The prophet said, "Don't ever speak the name of love"
As he sat sipping on his whiskey coke
"There ain't no potion, ain't no magic strong enough
To break that kind of spell once it's spoke"
The jukebox started calling to the mourning doves
He crushed a piece of ice between his teeth
He said, "Believe me, boy, don't ever speak the name of love
The name of love will only name your grief"
"Now, King Solomon'll tell you love is vanity
And I guess he'd know, with seven hundred wives
And I don't think I'd survive that kind of anxiety
Even given seven hundred lives
"'Cause love, like any demon you might summon up
It only wants to see your soul in flames
Believe me, boy, don't ever speak the name of love
The name of love'll be chiseled on your chains"
The prophet said, "Don't ever speak the name of love"
And it looked like he was choking back a tear
He said, "You say it once, she says it once, it's not enough
And soon it's all you ever want to hear
"And every word you speak and every gift you give
Is just another boat song of a slave
Believe me, boy, don't ever speak the name of love
The name of love's the stone upon your grave"