Ralph McTell – Jesus Wept (Guitar)

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The day that Jesus arrived in Jerusalem

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adventure almost over, the night he hadn't slept

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Dreams and premonitions made him tired and emotional,

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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He wasn't scared of dying, he'd made that commitment

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Fulfilling the old prophecy, his bargain he had kept

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He was due some satisfaction, but he was deeply troubled,

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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Was this his true destiny, or could he still make changes,

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Someone else's nightmare into which he'd stepped?

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Damage limitation couldn't save the situation,

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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In his dream he saw the crusade and all wars that would follow,

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Declared in his name when he thought he'd been direct

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Love thy neighbour, do not kill, and turn the other cheek,

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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He saw the inquisition and the burning of the saints,

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The conversion of the innocents he swore he would protect

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He saw them bless the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima,

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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Though Peter would betray him, he made him the rock

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On which he would build his church to sort of keep him in his debt

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A man about to die is allowed some confusion,

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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He thought of his disciples, especially of Judas,

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The job that was ordained for him and the reward he'd collect

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He saw him in the tree with the silver coins around him,

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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Then he thought about the good times when he turned the tables over,

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Chastised the money lenders and he earned the boy's respect

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He was proud of Godly anger, but ashamed of manly temper,

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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Rumours started flying about water into wine,

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Sight to the blind and that he'd even raised the dead

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The biggest miracle was that anyone believed it,

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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Then he mused on human nature, how fickle were the public,

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So ready to accept him, so quick now to reject

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Where were the five thousand he fed with loaves and fishes?

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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In his dream he saw a garden with all his friends asleep,

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He walked away the hours until the morning crept

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He wondered would the nails hurt, would he be man enough?

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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Was he supposed to bear it like a man or like a God,

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Would tears show a weakness or a strength by their effect?

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Would they be viewed as compassion or failure and self-pity?

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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Then he saw his houses burning on both sides of a border,

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Saw the guiltless suffer with the guilty and the rest

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And when they called his name and he knew he couldn't help them,

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That's why Jesus wept.

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Then he saw two armies marching and he heard their crucifixes

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Reduced to superstitious muted jangling round their necks

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And he heard his name intoned as they interred their companion,

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And that's why Jesus wept.

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Then he thought about his mother and the stories she had told him,

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Who'd filled his dreams with angels, put voices in his head

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Then the scent of pine trees made him think of dear old Joseph,

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And that's why Jesus wept.

            C    G
That's why Jesus wept.