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 I was praying last night when an angel broke the line
 She said "I'm gonna have to put you on hold for a time"
 I said "Hold like Hell, let me talk to the Boss"
 She said "Sorry sucker (sinner), it's the Boss's day off"
 And I realized then that the wages of sin
 Was two bucks an hour and working weekends

 I was ignoring the thief who was lashed to the cross
 He cried "Help me get this son-of-a-bitch off"
 I said "I would if I could, I can't so I won't
 Well I wouldn't want you messing your hair up, so don't"
 And I realized then that the wages of sin
 Was all the lumber you can carry, all the nails you can bend

 The wages of sin, the price that you pay
 Is worrying and fretting every second of the day
 If Heaven is guilt, no sex and no show
 Then I'm not sure if I really want to go, Oh

 The wages of sin, the reward of fear
 Is worrying and fretting every second of the year
 The Church and the State, your God and Countrykind
 One gets your body, the other gets your mind

 Mary, Mary Magdalene, how 'bout a date?
 You've been wasting your time staying up so late
 Your boyfriend's dead, the word is you're a whore
 Just about then I heard a knock on the door
 And I realized then that the wages of sin
 Was a bad reputation and too many friends

 The wages of sin (repeats