side can be dangerous but that's what makes it so exciting. The chorus talks about his inner demon being locked away but he takes control when the devil is awakened.


The controversy surrounding the song is because it glorifies dangerous behavior and confuses recklessness with freedom. Waking up the devil inside someone could have serious consequences and it's not something to be taken lightly.


Line by Line Meaning

Almost midnight
It is getting late in the night


I'm just sittin' at the bar
The singer is currently at a bar


You slide right up
Someone approaches the singer


Whisper 'I know who you are'
The person whispers to the artist that they know who they are


And you want a little company tonight
The person wants company for the night


You need a little love, I can give it to you right
The singer offers to provide the person with love


Be careful what you wish for
The singer warns the person to be careful what they wish for


If I'm gonna drive, girl it's gonna be one hell of a ride
The artist warns that the experience will be intense


Wakin' up the devil
The artist is feeling intense and dangerous


Rattlin' the cage inside of me
The artist's emotions are powerful and threatening


I miss him a little
The singer misses their dangerous side


When he gets out, we're one hell of a team
The artist feels powerful and dangerous when they embrace their dark side


I know when I leave
The singer knows when to reign in their dangerous side


He locks up and throws away the key
The singer puts their dangerous side away


But his hand's on the wheel and my foot's on the pedal
The singer is in control of their dangerous side


Up walks some guy
A man approaches


Starin' a hole through me
The man is staring at the artist aggressively


Grabs her too tight
The man grabs the person the singer is with aggressively


Then he pulls her off my knee
The man pulls the person the singer is with away


I didn't come here lookin' for a fight
The artist did not intend to cause trouble


But if you're gonna bark boy, you better have a bite
The artist warns the man to back up his aggression


I ain't been crazy in a really long time
The artist has not been this aggressive or dangerous in a long time


But you're about to need a good friend tonight
The singer is ready to fight if necessary


Pretty girls and whiskey
The artist is surrounded by attractive women and alcohol


Quarter bags and dimes
The singer is also surrounded by drugs


Put it in my face, I'm gonna do it every time
The singer is easily influenced to indulge in these vices


But try to keep me quiet
The singer does not want to be silenced


Try to hold me down
The artist resists anyone trying to control them


Damn it feels like heaven every time he comes around
The artist enjoys unleashing their dangerous side


Wakin' up the devil
The singer is embracing their dangerous side once again




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROSS HANSON, BRAD WARREN, BRETT WARREN, AUSTIN WINKLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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