Mavis Staples Songs - Jesus Wept Lyrics

Mavis Staples - Jesus Wept

Mavis Staples - Jesus Wept Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: One True Vine
Released: 2013

Jesus Wept Lyrics

My throat quits when I try to say
How I long for the day
How I wish there was a way
I could see you again

I wither next to my thorns
I thread my tongue through the horn
Arm in arm we are born
Arm in arm to the end

Side streets I have worn
Through late summer storms
I should have told you
I could live without you
But I don’t want to

My heart lifts when I sing
The joy I can bring
Doesn’t mean a thing
I want to see you again

I wither next to my thorns
I thread my tongue through the horn
Arm in arm in arm we are born
Arm in arm to the end

Side streets I have worn
Through late summer storms
I should have told you
I could live without you
But I don’t want to

My throat quits when I try to say
How I long for the day
How I wish there was a way
To see you again

Side streets I have worn
Through late summer storms
I should have told you
I could live without you
But I don’t want to
But I don’t want to
Oh I don’t want to

Writer/s: JEFFREY SCOT TWEEDY
Publisher: BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Jesus Wept

This is one of three songs on One True Vine that was written by the album's producer and Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy. Staples told Mojo magazine the story behind the song: "Tweedy had the track," she recalled, "and I said. 'You've got to write lyrics for it.' When we sat at the (family) table for dinner my father would bless the food then one of us would say the verse and my verse was 'Jesus wept.'"

The song title is a reference to the Gospel of John 11 v 35, where Jesus cried openly alongside others over the passing of his friend Lazarus, before raising him from the dead. "Jesus wept" is the shortest verse in the Bible.

Staples recalled to The Music.com the first time that Tweedy played her this song: "I listened to 'Jesus Wept'," she said, "I was sitting there on the couch and tears were just streaming down my face. Tweedy looked over 'Mavis, are you crying?' and I said 'Tweedy, you're not supposed to be looking at me!'. He said 'Oh Mavis, I'm sorry' but I said 'That's just the way this song is hitting me. But you might have to change the title to Mavis Wept."