1692 Was a Very Good Year

1692 Was a Very Good Year

(v1) 1692 was a very good year
In Salem, Massachusetts they were living in fear
No one could deny, that the devil was near

Everywhere you went, it was so rich
Wild accusations that you were a witch
Hysterical people, they found their niche

(Pre-chorus 1) No one imagined that there could be a mistake
It got out of hand, now it was too late
What did it matter if some were burned at the stake?
1692 was a very, very, very good year

(v2) 1692 meant evil decrees
Fighting a monster that you couldn’t see
It was declared, there’s an emergency

Orders came down from way up on high
You must persecute or else you will die
It never occurred to anyone—this was a lie

(Pre-chorus 2) Expert opinion was the rage of the day
The people bowed down, all started to pray
There were no questions and they always obeyed
1692 was a very, very, very good year

( Chorus 1) THEY claimed there were witches, who they accused
They singled them out, “we’ll give the devil his due”
“Let’s make it legal, the courts must decide”
So sure of themselves in their Puritan pride
Sinners possessed, and they could not hide
And all of the judges went along for the ride.

(v3) Instrumental

(Bridge): Good Old Cotton Mather
The Minister who wrote the book
He pointed his pious finger
At all the innocent souls that he took

(v4) 1692 was the time to confess
Too many sinners, they were a threat
We have all the proof we need, that you can bet
A holy crusade, they had to attest
While pinning shiny medals right on their chest
Such an unholy plan, they could never give it a rest

(Pre-chorus 3) God’s vengeful word was the science of the day
Ignore it just once and you will surely pay
Don’t trust the science it’ll lead to your moral decay
1692 was a very, very, very good year

(Chorus 2) THEY claimed there were witches, who they accused
They singled them out, “we’ll give the devil his due”
“Let’s make it legal, the courts must decide”
So sure of themselves in their Puritan pride
Sinners possessed, and they could not hide
And all of the judges went along for the ride.

(Coda) 1692 Was a Very Good Year
In Salem, Massachusetts they were living in fear
No one could deny, that the devil was near