The Rebel Jesus - Jackson Browne

The Rebel Jesus - Jackson Browne
(1997)
Lyrics:
All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tales
Giving thanks of God's graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

Will they call him by the "Prince Of Peace"
And they call him by "The Saviour"
And they pray to him upon the sea
And in every bold endeavor
As they fill his churches with their pride and gold
And their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that I worship in
From a temple to a robber's den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why they are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

But pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgement
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In this life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure and I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The
• Rebel
• Jesus
• Jackson
• Browne

[TheZanrak]

I didn't hear this song earlier.

Very beautiful song and picture!

[AquaBlueJonathan]

Thanks ^^

[MontyGirl550]

Great song. Rebel Jesus... Rebel Jackson.

[AquaBlueJonathan]

Yeah! me too ^^

[vegakata]

I love this song...how beautiful and true...

[AquaBlueJonathan]

The soul will be very beautiful who loves this song.

[eradanon]

Jackson actually understood "Christianity" as a follower-of-Jesus better than many who identify themselves as "Christians." Jesus was the epitome of a rebel . . . the rest is just useless religiousity, IMO, and I AM a Christian.

[Indra420]

My Dad sent me to this link- I followed because he's a great man and a great musician, whom I trust entirely. I teared up and damn near cried at 3:00. Thanks for posting! Amazing songwriting!

[juliesjames]

Jackson Browne was raised a Unitarian Universalist. As such, he (as I, a fellow UU) believed that Jesus was a man who lived a good life, was a teacher, and a man who devoted his life to helping others. A worthy man, but a man.

So no, he won't be writing that song, because it's not in our belief system to do so. But we respect other paths and beliefs if they work for those who follow them, so perhaps it's *your* job to write that particular song, @Yesica 1993.

[Yesica1993]

I loved this song when I first heard it. But it's always puzzling to see 'heathens and pagans' claiming to side with Jesus, while at the same time denying Him.

Jesus did not come to feed poor people. He came to die a humiliating, excruciating death - a death that WE deserved - for the payment of our sins, so He could offer forgiveness to those who acknowledge that sacrifice as their only hope for heaven.

Something tells me Browne won't be writing that song anytime soon.

[ashleypmo]

@eileen-- Jesus Christ was most certainly the original CHRISTian, a Christian being a person who believes in the deity of Christ and follows His commands and His words. The problem is that too many in the church rely in organized religion and it's distorted view of the relationship between God and man.

[steray8one]

I am so . . .busted

[goodthing52]

The way Christmas is and the way it should be.

[Coflun]

Nollaig Shona dhuit.

[WildeNotesMusic]

Thanks for posting the lyrics. Couple of minor corrections though.

In the first verse, it's " ... Will be gathering around the hearths and tables ... " (not "tales").

In the second verse, it's "Well, they call him by 'The Prince of Peace" ..." (not "Will they ...).

I love this recording by Browne but I like his recording on "The Bells Of Dublin" backed up by The Chieftains even better.

[strafgod]

Speak truth to power.

[WhitemageofDoom]

As a christian this is one of my favorite christian songs.

[lram100]

This song glorifies JC and disses "religion". I love it and I know JC would approve. What he did at the temple with the moneychangers would pale in comparison to what he could do with today's organized religion. If your heart is in the right place, the rest will follow, that is all one needs to know.