Ralph McTell - Jesus Wept Lyrics

The day that Jesus arrived in Jerusalem
The adventure almost over
The night he hadn't slept
Dreams and premonitions made him tired
And emotional and that's why Jesus wept

He wasn't scared of dying
He'd made that commitment
Fulfilling the old prophecy
his bargain he had kept
He was due some satisfaction
But he was deeply troubled
And that's why Jesus wept

Was this his true destiny
Or could he still make changes
Someone else's nightmare into
Which he'd stepped?
Damage limitation couldn't save the situation
And that's why Jesus wept

In his dream he saw the crusade
And all wars that would follow
Declared in his name when he
Thought he'd been direct
Love thy neighbour, do not kill
And turn the other cheek
And that's why Jesus wept

And he saw the inquisition and
The burning of the saints
And the conversion of the innocents
He swore he would protect
And he saw them bless the bomb
That was dropped on Hiroshima
And that's why Jesus wept

Though Peter would betray him
He made him the rock
On which he would build his church to
Sort of keep him in his debt
A man about to die is allowed some confusion
And that's why Jesus wept

And he thought of his disciples
Especially of Judas
The job that was ordained for him
And the reward he'd collect
And he saw him in the tree
With silver coins around him
And that's why Jesus wept

Then he thought about the good times
When he turned the tables over
Chastised the money lenders and he
Earned the boy's respect
He was proud of Godly anger
But ashamed of manly temper
And that's why Jesus wept

Rumours started flying about water into wine
Sight to the blind and that
He'd even raised the dead
The biggest miracle was that
Anyone believed it and that's why Jesus wept

Then he mused on human nature
How fickle were the public
So ready to accept him
So quick now to reject
Where were the five thousand he
Fed with loaves and fishes?
And that's why Jesus wept

In his dream he saw a garden
With all his friends asleep
He walked away the hours
Until the morning crept
And he wondered would the nails hurt
Would he be man enough?
And that's why Jesus wept

Was he supposed to bear it like
A man or like a God
Would tears show a weakness or
A strength by their effect?
Would they be viewed as compassion
Or failure and self-pity?
And that's why Jesus wept

Then he saw his houses burning on
Both sides of a border
Saw the guiltless suffer with the
Guilty and the rest
And when they called his name and
He knew he couldn't help them
That's why Jesus wept

Then he saw two armies marching
And he heard their crucifixes
Reduced to superstitious muted jangling
Round their necks
And he heard his name intoned
As they interred their companion
And that's why Jesus wept

Then he thought about his mother and
The stories she had told him
Who'd filled his dreams with angels
Put voices in his head
Then the scent of pine trees made
Him think of dear old Joseph
That's why Jesus wept that's why Jesus wept