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.
If tonight you stood in heaven's court
To seek eternal favor
Would you face Jesus Christ as judge
Or face him as your savior
There are many who don't quite know for sure
What the verdict would be, if ever
So let's imagine for a moment
You are standing dead center
In the courtroom of forever
Sitting before you is a structure
Massive and intense
It's here where your fate will be determined
Before this judge's bench
Then a voice booms
"This court's now in session"
And your adrenaline starts to rush
Peering down with eyes that see through your soul
Is God the Father your judge
Then off to the left across the room
Is the virtual silhouette of sin
Stepping out of the shadows of condemnation
Your worst nightmare walks in
On his face is the smirk of evil incarnate
His mind fixed on your destruction in hell
You've just been introduced
To your prosecuting attorney
None other than Satan himself
The bible says he's the accuser of the brethren
So guess what he's gonna do
He's gonna accuse you of your sins
And he knows them all
Both the old ones and the new
He's prepared his case for years
Now the golden moment is his
So in arrogance he presents his case to the judge
And it comes out sounding something like this
"God, you see this worthless
Piece of trash over here
This one is a sinner to the core
This one's committed adultery
Cursed his neighbors, stolen money
Been into drugs, alcohol and even more
This hopeless wretch has even
Slandered his friends
And by the guilty face
The whole courtroom can tell
That to a moral certainty
And beyond any reasonable doubt
This one deserves eternal judgment in hell"
The words of accusation still echo
Your every sin thrown in your face
Then God opens the book
Where every deed is recorded
And reviews your records of disgrace
God says, "The book says you did this, this
And this and everything you were accused of today
Now before I sentence you to hell forever
Are there any last words you have to say"
Now if it's true, you were standing there
In the courtroom of eternity
With God to your front
And Satan, the persecutor to your left
There's one remaining eternal truth
One that's crucial to remember
One you should never, ever, ever forget
Then, on the other side of the courtroom
(Doom music)
I said, on the other side of the courtroom
(Doom music)
You ain't hearing me tonight, I said
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COURTROOM
(Doom music)
Is the one and only Son of God
Revealed in time and space
And he's your defense attorney
Who has never lost a case!
It's not Buddha, Muhammad or Krishna
Or any others who succumb to death
Ladies and gentlemen
On the other side of the courtroom
Is Jesus Christ of Nazereth
Then Jesus jumps up, says
"Now wait a minute judge, I got something to say
May I remind you that on a cross, 2,000 years ago
I washed his sins away, I was crucidied, I died
They put me in the tomb
About the midnight hour the power of God hit me
And I walked out of that grave
Alive and well, with resurrection power
Then the devil says
"It's in the book
It's written in the book
Check the book"
God said, "Okay"
Then he takes the book out, lays it open and says
"Now we'll see what this book has to say"
He turns to the first page, the second, the third
By the fourth, the devil seemed shook
God closes it says
"The blood of Jesus must have worked
'Cause there's absolutely nothing in this book"
The devil says
"Now wait a minute, check that book again
All his sins are written, they're all right there"
God says, "Devil
Maybe you're mistaken all together
Maybe it's this other book down here"
Devil cries
"NO!! Not that book! Not that one!"
God said
"Devil, why are you so uptight?"
God sets the book down, the dust flies
And on the cover it says "The Lamb's Book Of Life"
~ Singing ~
Is your name in that book?
Is your name in that book?
Is your name in that book for sure?
If you've been forgiven and your name is written
Then raise your hands, praise the Lord
Yes, my name's in that book
Yes, my name's in that book
Yes, my name's in that book tonight
I've been forgiven and I know my name is written
In The Lamb's Book Of Life
In The Lamb's Book Of Life
(Three blows of the mallet)
This court is adjourned
~ Fade ~
To seek eternal favor
Would you face Jesus Christ as judge
Or face him as your savior
There are many who don't quite know for sure
What the verdict would be, if ever
So let's imagine for a moment
You are standing dead center
In the courtroom of forever
Sitting before you is a structure
Massive and intense
It's here where your fate will be determined
Before this judge's bench
Then a voice booms
"This court's now in session"
And your adrenaline starts to rush
Peering down with eyes that see through your soul
Is God the Father your judge
Then off to the left across the room
Is the virtual silhouette of sin
Stepping out of the shadows of condemnation
Your worst nightmare walks in
On his face is the smirk of evil incarnate
His mind fixed on your destruction in hell
You've just been introduced
To your prosecuting attorney
None other than Satan himself
The bible says he's the accuser of the brethren
So guess what he's gonna do
He's gonna accuse you of your sins
And he knows them all
Both the old ones and the new
He's prepared his case for years
Now the golden moment is his
So in arrogance he presents his case to the judge
And it comes out sounding something like this
"God, you see this worthless
Piece of trash over here
This one is a sinner to the core
This one's committed adultery
Cursed his neighbors, stolen money
Been into drugs, alcohol and even more
This hopeless wretch has even
Slandered his friends
And by the guilty face
The whole courtroom can tell
That to a moral certainty
And beyond any reasonable doubt
This one deserves eternal judgment in hell"
The words of accusation still echo
Your every sin thrown in your face
Then God opens the book
Where every deed is recorded
And reviews your records of disgrace
God says, "The book says you did this, this
And this and everything you were accused of today
Now before I sentence you to hell forever
Are there any last words you have to say"
Now if it's true, you were standing there
In the courtroom of eternity
With God to your front
And Satan, the persecutor to your left
There's one remaining eternal truth
One that's crucial to remember
One you should never, ever, ever forget
Then, on the other side of the courtroom
(Doom music)
I said, on the other side of the courtroom
(Doom music)
You ain't hearing me tonight, I said
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COURTROOM
(Doom music)
Is the one and only Son of God
Revealed in time and space
And he's your defense attorney
Who has never lost a case!
It's not Buddha, Muhammad or Krishna
Or any others who succumb to death
Ladies and gentlemen
On the other side of the courtroom
Is Jesus Christ of Nazereth
Then Jesus jumps up, says
"Now wait a minute judge, I got something to say
May I remind you that on a cross, 2,000 years ago
I washed his sins away, I was crucidied, I died
They put me in the tomb
About the midnight hour the power of God hit me
And I walked out of that grave
Alive and well, with resurrection power
Then the devil says
"It's in the book
It's written in the book
Check the book"
God said, "Okay"
Then he takes the book out, lays it open and says
"Now we'll see what this book has to say"
He turns to the first page, the second, the third
By the fourth, the devil seemed shook
God closes it says
"The blood of Jesus must have worked
'Cause there's absolutely nothing in this book"
The devil says
"Now wait a minute, check that book again
All his sins are written, they're all right there"
God says, "Devil
Maybe you're mistaken all together
Maybe it's this other book down here"
Devil cries
"NO!! Not that book! Not that one!"
God said
"Devil, why are you so uptight?"
God sets the book down, the dust flies
And on the cover it says "The Lamb's Book Of Life"
~ Singing ~
Is your name in that book?
Is your name in that book?
Is your name in that book for sure?
If you've been forgiven and your name is written
Then raise your hands, praise the Lord
Yes, my name's in that book
Yes, my name's in that book
Yes, my name's in that book tonight
I've been forgiven and I know my name is written
In The Lamb's Book Of Life
In The Lamb's Book Of Life
(Three blows of the mallet)
This court is adjourned
~ Fade ~
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Courtroom Lyrics as written by Jonathan Carman Carl Marsh
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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