jesus christ was a man who traveled through the land hard working man and brave he said to the rich give your goods to the poor so they laid jesus christ in his grave jesus was a man a carpenter by hand his followers true and brave one dirty little coward called judas iscariot has laid jesus christ in his grave he went to the sick he went to the poor and he went to the hungry and the lame said that the poor would one day win this world and so they laid jesus christ in his grave he went to the preacher he went to the sheriff told them all the same sell all of your jewelry and give it to the poor but they laid jesus christ in his grave when jesus came to town the working folks around believed what he did say the bankers and the preachers they nailed him on a cross and they laid jesus christ in his grave poor working people they follered him around sung and shouted gay cops and the soldiers they nailed him in the air and they nailed jesus christ in his grave well the people held their breath when they heard about his death and everybody wondered why it was the landlord and the soldiers that he hired that nailed jesus christ in the sky when the love of the poor shall one day turn to hate when the patience of the workers gives away would be better for you rich if you never had been born so they laid jesus christ in his grave this song was written in new york city of rich men preachers and slaves yes if jesus was to preach like he preached in galillee they would lay jesus christ in his grave