Jesus Christ by Woody Guthrie

Michael Moore’s latest film (Capitalism: A Love Story) features this notable Woody Guthrie song "Jesus Christ.” It is heard in its entirety while the final credits roll. The movie is a resounding condemnation of our economic system---one that values money more than human beings, one that is not one bit "democratic," and one that can be labeled as "legalized greed." Woody Guthrie wrote this song in 1940, so we haven't come very far, have we? Here are the timeless lyrics:

Jesus Christ was a man who traveled through the land
Hard working man and brave
He said to the rich "Give your goods to the poor"
So 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 sick, he went to the poor
And he went to the hungry and the lame
Said that the poor would one day win this world,
So they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.

He went to the preacher, he went to the sheriff
Told them all the same;
Sell all of your jewelry and give it to the poor
But they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.

When Jesus came to town, the working folks around
Believed what he did say
The bankers and the preachers they nailed him on a cross
And then they laid poor Jesus in his grave.

Poor working people, they followed him around
Sung and shouted gay
Cops and the soldiers, they nailed him in the air
And they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.

Well, the people held their breath when they heard about his death
And everybody wondered why
It was the landlord and the soldiers that he hired
That nailed Jesus Christ in the sky.

When the love of the poor shall one day turn to hate
When the patience of the workers gives away
Would be better for you rich if you never had been born
So they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.

This song was written in New York City
Of rich men, preachers and slaves
Yes, if Jesus was to preach like he preached in Galillee
They would lay Jesus Christ in his grave.

Amen.