Jesusland

On the DVD he says it's about if Jesus was walking around the world today and saw people using his name to sell stuff how would he feel? He's all alone, no one to help him, and the entire world is using him.

Town to town;/broadcast to each house, they drop your name,/but no one knows your face.

I think it is important to note for all of you Christians out there that even though this entire song isnt meant to be sacreligious, Ben Folds is not exactly a Jesus-worshipper, and other things have been said in other songs to prove so. This piece is simply about hypocrisy and how people live meaningless lives in small townes in boxes-- miniJesuslands`.

Imagine if Jesus were actually walking through America. That's what I see this as. The first verse I think sets it up and the second verse makes the commentary.

"Town to town; broadcast to each house, they drop your name, but no one knows your face. Billboards quoting things you'd never say; you hang your head and pray for Jesusland."

First two lines are saying Christianity is everywhere in America. It's like McDonald's. The next line, "no one knows your face" is saying that while Christianity is all great and whatnot, no one really practices what Jesus taught. It's pointing out the fakeness of a great deal of modern religion. Same thing with the next line. The last two lines I just imagine Jesus hanging his headand hoping we eventually get it right.

It's not a commentary on religion necessarily, it's more of a comment on America. That is not to say that Christianity gets off scott-free, but I think most of it is a commentary on America.

I think, more accurately, Ben says that this song is about America rather than the whole world...

He also points out how ironic and almost disgusting it is that in such a "Christian country" you still see people who are poor, homeless, and hungry begging on every street corner.... "quarter in a cup for every block".... Also, I think the "sun goin' down" line isn't a jab at the Resurrection but a jab at people who use their "faith" as a front or a selling point. Their actions, when seen by some one who doesn't believe like Ben, only diminishes Christianity's credibility. It makes Jesus "go down."

I love the line "Lights come on as you lay your weary head on their lawn"

To me it sort of seems that Ben's getting at people who say they're Christians but don't actually let Jesus into their life - they leave him outside on the lawn...

Phreek, do you even know what a McMansion is? It's a slang term used by architects for a housing style that big like a mansion but still lacks "nutritional value"

i think this song is so amazing and beautiful, the verse: Miles and miles, and the sun goin' down, Pulses glow from their homes, You're not alone. Lights come on as you lay your weary head on their lawn.

is so powerful and says so much not only as said earlier"he is left out on the lawn"..he doesn't ask to go in...just lays his head wherever but the lights come on...the lights that tell the people that someone's hanging about outside..these people even have defences and security against him

when i first heard this song the first thing that came to mind was the suburbs of nashville, tennessee. the area fits the "jesusland" described in this song to a T. and it makes a lot of sense after learning that folds lives on the outskirts of nashville. having lived in the area for several years i can relate- the way christianity is so commercialized down there is more than slightly hypocritical when you look around at the materialistic wealthy folks...living in their "McMansions on the hill".

How everyone is so obsessed with wealth and social status that they forget the religious values they claim they posess.

I love the part about "lights come on as you lay your weary head on their lawn" We're so paranoid, that even Jesus isn't welcome.