I'll See You
V.O.X Lyrics

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What's with the angel and what's with the devil
They keep swapping shoulders and I can't tell which from which
"Will you be my Kris kindle? Will you be my better nature?"
Says one to the other but I think they're only showing off

I caught them play poker
And I think it was the devil who said
"I'll see your heart and I'll raise you mine"

Yeah, they keep swapping shoulders I think there's something going on
"Will you be my sweet pea? Will you be the card up my sleeve?"
Says one to the other and this time they hold their gaze
For too long

Now they're playing poker
And this time it's the angel who says
"I'll see your heart and I'll raise you mine"

This is the story of the angel
Who played poker with the devil
In the Garden of Eden
Before it all went pear shaped

They said
"I'll see your heart and I'll raise you mine"

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of V.O.X's "I'll See You," the lead singer describes the confusing dynamic between an angel and a devil. The lyrics suggest that the two are constantly swapping shoulders, and it's difficult for the singer to tell them apart. The angel seems to be asking the devil to be his better nature or conscience, but the singer thinks they're only showing off. The second verse describes the two playing poker, with the devil declaring that he'll see the other's heart and raise his own. In the third verse, the angel asks the devil to be his card up his sleeve or his secret weapon, and they hold their gaze for too long this time. In the final lines, the song suggests that the angel and the devil share a history that goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden.

Reading between the lines, "I'll See You" can be interpreted in different ways. At one level, it could be a commentary on the blurred lines between good and evil, with the angel and the devil representing the two sides of human nature. The lyrics suggest that both sides can be devious and manipulative even as they claim to be looking out for our best interests. Another way of interpreting the song is as an exploration of the tension between free will and fate. The allusion to the Garden of Eden suggests that the angel and the devil have been locked in a battle for human souls ever since the beginning of time, and that ultimately, it's up to us to choose which side we want to be on.

Line by Line Meaning

What's with the angel and what's with the devil
The singer is questioning the constant presence of good and evil in their life.

They keep swapping shoulders and I can't tell which from which
The presence of good and evil in their life is constantly shifting and unclear.

"Will you be my Kris kindle? Will you be my better nature?"
One of the two conflicting forces is asking the other to be their moral compass.

Says one to the other but I think they're only showing off
The singer believes that the two forces are not genuine in their requests to be each other's better nature.

I caught them play poker
The singer has witnessed a confrontation between good and evil.

And I think it was the devil who said
The singer believes that the force of evil made a particular move in the confrontation.

"I'll see your heart and I'll raise you mine"
The devil is willing to take risks and bet against the force of good.

Yeah, they keep swapping shoulders I think there's something going on
The presence of good and evil continues to fluctuate, signaling a deeper conflict.

"Will you be my sweet pea? Will you be the card up my sleeve?"
The force of good is now asking the force of evil to work together.

Says one to the other and this time they hold their gaze
The two forces are now making direct eye contact, possibly indicating a more serious confrontation.

For too long
Their prolonged eye contact is unsettling and possibly concerning for the singer.

Now they're playing poker
The confrontation has escalated to a game of poker, in which each force bets against the other.

And this time it's the angel who says
The force of good now makes a move against the force of evil.

"I'll see your heart and I'll raise you mine"
The force of good is also willing to take risks and bet against the force of evil.

This is the story of the angel
The song is a retelling of a classic conflict between good and evil.

Who played poker with the devil
The confrontation between good and evil takes the form of a game of poker.

In the Garden of Eden
The setting of the confrontation is the mythical Garden of Eden.

Before it all went pear shaped
The singer is referencing the biblical fall from grace by using a colloquial phrase to describe the event.

They said
The song concludes with a repetition of the betting phrase used by both good and evil throughout the confrontation.

"I'll see your heart and I'll raise you mine"
The final repetition of this phrase emphasizes the ongoing conflict between good and evil, which has yet to be resolved.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRIAN PATRICK CROSBY, DAVE BRIAN GERAGHTY, DOMINIC MICHAEL PHILLIPS, PAUL ANTHONY NOONAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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