A Devil Always Wins

## Promotional single by Aurora

"**A Devil Always Wins**" is a song by Australian singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer Aurora. It was released on July 3, 2015 as the third and final promotional single from Aurora's second studio album, *Silhouettes* (2015).

## Background and composition

Aurora continued promotion of her forthcoming album by releasing would-be deep cuts as digital promotional singles. Following various negative reviews of her prior promotional release, Aurora set out to write its antithesis. "Where ['More Than This'] celebrated self-confidence in an intentionally hyperbolic manner, ['A Devil Always Wins'] paints a clearer picture of the pain and perils of pride and overconfidence," Aurora elaborated on her Instagram.

"A Devil Always Wins" is composed as a dark wave and nu metal song. Lyrically, it features a narrative depicting an individual corrupted by pride and enjoying their resultant damnation. Sonic and lyrical context clues inform the listener that Aurora is actually playing devil's advocate in order to dissuade others from following down this path.

## Critical reception

"A Devil Always Wins" received mostly favourable reviews, with critics responding positively to Aurora's portrayal of an individual consumed by pride.

It received a rating of 7.5 by Platvian music critics.

## Commercial performance

"A Devil Always Wins" debuted and peaked at #5 on the Platvia HitList chart dated July 14, 2015.

## Lyrics

*There's a sinner in every saint*
*There's a saint in every sinner*
*Only one decides your fate*
*Only one can be the winner*
**First Verse**
The angel on my shoulder
Will fight for full control
But I don't need a savior
I'm perfect on my own
If grandiose delusions
Won't get me very far
These transient illusions
Will tear this world apart
**Pre-Chorus**
The father of all sins
Keeps calling out my name
I willingly give in
And play his wicked games
**Chorus**
This war's already won and lost
A victory for pride
I'll grin regardless of the cost
And hold my head up high
I'll burn the holy book again
And die with all my sins
For when it comes to wicked games
A devil always wins
**Second Verse**
The devil on my shoulder
Becomes all that I am
My ego growing bolder
Succeeds the worth of man
An otherworldly power
Inside this human shell
Can't bear it any longer
Must leave this mortal realm
**Pre-Chorus**
The father of all sins
Keeps calling out my name
I willingly give in
And play his wicked games
**Chorus**
This war's already won and lost
A victory for pride
I'll grin regardless of the cost
And hold my head up high
I'll burn the holy book again
And die with all my sins
For when it comes to wicked games
A devil always wins
**Bridge**
I'm proud to say my pride has brought me where I ought to be
A sacrifice not made in vain, but reasoned vanity
I feel my soul ignite as I rejoice in my damnation
A fierce demonic presence will at last make my acquaintance
This tantalizing creature rendered worthless by my aura
I'll claim my rightful place and bring back chaos to this order
My dominance asserted as I win this wicked game
I've overthrown, I own the throne; this hell is my domain
**Chorus**
This war's already won and lost
A victory for pride
I'll grin regardless of the cost
And hold my head up high
I'll burn the holy book again
And die with all my sins
For when it comes to wicked games
A devil always wins
**Outro *(Spoken)***
*There's a sinner in every saint*
*There's a saint in every sinner*
*Only one decides your fate*
*Only one can be the winner*

## Live performances

"A Devil Always Wins" was included in the setlist for Aurora's debut concert tour, The Heartstorm Tour. It was performed as the first track during the tour's fourth act, titled "Pressure", being the sixteenth performance overall.

## Re-recorded version

Following her split from Red Rose Records in 2020, "A Devil Always Wins" was re-recorded for Aurora's album *Silhouettes: Deluxe* (2021).