Jerusalem

Steve Earle is a remarkable songwriter. Apart from his writing he can be a complete horse's ass (and he can be a semi-horse's ass in his writing---see "Condi, Condi"), but the man can write a song that'll bring a tear to your eye. If his song "Jerusalem" doesn't do that for you, then (or so it seems to me) you should think a bit harder about your faith in the context of the people who live in the Middle East.

Earle's song "Jerusalem" is on the album of the same name and also on a new live CD to be released this week.

Jerusalem (Steve Earle)

"I woke up this mornin' and none of the news was good
And death machines were rumblin' 'cross the ground where Jesus stood
And the man on my TV told me that it had always been that way
And there was nothin' anyone could do or say

"And I almost listened to him
Yeah, I almost lost my mind
Then I regained my senses again
And looked into my heart to find
That I believe that one fine day all the children of Abraham
Will lay down their swords forever in Jerusalem

"Well maybe I'm only dreamin' and maybe I'm just a fool
But I don't remember learnin' how to hate in Sunday school
But somewhere along the way I strayed and I never looked back again
But I still find some comfort now and then

"Then the storm comes rumblin' in
And I can't lay me down
And the drums are drummin' again
And I can't stand the sound
But I believe there'll come a day when the lion and the lamb
Will lie down in peace together in Jerusalem

"And there'll be no barricades then
There'll be no wire or walls
And we can wash all this blood from our hands
And all this hatred from our souls
And I believe that on that day all the children of Abraham
Will lay down their swords forever in Jerusalem "

Amen.