NationStates Jolt Archive

Commentary: This classic folksong is thought-provoking and worthy of discussion. Personally, I think it provides a uniquely insightful view of Jesus Christ and what it means to follow him.

Jesus Christ was a man that traveled through this land;
A carpenter, true and brave;
Said to the rich, "Give your goods to the poor",
So they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.

Jesus was a man, a carpenter by hand;
A hard working man and brave;
And a dirty little coward called Judas Iscariot
Laid Jesus Christ in His grave.

He went to the preacher, He went to the sheriff,
He told them all the same,
"Sell all of your jewelry and give it to the poor,"
But 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 a cross.
Then they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.

The people of the land took Jesus by the hand,
They followed Him far and wide;
"I come not to bring you peace, but a sword",
So they killed Jesus Christ on the sly.

He went to the sick, he went to the poor;
And he went to the hungry and the lame;
Said that the poor would one day win this world,
And 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 a cross.
Then they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.

The poor workin' people, they followed Him around,
They sung and they shouted gay,
The cops and the soldiers, they 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,
And everybody wondered why,
It was the landlord and the soldiers that he hired,
To nail Jesus Christ in the sky.

They nailed Him there to die on a cross in the sky,
In the lightning, the thunder and the rain.
Judas Iscariot committed suicide
When they laid poor Jesus Christ in his grave.

When the love of the poor shall one day turn to hate,
When the patience of the workers gives away;
"Would be better for you rich if you never had been born",
So they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.

This song was written in New York City,
Of rich man, preachers, and slaves;
But if Jesus was to preach like He preached in Galilee,
They would lay Jesus Christ in His grave.

SEE? If he'd have been able to carry a gun, none of this would have happened! GOD BLESS THE SECOND AMENDMENT! YEEEEEEEEE HHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I particularly liked the last verse.

Here's another one, albeit somewhat more comical.

Longhaired Radical Socialist Jew
(The Gospel Song)

Well, Jesus was a homeless lad
With an unwed mother and an absent dad
And realy don't think he would have gotten that far
If Newt, Pat and Jesse had followed that star
So let's all sing out praises to
that longhaired radical socialist Jew

When Jesus taught the people he
Would never charge a tuition fee
He just look some fishes and some bread
And served up free school lunches instead
So let's all sing out praises to
That longhaired radical socialist Jew

He healed the blind and made them see
He brought the lame to tlieir feet
Rich and poor, any time, anywhere
Just pioneering that free health care
So let`s alI sing out praises to
That longhaired radica socialist Jew

Jesus hung wth a low-life crowd
But those working stiffs sure did him proud
Some were murderers, thieves and whores
But at least they didn't do it as legislators
So let's all sing out praises to
That longhaired radical socialist Jew

Jesus lived in troubled times
the religious right was on the rise
Oh what could have saved him from his terrible fate?
Separation of church and state.
So let's all sing out praises to
That longhaired radical socialist Jew

Sometimes I fall into deep despair
When I hear those hypocrites on the air
But every Sunday gives me hope
When pastor, deacon, priest, and pope
Are alI singing out their praises to
Some longhaired radical socialist Jew

They're all singing out their praises to
Some longhaired radical socialist Jew

Copyright © 1996 Hugh Blumenfeld/Hydrogen Jukebox Music (ASCAP)

Of course, if you're attempting to make an argument for redistribution with this posting of this song (which I would assume you are) it's not going to work completely well because Jesus didn't preach against wealth as bad or unjust, but he preached against wealth because worldly possessions would distract a person from the heavenly goal. That you would focus more on being happy here than you would on having eternal life.

Beyond that, Jesus argued for voluntary charitable behaviors, not enforced government redistribution. Leave unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. Let other people do as they will, try to convince them, but do not coerce them.

And a dirty little coward called Judas Iscariot
Laid Jesus Christ in His grave.

Well what would happened if Judas hadn't betrayed Jesus?He wouldn't have been able to die,thus saving everyone's souls.Christians would be pretty fucked then.
He may not have had a pleasant part to play,but the role of Judas was a vital one.

Are you asserting, Cat-Tribe, that if we all lived the Christian ideal of Jesus and the way he lived his life, we would all be more just, fair, etc.?

Had no idea you were a religious person, Cat - I thought you were an atheist.

Of course, if you're attempting to make an argument for redistribution with this posting of this song (which I would assume you are) it's not going to work completely well because Jesus didn't preach against wealth as bad or unjust, but he preached against wealth because worldly possessions would distract a person from the heavenly goal. That you would focus more on being happy here than you would on having eternal life.

Beyond that, Jesus argued for voluntary charitable behaviors, not enforced government redistribution. Leave unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. Let other people do as they will, try to convince them, but do not coerce them.
considering god created everything.. Caesar can claim ownership over nothing..

considering god created everything.. Caesar can claim ownership over nothing..

Ya he can,he's the Ceasar,he can do anything

Ya he can,he's the Ceasar,he can do anything

ROTFLMAO:p

Ya he can,he's the Ceasar,he can do anything
hmmm... fair enough then.. can't argue with that.. I like Ceasar!

great song, love it, love it