Come listen gentle Christians, and you Jews and Gentiles too And all denominations, a song I sing to you It's all about a young man, a rebel through and through Down among the bushes of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Jerusalem, down among the bushes of Jerusalem
Born of honest parents and below a shining star The word went 'round the country and they came from near and far The royal family worried he might undermine their power Down among the bushes of Jerusalem
They slaughtered all the children, every one that they could find Just that they be sure that they would kill the rebel child But somehow he deceived them, all the soldiers fierce and wild Down among the bushes of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Jerusalem, down among the bushes of Jerusalem
He grew into a strapping lad, and helped around the home But voices they kept calling, and he was inclined to roam The losers and boozers, he would count among his own Down among the bushes of Jerusalem
As far as I can see, you see, the Pharisee did say You know your Bible fairly well, you'll make a priest someday But you'd better tow the line, me boy or there'll be hell to pay Down among the bushes of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Jerusalem, down among the bushes of Jerusalem
He met the Mary Magdalen, a lovely girl was she O look who's comin' now, they said, the girl of no degree I'd rather have her near to me, more than your hypocrisy Down among the bushes of Jerusalem
He went into the churches, and he saw the shining gold And people there were starvin' of the hunger and the cold He talked about injustice, just be careful he was told Down among the bushes of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Jerusalem, down among the bushes of Jerusalem
[Instrumental]
Now if you are a rebel, and no Judas, he did say Come burn the Roman empire down, we'll change the flag today It's the human heart I'm changing, this young rebel he did say Down among the bushes of Jerusalem
We're taking him to Calvary, it's easier you see Than try and turn the other cheek, and love thine enemy We're loyal to our own crowd, to our scribes and pharisee Down among the bushes of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Jerusalem, down among the bushes of Jerusalem