From early days of infancy,
through trembling years of youth,
long murky middle-age and final hours
long in the tooth,
he is the hundred names of terror ---
creature you love the least.
Picture his name before you
and exorcise the beast.

He roved up and down through history ---
spectre with tales to tell.
In the darkness when the campfire's dead ---
to each his private hell.
If you look behind your shoulder
as you feel his eyes to feast, you
can witness now the everchanging
nature of the beast.

Beastie [x4]

If you wear a warmer sporran,
you can keep the foe at bay.
You can pop those pills and visit some
psychiatrist who'll say ---
There's nothing I can do for you,
everywhere's a danger zone.
I'd love to help get rid of it,
but I've got one of my own.
(beastie)

There's a beast upon my shoulder (beastie)
and a fiend upon my back. (beastie)
Feel his burning breath a heaving, (beastie)
smoke oozing from his stack.

And he moves beneath the covers (beastie)
or he lies below the bed. (beastie)
He's the beast upon your shoulder. (beastie)
He's the price upon your head.

He's the lonely fear of dying,
and for some, of living too.
He's your private nightmare pricking.
He'd just love to turn the screw.
So stand as one defiant ---
yes, and let your voices swell.
Stare that beastie in the face
and really give him hell.
(beastie)

There's a beast upon my shoulder (beastie)
and a fiend upon my back. (beastie)
Feel his burning breath a heaving, (beastie)
smoke oozing from his stack. (beastie)
And he moves beneath thecovers (beastie)
or he lies below the bed. (beastie)
He's the beast uponyour shoulder. (beastie)
He's the price upon your head.