Take a walk
Out the gate you go and never stop
Past all the stores and wig shops
Quarter in a cup for every block
And watch the buildings grow
Smaller as you go

Down the tracks
Beautiful McMansions on a hill
That overlook a highway
With riverboat casinos and you still
Have yet to see a soul

Jesusland
Jesusland

Town to town
Broadcast to each house, they drop your name
But no one knows your face
Billboards quoting things you'd never say
You hang your head and pray

For Jesusland
Jesusland

Miles and miles
And the sun goin' down
Pulses glow
From their homes
You're not alone
Lights come on
As you lay your weary head on their lawn

Parking lots
Cracked and growing grass you see it all
From offices to farms
Crosses flying high above the malls
A longer walk

Through Jesusland
Jesusland



Lyrics submitted by goodreverend

Track duration: 04:29

"Jesusland" as written by Benjamin Scott Folds

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Jesusland song meanings
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37 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:The third line of the first verse is, "past DOLLAR stores and wig shops," not "past all the stores"...
    Flag JimmyCarlBlackon October 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:actually a mcmansion is just a large house. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… check it out.
    Flag jumbomanateon March 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Great comments everyone! I never got that the "you" in this song is Jesus. Now it makes so much more sense.

    The only thing I'd mention is that everyone, especially the Christian users on this board about whether or not the line "sun going down" is a knock at Jesus. I'd like to suggest that it really has nothing to do with Jesus - apart from sounding like the word "son" - and is just a description of the time of day. It's just supposed to be like...he's been walking all day and needs a place to rest.

    Just my 2 cents.
    Flag musiclover318on January 09, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Living in south California I can honestly not attest to have truly experienced a "Jesusland" even among the many pious people I know. I agree with the others who see this song as a diatribe against the Christians who act contrary to what the bible teaches. Google images 'Jesusland' if you haven't already. I'm not sure if the image or the song came first, but they complement each other perfectly.
    Flag leadmixeron November 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:who is ben talking to throughout the song? "you lay your weary head" "you hang your head and pray"
    Flag barnet2on February 11, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I love the part about
    "lights come on as you lay your weary head on their lawn"
    We're so paranoid, that even Jesus isn't welcome.
    Flag the_e_completes_meon June 27, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:True that the theme of overcomericalization has been told and retold. But, I find the perspective and religious commentary to be refreshing and very original. As a Christian, I find it particularly moving.

    The line

    "Lights come on
    as you lay your weary head on their lawn."

    Reminds me of the words to Away in a Manger:

    "The little lord Jesus Lays down his sweet head"

    And, it's interesting to note a possible connection with the electric nativity scenes that Ben cites in his Over the Hedge version of Rockin' The Suburbs.

    In that song, which addresses a very similar theme to this one, he sings:

    "Hot real-estate - rising stars
    'get rich quick' seminars
    soap opera magazines
    40 thousand watt nativity scenes"

    So, by looking at the connection between these two songs, you could interpret a connection. Jesus is both figuratively and literally left out on the lawn.

    I'm not saying this is exactly what he meant, but just something to thing about.
    Flag pikabooon July 23, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Imagine if Jesus were actually walking through America. That's what I see this as. The first verse I think sets it up and the second verse makes the commentary.

    "Town to town;
    broadcast to each house, they drop your name,
    but no one knows your face.
    Billboards quoting things you'd never say;
    you hang your head and pray
    for Jesusland."

    First two lines are saying Christianity is everywhere in America. It's like McDonald's. The next line, "no one knows your face" is saying that while Christianity is all great and whatnot, no one really practices what Jesus taught. It's pointing out the fakeness of a great deal of modern religion. Same thing with the next line. The last two lines I just imagine Jesus hanging his headand hoping we eventually get it right.

    It's not a commentary on religion necessarily, it's more of a comment on America. That is not to say that Christianity gets off scott-free, but I think most of it is a commentary on America.
    Flag Thanatoon July 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I feel hope when i hear this song.
    I'm a Christian, and when i listen to this song I don't see it as just badmouthing Christians. I see how it states a problem, and i do acknowledge this problem, but i don't think all hope is entirely lost on it. Basically I beleive that as long as we acknowledge the issue is there, and spread this view of it, then hope should never be lost. I think the line "You're not alone" expresses how there are still those out there who don't buy into the hipocracy. And I also see the line "Lights come on / as you lay your weary head on their lawn." as someone taking action to help him because he's finally found a helping hand that would shine light on his problems.
    So, when i hear this song it gives me more hope rather than taking it away.
    Flag Link7on May 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Busybea... this is not just a general hypocrisy song. Its specifically about JESUS and how many people take what he said and change it to be what they want. Yes we know ben is not a jesus follower, that doesnt mean he cant critique the things that so called christians do (or dont do). And just because this song isnt christian doesnt mean that Christians cant learn something from it and enjoy it. I think that busybea is too concerned about putting things in boxes and categories and keeping them separated.
    Flag reytimon January 29, 2007   Link

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