Jesus Christ

Album: This Land Is Your Land: Asch Recordings Volume 1 (1961)
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  • Jesus Christ was a man that traveled through the land
    Hard working man and brave
    He said to the rich, "Give your goods to the poor"
    So they laid Jesus Christ in His grave
    Yes, Jesus was a man, a carpenter by hand
    His followers true and brave
    One dirty coward called Judas Iscariot
    Laid poor Jesus in His grave

    He went to the preacher, He went to the sheriff
    Told them all the same
    "Sell all of your jewelry and give it to the poor"
    So they laid Jesus Christ in His grave

    When Jesus come to town, all the working folks around
    Believed what he did say
    The bankers and the preachers, they nailed Him on the cross
    And they laid Jesus Christ in his grave

    And the working people followed him around
    Singing and shouting gay
    But the cops and soldiers nailed him in the air
    And they laid Jesus Christ in his grave

    Well the people held their breath when they heard about his death
    Everybody wondered why
    It was the landlord and the soldiers that they hired
    To nail Jesus Christ in the sky

    This song was made in New York City
    Of rich man and preachers, and slaves
    If Jesus was to preach like He preached in Galillee
    They would lay Jesus Christ in His grave

    Yes, Jesus was a man and a carpenter by hand
    His followers true and brave
    One dirty coward called Judas Iscariot
    As laid poor Jesus in His grave Writer/s: WOODY GUTHRIE
    Publisher: T.R.O. INC.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Ken from Philadelphia, PaThis song was used to great effect during the end credits of Michael Moore's documentary, "Capitalism, A Love Story".
  • Ken from Philadelphia, PaWhat a great song! So simple, so thought-provoking, and as meaningful in today's world as it was when it was written 70+ years ago. One doesn't need to do much parsing of the lyrics to see what Guthrie is saying: Jesus Christ's ministry (and, thus, by definition, Christianity) was all about helping and empowering the poorest of his people, and, when the rich and powerful realized this and, moreover, realized it was a threat to their own wealth, they saw to it that Jesus Christ was crucified. Given that we live in a time where the very richest among us exert enormous influence on our laws and lives, perhaps we would be smart to heed Guthrie's words before it is too late.
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