Jesus Christ (Woody Guthrie)

The title isn't meant to say that Jesus Christ and Woody Guthrie were one and the same: just that Woody Guthrie wrote this song, and Jesus Christ is the title. Just to be clear.

Words by Woody Guthrie, the melody is traditional from the song "Jesse James".
Rise Up Singing chapter: Rich and Poor, p.183
Lyrics from http://www.woodyguthrie.org/Lyrics/Jesus_Christ.htm
Verses chords: G CG / G D / GG7 CG / GD G
Chorus chords: C G / - D / G CG / GD G

Jesus Christ was a man who traveled through the land
A hard-working man and brave
He said to the rich, "Give your money to the poor,"
But they laid Jesus Christ in His grave

Jesus was a man, a carpenter by hand
His followers true and brave
One dirty little coward called Judas Iscariot
Has 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,"
And they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.

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

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

This song was written in New York City
Of rich man, preacher, and slave
If Jesus was to preach what He preached in Galilee,
They would lay poor Jesus in His grave.


At the end I talk about Leon Rosselson and Roy Bailey a little, and their song: "Stand Up for Judas". It's related.