I wrote this last winter after Bruce Springsteen came to town. Maybe my emerging theology is showing…
(If you want to hear a live acoustic version of this song, click on myspace at the right side of the page.)
If Jesus was from Jersey (c flyertunes ‘08)
If Jesus was from Jersey
He would be the Boss
Of a traveling revival show
Fire water for the lost.
And every night there’s testimony
That a song might save the day
The E Street band of angels
Leading us all astray
I know that Jesus loves me
For the Bible tells me so
But the Boss will live forever
‘til every sinner sees the show…
If the Man was from the south Bronx
He’d have a hip-hop heart
He’d walk among the fatherless
He’d surely do his part
To relieve the suffering of His people
While hangin’ with his crew.
He’d sell his bling, let justice ring
He’d do all that he could do…
He’d rap about God’s mercy
Bless all the children in his crib.
He’d love and cherish women
And sacrifice his rib.
If Yeshua was from Minnesota
He be way up on the Range
He’d re-make himself a Gentile poet
Nobody’d think it strange…
He’d turn the tables and go electric
And wail his protest loud
And his friends would
All desert him–
But he’d bear the scornful crowd.
Nobody said it was easy
To be a prophet in our town
Nobody said it would be easy
To wear a thorny crown.
And if God the Father was from Liverpool
He’d take the names of saints
He’d beget himself into a band
And send the girls to faint.
He’d shock and awe the Germans with
A case of Anglo soul
And when the fullness of time had come
He’d save the world with rock and roll
And forty years ago we raised him up
We all sang that song of love
And then a crazy man came and cut him down
Yeah yeah yeah because of love…
If the Holy Spirit was from the Delta
You know he’d play the blues
He’d play the coronet in a big brass band
Trumpeting good news.
He’d lead the lost at Pentecost
To the very gates of Heaven
‘Laissez les bon temps rouller’
As all the sinners go marching in
We shall walk into the waters
Put our fingers in that dam!
And the sea will part before us
As we march onto dry land…
And He will kill the fatted calf
And bring all the homeless home
Then we’ll all sit down together
Everyone, at last, at home…
This is such a great song.
I like your style. I feel like I relate most to the Minnesota crowd. Of course, I do have friends there….
Rog, i was looking at some blog posts from a few weeks back, and meant to get w/ you to tell you how blessed i was by them… but more importantly just by YOU. I admire and love you very much. This Jesus from jersey tune is, in my humble opinion AMAZING from a lyrical standpoint. WONDERFUL, thought inpsiring work… you are a poet, thru and thru… and a darn excellant one at that. Remember: to be used for God’s purposes in people lives is the point of all of this. He has been showing me this very clearly and i am always humbled and honored when HE gives me the opportunitys to do so. He has given you the opportunitys in my life, i can tell ye. Keep the faith, remaim TRUE to who God has created you.. whether you are 100% aware of it or not: YOU ARE DOIN’ THE DEAL, YOU ARE SERVING GOD WITH YOUR PERSONHOOD And YOUR POETRY/SONGS. I am among many who thank Him for you. i will call soon. - greg
There is absolutely no evidence that Jesus could play the guitar or that he could even carry a tune - it was David that could “play that thing”.
Two thoughts:
1. I will have to percolate on the idea that song writers serve as prophetic voices - think through what it means to be prophetic. Is this the exclusive domain to songwriters (and poets I presume) because they use words - or do all artists serve in this function (unwittingly or not)
2. Whether the Holy Spirit would play the Delta Blues - I was thinking it would more likely be Chicago style -
On the prophetic thing - Bob Dylan - yes - Springsteen - no (I’ve never liked the Boss) - The Beatles - maybe - Who’s the musician from the Delta?
Very well - written song - can only imagine what the music sounds like
All artists are prophetic. I was thinking specifically about songwriters (because “in my mind”–it’s who I am)
wIt sounds like you figured out who the other prophet/musicians were–who do you think the Holy Spirit from the Delta might be? or chicago?
For the unplugged version of the music, check my live take on myspace.
Needs harmonica and your harmony live. Where ’s the gig?