Personal Jesus
KITCHEN - Johnny Cash Lyrics


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Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares

Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who's there
Feeling unknown
And you're all alone
Flesh and bone
By the telephone
Lift up the receiver
I'll make you a believer

Take second best
Put me to the test
Things on your chest
You need to confess

I will deliver
You know I'm a forgiver

Reach out and touch faith
Reach out and touch faith

Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares

Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone to care

Feeling unknown
And you're all alone
Flesh and bone
By the telephone
Lift up the receiver
I'll make you a believer

I will deliver
You know I'm a forgiver

Reach out and touch faith
Reach out and touch faith




Reach out and touch faith
Reach out and touch faith

Overall Meaning

"Personal Jesus" by Johnny Cash is a song that explores the concepts of faith, loneliness, and the need for connection. The lyrics suggest that everyone longs for their own personal savior, someone who will listen to their prayers and care for them. By referring to this figure as a "personal Jesus," Cash taps into religious and spiritual imagery to convey a deeper meaning.


The repetition of the lines "Someone to hear your prayers, someone who cares" emphasizes the desire for companionship and understanding. Cash suggests that in moments of distress or isolation, we yearn for someone we can turn to for comfort and solace. This personal Jesus can serve as a source of support in times of need, offering a listening ear and genuine care.


The line "Feeling unknown and you're all alone" reflects the common human experience of feeling isolated and misunderstood. Cash reminds us that we are all made of flesh and bone, vulnerable to the challenges and emotions of life. By highlighting the image of being by the telephone, an object associated with communication and connection, he implies that this personal Jesus is just a call away, ready to lift the spirits and provide a sense of belonging.


The lyrics also suggest the need for confession and seeking redemption. Cash sings, "Things on your chest, you need to confess," implying that opening up and admitting one's vulnerabilities is crucial for personal growth and healing. The personal Jesus is depicted as a forgiver, someone who can offer absolution and guidance on a journey towards self-acceptance and inner peace.


The repeated phrase "Reach out and touch faith" serves as a call to action, urging listeners to seek out a deeper connection with their personal belief system or higher power. Cash suggests that reaching out and embracing faith can bring about a transformative experience, filling the void of loneliness and providing a sense of purpose and direction in life.


"Personal Jesus" expresses the universal longing for understanding, acceptance, and faith. Cash's lyrics delve into the depths of human emotions, inviting us to consider the importance of seeking connection and finding solace in times of loneliness and despair.


Line by Line Meaning

Your own personal Jesus
Someone who serves as a personal savior or guide for you


Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who listens and understands your deepest desires and concerns


Someone who cares
Someone who genuinely shows concern and compassion for you


Feeling unknown
Experiencing a sense of being unrecognized or misunderstood


And you're all alone
Feeling isolated and without companionship


Flesh and bone
Being human, with physical and emotional vulnerabilities


By the telephone
Awaiting contact or connection, particularly through communication


Lift up the receiver
Answer the phone and engage in conversation


I'll make you a believer
I will provide evidence or support that will make you have faith or trust in me


Take second best
Settle for a lesser option or compromise


Put me to the test
Challenge me or question my abilities


Things on your chest
Burden or concerns you need to express or confess


You need to confess
You require a release of your guilt or secret emotions


I will deliver
I will provide what you need or desire


You know I'm a forgiver
You understand that I am willing to pardon or absolve you of your mistakes


Reach out and touch faith
Make an effort to connect with and trust in something greater or divine


Reach out and touch faith
Continue to seek a deeper belief or connection


Reach out and touch faith
Extend yourself to establish a greater sense of conviction and trust


Reach out and touch faith
Persist in finding solace and certainty in something spiritual




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL GREEN, MABON HODGES, ANTHONY C. II WILLIAMS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@michaelix1

best version

@nogrouchy

I agree!

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