Jesus Christ Superstar: This Jesus Must Die

Soon we'll be celebrating the Holy Week and I think it is not a bad idea to remember this beautiful song from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, which had such a resounding success when it was released in 1973. I really like this musical and I love 'this' Jesus. For me, he was a revolutionary of his time, but his doctrine couldn't be more simple: love and forgiveness, forgiveness and love, and that was all. But it was actually this doctrine that the Pharisees found dangerous, so they decreed that he had to die. And I can't help thinking that the hypocrites in power of our day would not hesitate to do the same:

(I have downloaded this video with an educational purpose: to help my students practise and improve their English, while enjoying this beautiful song).

LYRICS

Good Caiaphas, the council waits for you
The Pharisees and priests are here for you
Ah gentlemen, you know why we are here
We've not much time, and quite a problem here

Hosanna, Superstar
Hosanna, Superstar
Hosanna, Superstar
Hosanna, Superstar

Listen to that howling mob of blockheads in the street
A trick or two with lepers, and the whole town's on its feet

He is dangerous
Jesus Christ Superstar
He is dangerous
Tell us that you're who they say you are

That man is in town right now to whip up some support
A rabble rousing mission that I think we must abort

He is dangerous
Jesus Christ Superstar
He is dangerous

Look Caiaphas, they're right outside our yard
Quick Caiaphas, go call the Roman guard
No, wait
We need a more permanent solution to our problem

What then to do about Jesus of Nazareth?
Miracle wonder man, hero of fools
No riots, no army, no fighting, no slogans
One thing I'll say for Him, Jesus is cool

We dare not leave Him to His own devices
His half-witted fans will get out of control
But how can we stop him? His glamor increases
By leaps every minute, He's top of the poll

I see bad things arising
The crowd crown Him king
Which the Romans would ban
I see blood and destruction
Our elimination because of one man
Blood and destruction because of one man

Because, because, because of one man
Our elimination because of one man
Because, because, because of one
'Cause of one, 'cause of one man

What then to do about this Jesus mania?
How do we deal with a Carpenter King?
Where do we start with the man who is bigger
Than John was when John did His baptism thing?

Fools! You have no perception!
The stakes we are gambling are frighteningly high
We must crush Him completely
So like John before Him, this Jesus must die

For the sake of the nation, this Jesus must die
Must die, must die, this Jesus must die
So like John before Him, this Jesus must die
Must die, must die, this Jesus must, Jesus must, Jesus must die

MEMORY TEST

Fill in the gaps with the missing words: 

Good Caiaphas, the ...... waits for you
The ........... and priests are here for you
Ah gentlemen, you know why we are here
We've not much time, and quite a .........here
..............................

Listen to that .......... mob of blockheads in the street
A trick or two with ........., and the whole town's on its feet
....................................

That man is in town right now to whip up some ........
A rabble rousing ......... that I think we must abort
....................................

Look Caiaphas, they're right outside our yard
Quick Caiaphas, go call the Roman ........
No, wait
We need a more .......... solution to our problem

What then to do about Jesus of Nazareth?
Miracle wonder man, hero of fools
No ......., no army, no fighting, no slogans
One thing I'll say for Him, Jesus is .........

We dare not leave Him to His ........ devices
His half-witted fans will ....... out of control
But how can we stop him? His ......... increases
By leaps every minute, He's top of the ........

I see ...... things arising
The crowd ....... Him king
Which the Romans would ban
I see ........ and destruction
Our elimination because of one man
Blood and destruction because of one man
...........................

What then to do about this Jesus .........?
How do we deal with a .......... King?
Where do we start with the man who is bigger
Than John was when John did His ........ thing?

Fools! You have no ...........!
The stakes we are gambling are frighteningly high
We must ........ Him completely
So like John ........ Him, this Jesus must die

For the ....... of the nation, this Jesus must die
Must die, must die, ..... Jesus must die
So like ....... before Him, this Jesus must die
Must die, must die, this ....... must, Jesus must, Jesus must die