This was a church
A house full of prayer
It ain’t that now
I could tear it down
There’s thieves at the altar
A snake wears the crown
Handing you coal
Swearing it’s gold
Look what they’ve done to this house of love
It’s too late to turn river to blood
The saviors come and gone, we’re all out of time
The devil’s in the temple and he ain’t no friend of mine
I’d turn things around
I would if I could
Crash through the gates
Break every chain
Jail for the jailers
Sing freedoms song
Amazing grace
Burn down this place
Look what they’ve done to this house of love
It’s too late to turn river to blood
The saviors come and gone, we’re all out of time
The devil’s in the temple and he ain’t no friend of mine
Look what they’ve done to this house of love
Look what they’ve done to this house of love
The devil’s in the temple and he’s making a mess
Got the Mona Lisa, got his hands up her dress
The gun is in his hand but he ain’t gonna confess
He lies
Look what they’ve done to this house of love
It’s too late to turn river to blood
The saviors come and gone, we’re all out of time
The devil’s in the temple and he ain’t no friend of mine
The devil’s in the temple and he ain’t no friend of mine
The devil’s in the temple and he ain’t no friend of mine
Unmasking Corruption and Betrayal in Sacred Spaces
“The Devil’s In The Temple” by Bon Jovi is a powerful song that uses religious imagery to explore themes of corruption, betrayal, and lost innocence. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a once-sacred place now defiled, with thieves and snakes replacing prayer and grace. The repeated refrain, “look what they’ve done to this house of love,” signals a deep sense of disappointment and outrage at how something pure has been tainted. The song suggests that those who were supposed to protect and serve have become the very source of decay, leaving the narrator feeling powerless yet yearning for redemption. The vivid metaphors of coal masquerading as gold and the devil’s presence evoke a sense of moral crisis that resonates far beyond the church walls.
Song Credits
- Artist: Bon Jovi
- Songwriters: Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Falcon
- Release Year: 2016
- Label: Island Records