This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
(Herod)
Jesus, I am overjoyed
To meet you face to face
You've been getting quite a name
All around the place
Healing cripples
Raising from the dead
Now I understand you're God
At least that's what you've said
So you are the Christ
You're the great Jesus Christ
Prove to me that you're divine
Change my water into wine
That's all you need do
Then I'll know it's all true
C'mon King of the Jews
Jesus you just won't believe
The hit you've made around here
You are all we talk about
You're the wonder of the year
Oh what a pity
If it's all a lie
Still I'm sure
That you can rock the cynics if you try
So if you are the Christ
Yes the great Jesus Christ
Prove to me that you're no fool
Walk across my swimming pool
If you do that for me
Then I'll let you go free
C'mon King of the Jews
I only ask what I'd ask any superstar
What is it that you have got
That puts you where you are? (Oh, ho ho)
I am waiting
Yes I'm a captive fan
I'm dying to be shown
That you are not just any man
So if you are the Christ
Yes the great Jesus Christ
Feed my household with this bread
You can do it on your head
Or has something gone wrong?
Jesus, why do you take so long?
Aw, c'mon King of the Jews
Hey! Aren't you scared of me Christ?
Mr. Wonderful Christ!
You're a joke, you're not the Lord
You are nothing but a fraud
Take him away
He's got nothing to say!
Get out you King of the
Get out you King of the,
Get out you King of the Jews!
Get out of here, you, you!
Get out of here, you!
Get out of my Life!
Jesus, I am overjoyed
To meet you face to face
You've been getting quite a name
All around the place
Healing cripples
Raising from the dead
Now I understand you're God
At least that's what you've said
So you are the Christ
You're the great Jesus Christ
Prove to me that you're divine
Change my water into wine
That's all you need do
Then I'll know it's all true
C'mon King of the Jews
Jesus you just won't believe
The hit you've made around here
You are all we talk about
You're the wonder of the year
Oh what a pity
If it's all a lie
Still I'm sure
That you can rock the cynics if you try
So if you are the Christ
Yes the great Jesus Christ
Prove to me that you're no fool
Walk across my swimming pool
If you do that for me
Then I'll let you go free
C'mon King of the Jews
I only ask what I'd ask any superstar
What is it that you have got
That puts you where you are? (Oh, ho ho)
I am waiting
Yes I'm a captive fan
I'm dying to be shown
That you are not just any man
So if you are the Christ
Yes the great Jesus Christ
Feed my household with this bread
You can do it on your head
Or has something gone wrong?
Jesus, why do you take so long?
Aw, c'mon King of the Jews
Hey! Aren't you scared of me Christ?
Mr. Wonderful Christ!
You're a joke, you're not the Lord
You are nothing but a fraud
Take him away
He's got nothing to say!
Get out you King of the
Get out you King of the,
Get out you King of the Jews!
Get out of here, you, you!
Get out of here, you!
Get out of my Life!
Lyrics submitted by SnuffieSniffer
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This is the most underrated song on JCS. The sarcasm and turns of phrase in the lyrics are fun and cool. Plus the guy who played Herod in the 1976 version looks exactly like my ex flatemate.
The 70's version of this song scares the living daylights out of me!
this is possibly the funniest song when you watch the movie
These comments are LAME. Can't you people even discern the quality gap between the different Herods of various productions?
I am unimpressed. (...was Herod unimPRESSED?)
Greatest Rock musical ever scribed by the hand of man and nothing but piddling little West End/Broadway observations on this thread. Does anyone on this God-forsaken website actually APPRECIATE the Lloyd-Webernian masterpiece?
amazon.com/Christ-Superstar-Original-Concept-Recording/product-reviews/B000002P4H/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt