Magazine The Book lyrics

This man is at the door of Hell
Somehow it seems to be his destination
After a life of subtle stubbornness
He doesn't expect to find himself waking up out of a dream

He doesn't expect to pinch himself
And wake up and that kind of thing
In fact, the thought of that happening makes him smile
He's just mildly surprised to find himself there at the door of Hell

To all accounts, the kindly old man who is the doorman
(And who conceivably reminds him of his father)
Is sat reading a book but he gets up smartly
And without time for either of them
To feel that they're standing on ceremony

Says, "Hold my book for a minute
Would you? While I get the door open"
Presumably, you know, you need two hands to open the door

For some reason the old man doesn't just put his book down on the chair

It all happens quite quickly, he finds that he's made a decision
And is already holding the old man's book
As just about anybody else would have but it seems a bit curious
Because in however small a way you like to consider it

It is as if he's helping himself enter Hell, the path of least resistance
Of course at the same time he suddenly thinks
Even as he finally grips the book, "This is my chance for a reprieve
The final test, the straw which will tip the good deeds over the bad"

Next thing he knows, they have exchanged opinions on the book
And he has handed it back to the old man
And is being shown into Hell