Anno Domini 1976

they tell me that Jesus died for our sins

nailed to a cross on a hill

in a country far away from here

nearly two thousand years ago.

 

now I never knew the man personally

though it seems he was a fine saintly doctor

who travelled around Gallilee preaching

his thoughts and healing the sick

and suffering for the sins of mankind

that sin he suffered for being ignorance

which is the ageless sin of us all.

 

so it seems right somehow

that Jesus did not die for our sins

but that he died because of them

-- that we in our ignorance did crucify him

and he said:

Forgive them father for they know not what they do

Jesus you poor suffering deluded man

you did what you could

 

-- of course they know not what they do

and they don't bloody well know now

but you did not die in vain

you lived your short life well

human and real and stumbling and lost

like us all and no one to help

we're all in this together

ignorance the sin and sinners all of us

 

-- Jesus it is the easter holy day

anno domini 1976 and nothing has changed

believe me when I say:

we all die a little every day

nailed to our crosses on hills

in countries far away.

 

                                                                                   easter sunday