Story Behind The Song
Man being crucified with Jesus asks and receives liberty from suffering
Song Description
"Were you there" gospel retro redone with new ideas / country / blue / gospel crossover
| Song Length |
5:38 |
Genre |
Blues - Gospel, Folk - Religious |
| Tempo |
Floating |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Poignant |
Subject |
Spirituality |
| Language |
English |
Era |
1950 - 1959 |
Lyrics
Jesus died on Friday afternoon (5:38)
© 2006 Bruce Mills (ASCAP)
Portions adapted from traditional spiritual "Were You There?"
The Hymnal for Celebration and Worship (© 1986 WORD MUSIC, Waco, Texas) p.181
When Jesus died on Friday afternoon
The sun turned black and hid behind the moon
The prophesies came true - all the mountains shook
The father turned his back - he could not look
When Jesus died on Friday afternoon
Above his head - dark angels hid the moon
Below his feet - blood and water soaked - the earth
And on his side the sorry sinner spoke - and the sinner says / oh the sinner says:
Chorus
Jesus - please take me with you where you go - he says
Please forgive me Jesus - for what I did was wrong - I know
I really do know that what I did was very wrong - so wrong
But Jesus - I never knew - I never knew - that death would take so long
Break
When Jesus died on Friday afternoon
The thunder came real hard - that afternoon - no mercy
There was no mercy as he suffered for so long - but Jesus says
Please don't forget me when I'm gone away - and Jesus says:
Chorus
Sinner I will take you where I go - oh Jesus says
Sinner - I forgive you though what you did was wrong - so wrong - and Jesus says
Forgive them - oh my father - for they know not what they do
And dying doesn't take so long - it's the suffering - it's just the suffering - that's so slow
When Jesus died on Friday afternoon
The sun turned black and hid behind the rising moon
The prophesies came true - the dying done - now all the dying done
The people now believe - oh
The people now believe
The people now believe -
This is - this is - the father's son