Poor Jerusalem
Ted Neely Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Neither you, Simon, nor the fifty thousand,
Nor the Romans, nor the Jews,
Nor Judas, nor the twelve
Nor the priests, nor the scribes,
Nor doomed Jerusalem itself
Understand what power is,
Understand what glory is,
Understand at all.
If you knew all that I knew, my poor Jerusalem,
You'd see the truth, but you close your eyes.
But you close your eyes.
While you live, your troubles are many, poor Jerusalem.
To conquer death, you only have to die.
You only have to die.
The song "Poor Jerusalem" by Ted Neely is a powerful and emotional rendition of a series of statements made by Jesus Christ before his crucifixion. To fully understand the lyrics of this song, one needs to look beyond the literal meaning of the words and delve into its deep symbolism. Jesus is speaking to Simon, his disciple, stating that nobody, neither the Jews, the Romans, Judas, nor the twelve apostles, understood the true nature of power and glory. Even the city of Jerusalem, which was considered holy and eternal, was doomed because its inhabitants failed to comprehend the power of love and sacrifice.
Jesus then laments that if people only knew what he knew, they would understand the truth. However, they choose to turn a blind eye, unwilling to believe in the message of salvation he brought. He then addresses the people of Jerusalem, referring to them as 'poor Jerusalem,' emphasizing their pain and suffering. Jesus comforts them by stating that death is not the end, but rather the beginning of eternal life; all they needed to do was to die to conquer death. The phrase 'you only have to die' is a powerful statement, as it suggests that true life and true fulfillment is only achieved by letting go of earthly desires and embracing the spiritual world.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the human condition and the power of faith and sacrifice. It highlights the universal struggle of humanity to understand the meaning and purpose of life, and the hope that lies beyond death.
- The song "Poor Jerusalem" was originally written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber for their musical, "Jesus Christ Superstar."
- The song has been covered by many artists, including Ted Neely, who portrayed Jesus in the 1973 film adaptation of the musical.
- The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance in 1974.
- The song was included in the soundtrack of the 2018 biopic film "Bohemian Rhapsody."
- The musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" was criticized by some religious groups for its portrayal of Jesus.
- The song "Poor Jerusalem" has been interpreted by some as a critique of organized religion and its failure to understand the true message of Christ.
- The song has been described as having a haunting melody and powerful lyrics that evoke strong emotions in listeners.
- The song has been used in many religious and non-religious contexts, including political rallies, concerts, and theater productions.
Chords: D,C,G,D,G,Em,D,C,G,D,G,Em,D.
Line by Line Meaning
Neither you, Simon, nor the fifty thousand,
Jesus is addressing Simon and the fifty thousand people who are present and clarifying that none of them, nor any other group, truly understand what power and glory is.
Nor the Romans, nor the Jews,
Jesus specifies two major groups involved in his crucifixion and states that they too do not fully grasp the concept of power or glory.
Nor Judas, nor the twelve
Jesus brings attention to his own disciples, including Judas, and asserts that they too do not understand the nature of true power or glory.
Nor the priests, nor the scribes,
Jesus also includes the religious leaders of his time, stating that even they do not comprehend what true power or glory truly is.
Nor doomed Jerusalem itself
Finally, Jesus cites the city of Jerusalem itself as an entity that does not grasp the nature of true power or glory.
Understand what power is,
Jesus repeats his message about how no one understands true power.
Understand what glory is,
Jesus once again emphasizes that no one really knows the true meaning of glory.
Understand at all,
Jesus concludes his message by stressing that no one really understands anything at all.
If you knew all that I knew, my poor Jerusalem,
Jesus is expressing empathy towards Jerusalem as a whole, stating that if they knew everything that he knows, they would understand the truth.
You'd see the truth, but you close your eyes.
Jesus states that although the truth is there, Jerusalem refuses to see it and instead chooses to turn a blind eye to the facts.
While you live, your troubles are many, poor Jerusalem.
Jesus is acknowledging the struggles that Jerusalem is experiencing while they are alive.
To conquer death, you only have to die.
Jesus is delivering a message of hope, stating that in order to conquer death, one simply has to die.
Contributed by Harper J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.