The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Wooden Jesus, where are you from?
Korea or Canada or maybe Taiwan?
Well, I didn't know it was the holy land
But I believed from the minute the check left my hand
And I pray
Can I be saved? I spent all my money
On a future grave
Wooden Jesus, I'll cut you in
On twenty percent of my future sin
I'll cut you in
Yeah, Porcelain Mary, her majesties pure
Looking for virgin territory
Coat hanger halos that don't come cheap
From television shepherds with living room sheep
And I pray
Can I be saved?
I spent all my money on a future grave
Wooden Jesus, I'll cut you in
On twenty percent of my future sin
I'll cut you in
I'll cut you in
And Wooden Jesus, where are you from?
Korea or Canada or maybe Taiwan?
Well, I didn't know it was the holy land
But I believed from the minute the check left my hand
Well, can I be saved?
I spent all my money on a future grave
Wooden Jesus, I'll cut you in
On twenty percent of my future sin
Hey
I'll cut you in, I'll cut you in
I'll cut you in, I'll cut you in
I'll cut you in, I'll cut you in
Yeah
Mmm, woo
Korea or Canada or maybe Taiwan?
Well, I didn't know it was the holy land
But I believed from the minute the check left my hand
And I pray
Can I be saved? I spent all my money
On a future grave
Wooden Jesus, I'll cut you in
On twenty percent of my future sin
I'll cut you in
Yeah, Porcelain Mary, her majesties pure
Looking for virgin territory
Coat hanger halos that don't come cheap
From television shepherds with living room sheep
And I pray
Can I be saved?
I spent all my money on a future grave
Wooden Jesus, I'll cut you in
On twenty percent of my future sin
I'll cut you in
I'll cut you in
And Wooden Jesus, where are you from?
Korea or Canada or maybe Taiwan?
Well, I didn't know it was the holy land
But I believed from the minute the check left my hand
Well, can I be saved?
I spent all my money on a future grave
Wooden Jesus, I'll cut you in
On twenty percent of my future sin
Hey
I'll cut you in, I'll cut you in
I'll cut you in, I'll cut you in
I'll cut you in, I'll cut you in
Yeah
Mmm, woo
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It means you can't buy your way into heaven. People like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell are the scum of the earth. They beg poor people for money so they can live in mansions and buy diamond mines in Africa. All the while telling their followers that if they give their money, God will make them rich.
@HoleDweller yawn.. Nice try junkie drummer.. "dweller".. Pretty obvious..
Its about religious exploitation for monetry gain, ie the indulgences and relics sold by catholic "preachers" in pre-reformation europe to buy you way out of purgatory, hence the lyrics about wooden jesus', porcelein mary's and coathanger halos that don't come cheap.
I saw Chris Cornell last night at the Flynn Theatre in Burlington, Vermont. This song is in fact written about televangelists. As he said, the tv preachers that "make you want to just punch them in the face."
this song is about heroin. "can i be saved? i spent all my money on a future grave. wooden jesus, i'll cut you in on 20% of my future sin". again, this song is probably about Andy Wood (R.I.P)
@SwornToTheBlack totally right, notice in pretty noose, he mentions the wooden snake as well. I think he's talking about methadone or another heroin treatment drug. Wooden means fake.
its about the fake ass preachers on the shows like "500 club." and just about over-religiopus people
I agree more with the addiction thing, though its good that we have different opinions we can share.
In an interview right after Temple of the Dog released Cornell maid it apparent that the CD was a tribute to Wood, but each song was not about him or directed toward him. Reach Down and Say Hello 2 Heaven were both songs Cornell wrote after his death and were obviously about him. The rest were just songs that Cornell was working on and didn't really fit into anything that Soundgarden was doing. This was a perfect forum for Chris to put out a different kind of sound and album and still pay tribute to Andrew. That interview is on the internet somewhere, if I find the site I will post the url.
This song to me is in no way about addiction. To me its definitely about religious people who fill there homes with religious figurines and propaganda, because in some way they feel this will bode well for them in getting into heaven. Like it was said earlier, its also about the individuals who make millions selling simple people the idea that they can buy themselves into heaven. It pretty much sums up to me how ridiculous religion has become.
That was a very nice and elegant toning down on the previous guy, plus it looks you speak backed by a broad knowledge of what the guys said and "it's somewhere in the net". I don't think I've ever heard the song, but as soon as the songs by Temple of the Dog are costing the same other great musician's do, I'll make sure to download a couple.
@Outshined07 I think all of the songs on this album were relative to his experiences being friends and living with and his time knowing Andy and being a big part of his life, but I agree - I don't think every single song was about Andrew Wood specifically - I think moreso just about the time in which he may have known him and the situations that were involved in his life during the time in which he knew Andy that were relative to him and Andy during that time period and circulating emotions, etc.
I honestly don't see where this could be about heroin, let alone drugs. It's about those evangelist preachers
This is a song that resonated with me as someone who grew up in a very Catholic household. It doesn't feel like an anti-religion song, but more like it's about the over-commercialization of it. There are a lot of people who turn to religion as a comfort in their life, an explanation for what they can't explain, and along with that comes those who see that as a business opportunity. These greedy businessmen and televangelists who will use someone's faith to make a quick buck. "One more crucifix, one more set of rosary beads, maybe this will help me get into heaven and make up for some of my sins." It's about the exploitation of those who are religious for monetary gain by people who likely aren't even religious.
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24
to me its a sarcastic song about the way money/posessions corrupts religion.