The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
One, two, three, four
Well Jesus was a man
Who traveled through the land
A hard working man and brave
Well he said to the rich 'Give your money to the poor'
For they layed Jesus Christ in his grave
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
For they laid Jesus Christ is his grave
Well he went to the preacher
He went to the law
And told them all the same
He said sell all your jewelery and give it to the poor
For they layed Jesus Christ in his grave
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
For they laid Jesus Christ in his grave
When Jesus came to town all the working folks around
Believed what he did say
Well the bankers and the preachers
They nailed him on a cross
For they layed Jesus Christ in his grave
And [hard] working people
They followed him around
They sung and shouted gay
Well the cops and the soldiers
They nailed him in the head
And they layed Jesus Christ in his grave
Oh, hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
For they laid Jesus Christ in his grave
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
For they laid Jesus Christ in his grave
Well this song was written in New York City
A rich man, preacher and slave
Well if Jesus was to preach what he preached in Galilee
They would lay Jesus Christ in his grave
One, two, three, four!
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
For they laid Jesus Christ in his grave
Hale, halellujah
Hale, halellujah
Hale, halellujah
For they laid Jesus Christ in his grave
Well Jesus was a man
Who traveled through the land
A hard working man and brave
Well he said to the rich 'Give your money to the poor'
For they layed Jesus Christ in his grave
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
For they laid Jesus Christ is his grave
Well he went to the preacher
He went to the law
And told them all the same
He said sell all your jewelery and give it to the poor
For they layed Jesus Christ in his grave
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
For they laid Jesus Christ in his grave
When Jesus came to town all the working folks around
Believed what he did say
Well the bankers and the preachers
They nailed him on a cross
For they layed Jesus Christ in his grave
And [hard] working people
They followed him around
They sung and shouted gay
Well the cops and the soldiers
They nailed him in the head
And they layed Jesus Christ in his grave
Oh, hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
For they laid Jesus Christ in his grave
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
For they laid Jesus Christ in his grave
Well this song was written in New York City
A rich man, preacher and slave
Well if Jesus was to preach what he preached in Galilee
They would lay Jesus Christ in his grave
One, two, three, four!
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
Hale, hallelujah
For they laid Jesus Christ in his grave
Hale, halellujah
Hale, halellujah
Hale, halellujah
For they laid Jesus Christ in his grave
Lyrics submitted by drewhiggins
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