666

If you're in the mood for a banjo-tinged lament full of end-times imagery, then you're ready for the third song on the second side of Larry Norman's In Another Land.

In the midst of the war he offered us peace

He came like a lover from out of the east

With the face of an angel and the heart of a beast

His intentions were six sixty six

He walked up to the temple with gold in his hand

And he bought off the priests and propositioned the land

And the world was his harlot and laid in the sand

While the band played six sixty six

We served at his table and slept on the floor

But he starved us and beat us and nailed us to the door

Well I'm ready to die, I can't take any more

And I'm sick of his lies and his tricks

He told us he loved us, but that was a lie

There was blood in his pockets and death in his eyes

Well my number is up, and I'm willing to die

If the band will play six

If the band will play six sixty

If the band will play six sixty six

©1973 Glenwood Music Corp. Strawbed Music

Truth is...for me, this song doesn't express any real meaning as much as it evokes a feeling. I listen to it and, like the apostle John, start longing for that place Jesus went to prepare for us (John 14:1-3). "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20)