Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Rog Peek
Date: 11 Nov 12 - 03:15 PM

Both excellent songs, one for Christmas and one for Easter.

Rog

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 11 Nov 12 - 10:54 AM

Thought it was this one when I read the thread title
Jim Carroll

THE BALLAD OF THE CARPENTER
By Ewan MacColl

Jesus was a working man,
A hero as you shall hear.
Born in the slums of Bethlehem
At the turning of the year,
Yes, the turning of the year.

When Jesus was a little lad.
The streets rang with his name,
For he argued with the aldermen
And he put them all to shame.
Yes he...

He became a wandering journeyman
And he wandered far and wide,
And he saw how wealth and poverty
Lived always side by side,
Yes...

He said, "Come all you working men,
You farmers and weavers, too.
If you will only organize,
This world belongs to you,
Yes...

When the rich men heard what the carpenter had done,
To the Roman troops they ran.
Saying "Put this rebel Jesus down,
He's a menace to god and man,
Yes...

Jesus walked among the poor
For the poor were his own kind,
And they wouldn't let the cops get near enough
To take him from behind,
Yes...

So they hired one of the traitor's trade
And a stool-pigeon was he
And he sold his brother to the butcher's men
For a fistful of silver money.
Yes...

When Jesus lay in the prisoner's cell,
They beat him and offered him bribes
To desert the cause of his own dear folk
And work for the rich men's tribe,
Yes...

The commander of the occupying troops
He laughed and then he said,
"There's a cross to spare on Calvary Hill,
By the weekend he'll be dead,
Yes..

The sweat stood out upon his brow
And the blood was in his eye,
And they nailed his body to the Roman cross
And they laughed as they watched him die,
Yes..

Two thousand years have passed and gone,
And many a hero too,
But the dream of this poor carpenter
At last it is coming true,
Yes...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 11 Nov 12 - 09:36 AM

This is an awesome Christmas Song.... one of my favourites actually. A really good version is done by a Newfoundland band called 'The Punters' on their Christmas album Beautiful Star. They actually have a chorus added to it that comes before the We guard our world verse. It goes something like this like this....

So I give you pleasure and I give you cheer,
All colors creeds and nations
may we come together on this night
for the birth of the rebel Jesus.

I'm not sure what chords they use but it really adds to the song in my opinion.

Cheers

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: GUEST,this feels right to me
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 12:59 PM

C                                       
All the streets are filled with laughter and light
             F                   G
And the music of the season
             C
And the merchants' windows are all bright
             Em               Am or F
With the faces of the children
             F                           C
And the families hurrying to their homes
            F                      C or G
As the sky darkens and freezes
               F                                  C
They'll be gathering around the hearths and tales
             Am                         G (stay on G an extra measure)
Giving thanks for all god's graces
             F                G      C
And the birth of the rebel jesus

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: GUEST,Try again with Fonts
Date: 05 Jun 10 - 01:33 AM

D                                                                                          
All the streets are filled with laughter and light
             G                A   
And the music of the season,
                D                           
And the merchants' windows are all bright
             D/F#            Bm
With the faces of the children,
             G          A             D         
And the families hurrying to their homes
          G    A                  D
As the sky darkens and freezes
             G      A                     D
Will be gathering around the hearths and tables
            D/F#                   A7
Giving thanks for God's graces
               G                A       D
And the birth of the rebel Jesus.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: GUEST,Peterf
Date: 05 Jun 10 - 01:32 AM

D                  
All the streets are filled with laughter and light
       G            A   
And the music of the season,
       D                           
And the merchants' windows are all bright
         D/F#         Bm
With the faces of the children,
       G       A       D         
And the families hurrying to their homes
       G   A          D
As the sky darkens and freezes
       G    A               D
Will be gathering around the hearths and tables
       D/F#             A7
Giving thanks for God's graces
       G            A    D
And the birth of the rebel Jesus.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Amos
Date: 02 Aug 09 - 06:10 PM

(Note: Spotify is not available in the United States, yet.)



A

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Aug 09 - 06:04 PM

The sometimes amazing Spotify has no fewer than five versions, two by the Chieftains (one of them featuring Jackson Browne), one by Jackson Browne on his own, one by the Albion Christmas Band, and the one with Martha Wainwright and Lily Lanken from the McGarrigle Christmas Album.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: GUEST,Mister Sister
Date: 02 Aug 09 - 03:58 PM

Actually, it's played with the Capo on 1st fret then
C-F-G with variation at the end of each verse.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Beer
Date: 06 Jul 08 - 12:33 AM

Great great song.
Adrien

Subject: Tune and chord Req: The Rebel Jesus (Browne)
From: Genie
Date: 06 Jul 08 - 12:31 AM

< a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCsLtsn_Z70">Jackson Browne sings The Rebel Jesus
(BTW, in this recording, the word "tables" is crystal clear.)


BTW, I don't have a guitar handy, but I'm pretty sure I made a mistake in transcribing the chords for this song in my post above.
The line
"And the fa[G]milies hurrying to their ho[G]mes" seems to be wrong.
Pretty sure it's
"And the fa[C]milies hurrying to their ho[G]mes"

(Try it on your guitar and you'll be able to tell. Anyway, the only chords I use, in that key, are G, Em, C, and D, and those chords sound fine to me.   Of course, bagpipes or fiddles do add a lot to the song, if you've got some of those handy.)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: GUEST,Diane
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 08:03 PM

I've been looking for these chords for months! Thank you so very much!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 04:41 PM

http://tela.sugarmegs.org/_asxtela/JacksonBrowne2007-12-15ChristmasJamAshvilleNC.asx

The very first song!!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Genie
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 06:17 PM

Update:   Midchuck, on re-listening to my mp3, with the volume way up, I can hear that JB actually does seem to sing "tables," though the second syllable is very hard to detect (he holds out the long A sound and kind of 'swallows' the "bl," but, yeah, it's "tables."

*g*

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Genie
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 05:38 PM

"Tables" does make more sense, Midchuck, at least in common parlance (although "gathering around hearths and tales" makes perfect sense poetically to me too). I don't hear "tables," but I guess we'd have to see the liner notes or ask JB. *g*

Slight correction (modification) on my chord pattern (after actually getting out a guitar to test it):

All the [G]streets are filled with la[Em]*ughter and li[G -opt.]ght   
And the mu[C]sic of the se[D]ason,
And the me[G]rchants' windows a[Em]re all bri[G]ght
With the faces of the chi[C]ldren,
And the fa[G]milies hurrying to their ho[G]mes
As the s[C]ky darkens and fre[G]ezes
Will be ga[C]thering around the he[G]arths and tales*
Giving th[Em]anks for God's gra[D]ces
And the bi[C]rth of the re[D]bel Je[G]sus.

(walkdown)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Chris in Portland
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 10:36 AM

Thanks for the chords --
I have a bit of trouble doing the last verse -
so I change the last lines to
"So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
As I stand up tonight
On the side of the rebel Jesus."
I'm sure Jackson wouldn't mind.
Merry Christmas to Jackson and all!
Chris in rainy OR

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Midchuck
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 09:03 AM

Genie, I may have changed the melody, but my chords are somewhat different (I sing it in C, so I'm using all different chords, in any event, but the pattern is different).

I do like this, sort of:


All the [C]streets are filled with lau[Am (opt.)]ghter and lig[C]ht
And the mu[F]sic of the se[G7]ason,
And the me[C]rchants' windows a[Am (opt.)]re all bright
With the fa[F]ces of the chi[G7]ldren,
And the fa[F]milies hurrying to their ho[C]mes
As the s[F]ky darkens and fre[G7]ezes
Will be ga[F]thering around the he[C]arths and tales*
Giving thanks for God's gra[G7]ces
And the bi[F]rth of the re[G7]bel Je[C]sus.

And I hear "tables" as being right. It's true, there's an extra syllable, but he just slurs through it. And it fits the meaning better.

P.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Genie
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 11:44 PM

Chris in Portland (ME or OR?),

Here's how I do the chords. Piece o' cake!

The Rebel Jesus (words and music by Jackson Browne; performed with The Chieftains on the album The Bells Of Dublin)

All the [G]streets are filled with lau[Em]ghter and lig[G]ht
And the mu[C]sic of the se[D]ason,
And the me[G]rchants' windows a[Em]re all bri[G]ght
With the fa[Em]ces of the chi[C]ldren,
And the fa[G]milies hurrying to their ho[G]mes
As the s[C]ky darkens and fre[G]ezes
Will be ga[C]thering around the he[G]arths and tales*
Giving th[Em]anks for God's gra[D]ces
And the bi[C]rth of the re[D]bel Je[G]sus.

(The other verses are posted above and in separate "Lyrics" threads.)

Genie


* Pretty sure these are the right chords (no guitar at hand right now, so I'm playing "head guitar"), but I'm sure the lyric is "hearths and tales," not "hearths and tables" -- not only because "tables" has two many syllables for the line, but because I'm listening to Jackson Browne sing it as I type.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Genie
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 11:29 PM

Ah, Ernest,
Ya caught me!

But it wasn't a bottle o' whiskey, it was a mere glass of Charles Shaw Shiraz!   

(It doesn't take much these days!)   LOL

Thanks for correcting my little brain fart.

Yes, indeed.   The CHIEFTAINS

Oh, and I'm pretty sure you can buy The Rebel Jesus at iTunes as a single for 99 cents.
But the Bells Of Dublin album is such a good deal that I just bought the whole thing.

Genie

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Amos
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 12:25 PM

Vurry welcome, sir.


A

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Beer
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 11:55 AM

Yes he is good Tom.
And thank you Amos for the blue think. I got it once before but hadn't tried for a while and forgot how I did it. Practice makes perfect.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: topical tom
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 10:52 AM

That is one great song, Beer!I did not know about M. Iafrate, although I think I heard him once or twice on Mike Regenstreif's show.A great singer. I'll be listening to more of him.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Chris in Portland
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 10:39 AM

There is also a great version on the McGarrigle Xmas album -- everything by the sisters is great, of course. But their complilation albums are really in a class by themselves.
Genie, or anyone, how are you doing the chords? I think there are lots of possible ways to chord the song.
Chris

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Amos
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 10:37 AM

The lyrics above have several typos or alterations.

Here's a cleaner set:

All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tables
Giving thanks for God's graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus



Well they call him by 'the Prince of Peace'
And they call him by 'the Savior'
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
And they fill his churches with their pride and gold
As their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that I worship in
From a temple to a robber's den
In the words of the rebel Jesus



We guard our world with locks and gun
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why there are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus



But pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgement
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In a life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure, And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Amos
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 10:28 AM

Here ya go: Blue Clinky Thang. Just click on the song title within the player listing that you wish to hear.

A

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Beer
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 09:54 AM

I give up.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Beer
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 09:54 AM

I'll try again.

here it is.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Beer
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 09:51 AM

I screwed up trying to make a blue clicky.
You try.


www.virb.com/miafrate

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Beer
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 09:48 AM

Try this site and you should get to hear it. If not Google M.Iafrate and you should be able to get a download.

Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Midchuck
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 09:16 AM

This is my favorite Christmas song.

In fact, it's on the way to being the only one I can stand.

What does that say about me? Am I a Pagan Apostate? Or merely a grouchy grinch?

Peter

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Amos
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 08:15 AM

Here are th elyr5ics but I have no recrding:

The Rebel Jesus

(Jackson Brown)

The streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchantsÕ windows all are bright
With the faces of the children.
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tales
Giving thnaks for all GodÕs graves
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

They call him by the ÒPrince of PeaceÓ
And they call him by Òthe SaviourÓ
And they pray to him on every sea
And in every bold endeavour.
Asthey fill his churches with their pride and gold
And their faith in him increases.
But theyÕve turned the nature that I worshipped in
From a temple to a robberÕs den
In the words of the rebel, Jesus.

We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions.
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations.
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If thegenerosity should seize us.
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why they are poor
They Ôd get the same as the rebel, Jesus.

But please forgive me if IÕve seemed
To take the tone of judgement.
For IÕve no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment.
In this life of hardship and earthly toil
We have need of anything that fees us.
So I bid you pleasure and I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan,
On the side of the rebel, Jesus.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Ernest
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 02:03 AM

Clancy Brothers?? You seem to mix them up with the Chieftains, Genie.
Morale: Never trust a genie living in a bottle of Whiskey....

;0)
Ernest

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Genie
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 01:26 AM

I found the song at iTunes on the album "The Bells Of Dublin," featuring The Clancy Brothers and various artists, including Jackson Browne.   I downloaded the album -- all 21 songs -- for $9.99.   Such a deal!

I play this song often at Christmas time, with just my guitar and vocals, but it really does add to feel of the song if you have bagpipes as backup instruments, or at least fiddles.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Genie
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 09:27 AM

Wolfgang, if you PM me your phone number, or send it to me at [e-mail], I may call to hear you sing it. I think it may not be necessary (may have access to an MP3 soon), but I will call if all else fails. (Somewhere in my tapes at home I have the song, but I'm out of town and I'm not sure where the tape is, in any event.)
Thanks,
Genie

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Wolfgang
Date: 12 Dec 01 - 09:12 AM

Genie, seeing that nobody has responded so far, I have the song on a tape and can't copy it in any way but I would play it to you over the phone as many times as you want. Mail [e-mail] if there is no easier solution.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Rebel Jesus
From: Genie
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 07:14 PM

If no one has a MIDI, is there someone who can email me an MP3? All I need is the 3rd (of 4) lines of the verse. I remember the rest of the tune pretty well.

Genie

Subject: The Rebel Jesus
From: Genie
Date: 09 Dec 01 - 02:50 AM

The lyrics to Jackson Browne's "The Rebel Jesus" are here, but I can't quite remember the tune (especially the middle part of it). Can someone post and ABC or a MIDI of it? If not, even the chord progression might bring the missing part of the tune back to my mind.

Thanks, Genie

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Click for lyrics in related thread