Saturday, February 19, 2005

Jesus Hits Like an Atom Bomb

Among the things we did in Hiroshima City last weekend was a brief visit to a decent-sized music store that has a jazz section. Jazz! I miss jazz music! So of course I had to buy three five eight CDs there (not all jazz), one of which was Chanticleer's newest album, How Sweet the Sound: Spirituals & Traditional Gospel Music. The first song on this CD? "Jesus Hits Like an Atom Bomb."

From the lyrics printed in the extra Japanese liner notes:
(You know now) Ev'rybody's worried
'bout that atom bomb.
Well, no one seems worried about the day my Lord shall come.
(You better) set your house in order,
(well He) may be coming soon,
and He'll hit like an atom bomb when he come, when he come.

In 19 hundred and 45, the atom bomb became alive.
In 19 hundred and 49, the USA got very wise.
They found that a country across the line
had an atom bomb of the very same kind.
People got worried over the land,
just like the people in J-pan. [Japan]
God told Elijah He'd send down fire,
send down fire from the sky.
He showed old Noah by the rainbow sign,
it won't be water but fire next time.

(Oh well now) Ev'rybody's worried (don't you know)
'bout that atom bomb.
Well, no one seems worried about the day my Lord shall come.
(You better) set your house in order,
(well He) may be coming soon,
and He'll hit like an atom bomb when he come, when he come.

Now don't you get worried, bear in mind,
trust King Jesus and you shall find
peace, and happiness, joy divine,
with my Savior all the time.
God told Elijah He'd send down fire,
send down fire from the sky.
He said he would, and I believe He will,
He'll fight your battles if you keep still.

Ev'rybody's worried
'bout that atom bomb ...

... And He'll hit...
And He'll hit like an atom ...
Hit like an atom ...
Hit like an atom bomb when He come, when He come.
(You better straighten up and fly right 'cause He may be coming soon.)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

56Hi, Emily. I stumbled upon the Chanticleer song via Chas. Pope's posting -- while searching for the Christmas hymn: "Chanticleer, the morning's trumpeter...etc." Born in 1949 (when the USA got very wise) I recall the duck and cover era very well and the fear that made it tragic, not comical. The visuals of kids hitting the floor in this version evoke tears with me, not laughter.