John Prine - Jesus The Missing Years Lyrics
(spoken)Jesus.... the missing yearsIt was raining. it was coldWest bethlehem was no place for a twelve year oldSo he packed his bags and he headed outTo find out what the worlds aboutHe went to france. he went to spainHe found love. he found pain.He found stores so he started to shopBut he had no money so he got in trouble with a copKids in trouble with the copsFrom israel didnt have no homeSo he cut his hair and moved to romeIt was there he met his irish brideAnd they rented a flat on the lower east side of rome...Italy that isMusic publishers, book binders, Bible belters, money changers,Spoon benders and lots of pretty italian chicks.Chorus:Charley bought some popcornBilly bought a carSomeone almost bought the farmBut they didnt go that farThings shut down at midnightAt least around here they doCause we all reside down the blockInside at ....23 skidoo.Wine was flowing so were beersSo jesus found his missing yearsSo he went to a dance and said this dont move meHe hiked up his pants and he went to a movieOn his thirteenth birthday he saw rebel without a causeHe went straight on home and invented santa clausWho gave him a gift and he responded in kindHe gave the gift of love and went out of his mindYou see him and the wife wasnt getting alongSo he took out his guitar and he wrote a songCalled the dove of love fell off the perchBut he couldnt get divorced in the catholic churchAt least not back then anyhowJesus was a good guy he didnt need this shitSo he took a pill with a bag of peanuts andA coca-cola and he swallowed it.He discovered the beatlesAnd he recorded with the stonesOnce he even opened up a three-way packageIn southern california for old george jonesRepeat chorus:The years went by like sweet little daysWith babies crying pork chops and beaujolaisWhen he woke up he was seventeenThe world was angry. the world was mean.Why the man down the street and the kid on the stoopAll agreed that life stank. all the world smelled like poopBaby poop that is ..the worst kindSo he grew his hair long and thew away his combAnd headed back to jerusalem to find mom, dad and homeBut when he got there the cupboard was bareExcept for an old black man with a fishing rodHe said whatcha gonna be when you grow up?Jesus said godOh my god, what have I gotten myself into?Im a human corkscrew and all my wine is bloodTheyre gonna kill me mama. they dont like me bud.So jesus went to heaven and he went there awful quickAll them people killed him and he wasnt even sickSo come and gather around me my contemporary peersAnd Ill tell you all the story ofJesus...the missing yearsRepeat chorus:We all reside down the blockInside at ....23 skidoo.
