The Price He Paid

I said I would have my fling,          And do what a young man may;     And I didn't believe a thing          That the parsons have to say.     I didn't believe in a God          That gives us blood like fire,     Then flings us into hell because          We answer the call of desire.     And I said:    'Religion is rot,          And the laws of the world are nil;     For the bad man is he who is caught          And cannot foot his bill.     And there is no place called hell;          And heaven is only a truth     When a man has his way with a maid,          In the fresh keen hour of youth.     'And money can buy us grace,          If it rings on the plate of the church:     And money can neatly erase          Each sign of a sinful smirch.'     For I saw men everywhere,          Hotfooting the road of vice;     And women and preachers smiled on them          As long as they paid the price.     So I had my joy of life:          I went the pace of the town;     And then I took me a wife,          And started to settle down.     I had gold enough and to spare          For all of the simple joys     That belong with a house and a home          And a brood of girls and boys.     I married a girl with health          And virtue and spotless fame.     I gave in exchange my wealth          And a proud old family name.     And I gave her the love of a heart          Grown sated and sick of sin!     My deal with the devil was all cleaned up,          And the last bill handed in.     She was going to bring me a child,          And when in labour she cried     With love and fear I was wild -          But now I wish she had died.     For the son she bore me was blind          And crippled and weak and sore!     And his mother was left a wreck.          It was so she settled my score.     I said I must have my fling,          And they knew the path I would go;     Yet no one told me a thing          Of what I needed to know.     Folks talk too much of a soul          From heavenly joys debarred -     And not enough of the babes unborn,          By the sins of their fathers scarred.