The Crucifixion
Jesus Christ Superstar [Original London Cast] Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

God, forgive them
They don't know what they're doing

Who is my mother?
Where is my mother?

My God
My God

Why have you forgotten me?

I'm thirsty
I'm thirsty
Oh God, I'm thirsty
God, I'm thirsty

I'm thirsty, oh
I'm thirsty

It is finished

Father, into your hands
I command my spirit

Overall Meaning

The song "The Crucifixion" from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar speaks of the moments before Jesus Christ's death on the cross. The opening lyrics, "God, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing" are a direct reference to Luke 23:34, where Jesus asks God to forgive those who crucified him, for they "know not what they do." The next section, "Who is my mother? Where is my mother?" has been interpreted in various ways, but it could suggest that Jesus feels abandoned by his earthly family and is questionably seeking for Mary, his mother. The following lines, "My God, My God, why have you forgotten me?" are another direct biblical reference and quote from Psalm 22:1. Many see this as Jesus expressing his momentary disbelief in his Father's presence.

The following section of the song then focuses on Jesus' physical suffering on the cross. He cries out for water, and these lines are possibly the only inaccuracy in the lyrics, as the gospel accounts do not mention water but do record this well-known lament of thirst, which further emphasizes the unfavorable conditions of the crucifixion. The final lines of the song, "It is finished; Father, into your hands, I command my spirit," are a direct reference to John 19:30 and Luke 23:46, which are the words that some believe to be his last. He breathes his last breath and "gives up his spirit" to God.

Line by Line Meaning

God, forgive them
Please forgive these people, they do not understand the gravity of their actions

They don't know what they're doing
They are not aware of the magnitude of their sins

Who is my mother?
Who is there for me to comfort me in this trying time?

Where is my mother?
Is there anyone to console me during my suffering?

My God
Addressing the Lord

My God
Pleading with the Lord

Why have you forgotten me?
Asking the Lord why he has abandoned me in my time of need

I'm thirsty
I am in need of water

I'm thirsty
Reiterating my need for water

Oh God, I'm thirsty
Crying out to the Lord in desperation for water

God, I'm thirsty
Begging the Lord for relief from my thirst

I'm thirsty, oh
My thirst is so great that I cannot bear it

It is finished
My mission on Earth has been completed

Father, into your hands
Addressing God the Father

I command my spirit
Giving my life to God

Contributed by Brody O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Comments from YouTube:

@OreadNYC

1y↑28

I like the fact that the people behind this interpretation decided to do away with most of the instrumentation which usually goes with this scene so that the audience is forced to focus on the emotional intensity of Jesus's suffering. I also like the way in which Judas remains present in spirit during this scene and bears witness to the final result of his actions over the course of the production.

@UnknownUser-rp1zv

4y↑120

I can see some people are getting confused, Judas is there in spirit, he did hang himself earlier on and superstar was all in Jesus’ mind but this scene is judas’ real spirit as he has to watch what he had basically done

@RaySingh87

4y↑69

I just LOVE how Judas is looking up at the cross with his tear-stained cheeks, looking and feeling super guilty.

@starpointsuperstar

2y↑1

I really don’t have any tears but because I enjoy this version of JCSS because my sister got me in to this musical

@LadyVader33

4y↑55

I like this better than the '73 version, instead of abandoning Him at the cross, the disciples gather to grieve

@Babyhoho7

its not biblical

@one-lovepeace8692

2y↑3

Ted Neeley Much better 🙏🏽❤️

@chrissteed8170

49w↑7

God, forgive me. I was helping with a local production of this opera, and when he says, “Oh God I’m thirsty!” I actually was thinking about asking the director should we give him some water.

@wizkidgamer9942

24w↑1

That's kinda the point though, isn't it? It's supposed to make us feel all the feels

@nightgallows3483

8y↑122

You know what I would have liked to see? A singing argument between Jesus and the Good and bad thieves beside him.

@hannahludolph3498

yasss

@wempiipi2338

NighhgghtGallows

@RaySingh87

THIS.

@Mira_Dunia

4y↑2

NightGallows I mean, it would fit in perfectly with the rest of the performance.

@DBZgeek2000

3y↑2

@@jameswashere7 whistling

2 More Replies...

@anneshields2010

5y↑48

I seen this show live and seeing this scene gave me chills and I had tears streaming down my face so so moving you could have heard a pin drop in the theatre

@dgb7984

3y↑40

"Always look on the bright side of life..."

@m.l.kow1998

2y↑8

Doo. Doodoo. Doodoo doodoo doodoo.

@mariadanielaoliveracalvo7040

5y↑45

The saddest scene from the movie. That scene makes me cry.

@shafqatullah2229

3y↑2

Dear Maria . We are very thankful to ALLAH God, such conditions never happen to Jesus IS safe with ALLAH. ALLAH IS BEST PROTECTOR. AS PER HOLY QURAN HE HAS NEITHER CRUCIFIED NOR SLEW BUT HAS TAKE OF BY ALLAH SAFE AND NOW HE IS IN 4TH SKY LIKE IN PARADISE CONDITIONS. HE WILL COME TO THIS WORLD AT LEAST. HE WILL RULES ACCORDING RULES REGULATIONS HOLY QURAN. INSHALLAH WE WILL SEE ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT EVERYTHING. YOU ARE A BETTER HEART MAN SO YOU CAN'T BEAR THIS TROUBLE

@victormeyers1860

3y↑2

Sad part is it’s true

@silviasolorzanohernando1297

5w↑1

Te amo Jesús y confío en ti.amen

@MissSallyB1

3y↑48

"Where is my mother? I'm serious, ALW, why didn't you write her into the show?"
eta: jesus christ am i the only person who knows what a JOKE is

@elijahculper5522

3y↑19

The Virgin Mary doesn’t really fit well into this story. Part of why it’s so interesting is because none of the characters know if he’s God. Simon expects him to be a revolutionary leader. Judas sees him as a religious leader/activist who has become self absorbed and dangerous. The priests see him as a heretic. Pilate sees him as a political hot potato. Mary Magdalen sees him as an unusual healer/lover. Peter sees him as an unfortunate martyr who could take his friends down with him. Different characters might suspect that he’s divine at different points, but the ambiguity lets them play their parts in his death. Jesus’s mother knows the truth. Either Gabriel told her she was going to be the virgin mother of the messiah or he didn’t and Jesus was conceived like everyone else. JCS doesn’t really take a firm stance on the divinity of Jesus or the Resurrection. If we got to see Mary, she’d either be portrayed as a doting mother helping her cult leader son dupe people or as the pure and honest mother of the messiah who understands what’s really going on. Either way, she would ruin the ambiguity.

@JF-sh2sm

2y↑2

Just wanted to point out the fact that the libretto and all the lyrics are by Tim Rice, ALW was only in charge of the music.

@SimonSilty0515

The mother is mary there is a mary the one standing at the cross

@OreadNYC

1y↑2

"Jesus Christ Superstar" was originally written at a time when a popular saying among young people -- the primary audience for "Jesus Christ Superstar", since this was described as a rock opera -- was "don't trust anyone over thirty". It's not hard to see that nearly all the characters in "Jesus Christ Superstar" who are assumed to be older -- Herod, Pilate, the priests -- are antagonists so it doesn't make a lot of sense to include Jesus's mother Mary as a character and especially when she was not a major part of Jesus's ministry. Besides, at least in my opinion -- and I'm not the only one who thinks this -- the protagonist of "Jesus Christ Superstar" is actually not really Jesus but Judas while Jesus is the deuteragonist. I think this is part of the reason why the show ends with the Crucifixion instead of the Resurrection -- because the Crucifixion is the end result of Judas's choices.

@suddenlysavannah

2y↑11

Judas hanging out in purgatory feeling Jesus' torture as exactly his own. I'm good i'm good i'm good i'm good this isn't making me crazy at all.

@rockstarturbomomma

6y↑5

I cryed

@danielstewart6509

6y↑20

Jesus was crucified with two thieves on his left and right side . he said those things in the bible " God forgive them for they don't know what they're doing , My God my god why have you forgotten me , who's is my mother , where is my mother , it is finished and the rest . he died for our sins and resurrected on the 3rd day to save us from sin

@lizward2344

5y↑4

he didn't say who / where is my mother

@JF-sh2sm

2y↑5

He said “John, behold your mother” and “Woman, behold your son” when he saw his mother and his disciple John standing at the cross.

@LuannOsbourne

@@JF-sh2sm Which comes to show that no parent should watch their Child die or in that case an Adult child.

@hazelescobar4149

3y↑3

Oh no Jesus Christ don’t die please

@rockstarturbomomma

6y↑5

Ok, I think it will make them feel the way jesus felt

@mariojeromechavez6663

5y↑5

Sometimes if I felt like I did something wrong, then I feel like saying that I want to die, but I was given two options, first, I commit suicide, second, I go through this painful process of crucifixion.

@mysterykiddo2167

20w

Seeing Judas cry as he looks up at Jesus crucified is truly heart-breaking
He really does regret what he's done

@TheDeadmanstrolling

1y↑5

Everything leading up to this - the costuming, the design, the music - it all seems to make you forget about the fact this is about Jesus, the prophet, messiah, and God of Christianity. N-Sync apostles. Las Vegas Jerusalem. Smokin' 20s Herod. Fetish-fascist Romans. The music is funky, or punk, or rock, of new age. People might say it's even blasphemous.

But Jesus is raised on the cross, and an apocalyptic choir bursts from the heavens in His suffering, it suddenly very, very in-touch with the core subject matter.

@taberm2000

37w↑1

Or people who know the Bible might say that this is a faithful dramatization of the Gospel. You allow your own prejudices to color your opinion. You never saw it, so you choose to defame it on the basis of ignorance. This may have led some people to Christ. Likely more than you have.

@TheHManShow

5y↑59

This scene honestly would have been perfect if Jesus hadn’t screamed SPIRIT at the end.

Not only did that kill the moment but no one who is crucified can have that amount of strength to scream like that. Let alone speak

@Rojk

4y↑5

It should be spoken with a small breath

@masarusenpai1952

4y↑7

@@avasanbas1966 It's more of a mix between the 4 gospels. Jesus was never sent to Herod in John's gospel

@user-vm9wv4gj9p

3y↑1

My thoughts exactly

@diegovillasenor3967

44w

exactly.

@NTWoo95

39w↑2

You mean its inaccurate for someone to scream out like that when crucified? The singing is fine, but that one word you have a problem with?

@rithadupuy6145

5y↑1

Yes he thinks what what he is after all heis a superstar

@danielstewart6509

6y↑24

none of the disciples were at Golgotha when this happened . the only one that was there was John and the two Mary's (Mary Magdalene and Mary his mother) . most of the roman soldiers put a sponge on a stick with sour wine on it to shut him up . just King Herod did with Jesus's cousin when he sided with his wife Herodias and his stepdaughter Salome

@TovKafur

3y↑5

It wasn't sour wine, it was mix of vinegar and water called poska. Romans used it as soldier's drink because it was very refreshing. Whole sponge on stick thing was gesture of compassion, not mocking.

@absrule2733

3y↑2

dedicated to" wow i didnt know there wasnt just one jesus. i didnt know they were doing Jesus christ female now" a quote from angie smith

@siewbergeron8014

3y↑2

Can you please contact this to my Earphone Tonight

@siewbergeron8014

3y↑1

Yes oui

@siewbergeron8014

3y↑1

I think you and I should work on their The Crucifixion scene too Superstar should be more helpful and more than damned on Jesus christ of Nazareth

@dilanrodriguez8558

Jesus Christ Superstar North America

@2directions109

4y↑2

When you have a PTSD episode....

@danielstewart6509

3y↑2

Jesus died for their sins on the cross - even those who hated him , because they believed that Jesus was taking their position and power

@one-lovepeace8692

2y↑6

The first version was much better! Ted Neeley his voice and acting was phenomenal 🙏🏽❤️

@jennief2108

5y↑7

I hope they know Judas is horrified Sir, x Jennie

@anukaanuka1535

6y↑3

өө угуй ээ jesus

@lukesnyder6244

3y↑1

Castlevania symphony of the night vibes 🌃

@Pefonmo

3y↑5

Not gonna lie, I didn't get that Judas was supposed to be dammed, I just thought that Americans in 2000 had a much sexier idea of what heaven was.

@dilanrodriguez8558

North America & Korean Jesus Christ Superstar

@dilanrodriguez8558

What'Buzz Jesus Christ Superstar

@tedgrant2

I think i know why Jesus never came back.
He never went.

@siewbergeron8014

3y↑1

Happy Thanksgiving Honey Philip Paris

@ZaffireWolf

8y↑2

And Sev'ral Times is there.

@Eddie6360

Why did Judas scream at the beginning

@allisoncorona84

2y↑1

Because he felt Jesus' pain.

@meganwebb3379

8y↑5

Mean people

@user-vm9wv4gj9p

7y↑31

I didnt know that shaggy was jesus.

@graceshields6103

ƇǘƖţ ōf Ɓęľŧăŋė LOVE THIS

@micahbell7530

//// hahahaha

@shafqatullah2229

Yes, you are right. ANYONE CANNOT EQUAL to jesus shape. All PROPHETS were very beautiful, we CANNOT think about their beautiful ness.

@m.l.kow1998

"Like, Scoob, somebody in the gang is gonna, like, betray me, man"
"Rot re, raggy!"

@TristanJHorta

7y↑13

I'm pretty sure there was supposed to be music in this scene...

@corvus1374

6y↑1

No, not really.

@jenniferschillig3768

6y↑14

There was very eerie, atonal instrumental and choral music throughout--like nothing Lloyd Webber ever wrote before or would again. (The track on the original concept album is straight-up nightmare fuel.)

@calamari.jaksun8914

5y↑5

@@jenniferschillig3768 It scared me tbh, watching a man being crucified with that music playing sent chills down my spine.

@JacquieDolly

4y↑4

There is music, written by the composer. It’s eerie and partly improvisational from the band but has choral music that is supposed to symbolize wailing and crying.

@dilanrodriguez8558

Jesus Christ Superstar Korean

@siewbergeron8014

3y↑1

Jean Guy Bergeron

@minndsmom5948

3y↑2

kayla

@siewbergeron8014

2y↑1

Orlando Bloom

@CrossJeniel

@alexd7225

I know

@misterm1995

What The Fuck!
Where’s The Jazzy Music?
This scene just feels empty now

@libertinesis2angel

He wants his Mama.....😢

@siewbergeron8014

3y↑1

About the results first

@charkraft3924

2y↑5

Hold on has anyone noticed that Judas is there crying even though he betrayed him

@mikkadenichols1741

2y↑2

...you understand the point is he's guilty about it and it's him there in spirit right...

@Dermacrosis

5y↑5

Why do they still make it look like the nails were hammered through his hands? That is not where they would have been driven through.

@audrahorton311

They were. His hands and feet were nailed to the cross

@Dermacrosis

5y↑3

They weren't sweetie. How about you learn a little anatomy. There is no way a nail driven through the hands would support the weight. When Romans crucified they were driven through the wrists and ankle are.

@hellenicfire3775

@@Dermacrosis they had been pierced by nails

@Dermacrosis

Doesn't change the fact they didn't pierce people through the hands sweetie.

@hellenicfire3775

@@Dermacrosis I am talking about real life,not this movie

7 More Replies...

@TheunknowLegend1989

5y↑2

What type of movie is this?

@j_chry

4y↑1

Jesus Christ Superstar

@levispinks2458

4y↑1

Avizo Miario rock opera musical

@siewbergeron8014

3y↑1

Philip Paris

@wlliamson53

6y↑3

those nails weren't really nailed onto him right?

@j_chry

They nailed the nails in between his middle and ring finger, to make it look he was getting nailed onto the cross

@m.l.kow1998

No no they completely murdered a man in real life on stage and filmed it. He's ok now though.

@OreadNYC

I'm fairly certain that would be a serious violation of the labor regulations which the film, radio, stage, and TV industries are required to abide by.

@siewbergeron8014

2y↑2

THE LORD OF THE RINGS

@Babygurl06100

3y↑1

Dyamnod

@apolloramirez7704

Dey ander astimeytid him

@lukemogford6332

6y↑8

What I don't understand is how Judas is there watching Jesus be crucified.....

@horrorking6409

Same

@Ayden_B

6y↑6

Same reason he sings Superstar; it’s his spirit

@TJ-xu7xw

didn’t he commit suicide or something? In the old movie i think

@Ayden_B

7he Runaway Kid in the Bible and in the show he hangs himself

@Sb_Antimony

51w

@@TJ-xu7xw His spirit is there

@danielstewart6509

6y↑2

not exactly because Judas Iscariot never repented and wasn't fully committed to christ cause he allowed Satan to enter into him and he betrayed the man whom he cared about for money . he hanged himself out of remorseful guilt and spend damnational eternity in Hell cause of it . most of the Romans did this to shut him up . But Jesus let them do it . No one killed Jesus . Jesus had to die for our sins . so we be with him in heaven someday . John 3:16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son . that whoever believes in him shall not die but have eternal life in heaven

@shafqatullah2229

Yes, we muslims also believe Jesus NEITHER CRUCIFIED nor SLEW. HE IS SAFE WITH ALLAH, LEAVING IN HEAVEN. HE WILL COME AGAIN IN THIS WORLD AND WILL RULES ON WHOLE PEOPLES.BUT HE FOLLOW THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF HOLY QRAAN

@dancedivakerris7714

7y↑1

@crossoverbunchshow8793

3y↑1

Jesus: father into your hands I commend to 1 request Blythe can you do me a favor?!
Blythe Baxter: (whimpers) what’s that Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ: will you protect my spirit!

Blythe Baxter & the pets: (all sobbing)

@bryangardner4838

Jesus Christ: I can't believe I died! Chaipas screw you for what you did!

@kathykathleenk5710

4y↑2

They in exactly watt they are doing

@anukaanuka1535

6y↑1

ххххх

@TheHManShow

6y↑6

This could have been one of the saving graces of this monstrosity and they fucked it up by having him scream MY SPIRIT!!! No one who is crucified has the amount of breath to let out that scream especially right before death

@aceb1195

6y↑6

Harper Craven because a musical like this requires a realistic depiction of crucifixion.

@colliric

6y↑2

I prefer the original 1973 motion picture. Ted Neeley was much better. I appreciate his performance as Jesus more now I'm older. He just played Jesus very well, even in comparison to other "straight forward" Christian films(though Jim Cavizel is my favourite "Jesus Actor" generally).

@yourquirk656

7y↑3

WHY? WHY WHY WHY CAN ALL THESE AMAZING MUSICALS EVER CAST A DECENT FUCKING JESUS!?

@ghostcodm7484

5y↑5

jesus dosent look like tthat

@kaykaysparkles8951

He’s an actor, he doesn’t have to look exactly like him

@teantean5255

4y↑1

Brother repent for your blasphemy

@brettjohnson536

7y↑4

Could be worse. Could be stabbed.

@pie112098

6y↑2

Anthony Gretton I mean, he was

@audrahorton311

@@pie112098
He was stabbed in the side with a spear, along with with his flogging, the crown of thorns, being nailed to a cross, and having to carry the cross. It was awful

@herlesmauriciolo7855

6y↑1

que pelicula tan mala y sobreactuada hasta la del 73 es mejor y q para mi era una pelicula regular y algo ridicula

@callemoslosbrutose4807

6y↑3

Why do you like this sadistic images? This is pure horror. I hate this.

@TooCooFoYou

6y↑3

callemos los brutos E
Its meant to show the horror Jesus may have felt as he was being crucified. It's at least not as brutal as, say, Passion of the Christ.

@TheLesMiserablesCats24601

4y↑1

TooCooFoYou
Dude I watched Passion of the Christ and the 39 lashes scene was brutal I flinched at some of them because of how brutal it was.
Even the whole process after the lashes was brutal too.

@OreadNYC

Well, that was pretty much part of the whole reason why the Romans crucified people as a form of capital punishment. The Romans were not known for their sentimentality -- far from it. (As an illustration, the father in a Roman family held absolute authority over his children from their birth even to the point of being entitled to kill them if he so chose.) Crucifixion was intended to humiliate the criminals and discourage everyone else living under Roman rule from breaking the law.

@reggiemas8967

Bible is not a joke😡

@tommymcguiddan389

7y↑6

Why not just send him to the GRUNT FARM (you know, where the teachers take turns buggering his butt) which clears up the brain and helps the complexion? I've been there and loved it. Just look at his expression: so hungry for a good plowing!!!! And that scene on the cross had me rolling on the floor. Damn, it's so funny.