Hebrew Man of Constant Sorrow

 

Song lyrics by Chrome Dome Mike Kimbro

 

Intro by Gary Ramsey    Verse 1 by The Mighty Jeremiahs    Verse 2 by Tony Grimsley   Bridge by Phil Keaggy 

Based on the traditional song “John the Revelator”, from which here are samples:

Verse 3 by Laughing Gravy   Verse 4 by Nick Clave   Close & Reprise by Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers

 

Consider reading along to my Spoken Verse Performance.

 

 

INTRO

 

Know that

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

But ain’t no way

 

It’ll keep me down.

 

 

VERSE 1

 

Listen,

 

From up high Moses brought down the law

 

On stone tablets were engraved.

 

But when they turned from Yahweh,

 

It made them shackled and enslaved.

 

 

CHORUS

 

That's why

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

But ain’t no way

 

It’ll keep me down.

 

 

VERSE 2

 

The Jews were true and trusting.

 

That’s how they got in that plight.

 

Righteous men will try and sell you.

 

A world where separate is right.

 

 

CHORUS

 

That's why

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

But ain’t no way

 

It’ll keep me down.

 

 

VERSE 3

 

Yes I

 

Saw His people

 

Placed in separate ghettos

 

Saw His people

 

Placed in separate ghettos

 

Saw His people

 

Placed in separate ghettos

 

In countless towns

 

Over centuries.

 

 

VERSE 4

 

I’m so

 

Glad I met a

 

Holocaust survivor.

 

Glad I met a

 

Holocaust survivor.

 

Glad I met a

 

Holocaust survivor.

 

Before they all

 

Finally get some peace.

 

 

VERSE 5

 

I knew a Hofstra Coed.

 

She was my Lea Michelle.

 

Then she had rhinoplasty.

 

Now it's not easy to tell.

 

 

CHORUS

 

That's why

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

But ain’t no way

 

It’ll keep me down.

 

 

VERSE 6

 

Just say no to Gentiles!

 

Our culture they’ll corrode.


But babes are a big temptation.


And wild oats have to be sewed.

 

 

CHORUS

 

That's why

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

But ain’t no way

 

It’ll keep me down.

 

 

VERSE 7

 

Mom said that I’ll get rabies!

 

 If I date outside the tribe.


All I caught was crabs and scabies.


At the shot gun wedding Mom cried.

 

 

CHORUS

 

And now

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

But ain’t no way

 

It’ll keep me down.

 

 

VERSE 8

 

Spielberg said he

 

Won’t produce my screen play.

 

Spielberg said he

 

Won’t produce my screen play.

 

Spielberg said he

 

Won’t produce my screen play.

 

Unless I write

@  Unless I get

 

In a Shia role.

@  Shia for the lead.

 

 

VERSE 9

 

So I

 

Placed a call to LeBeouf’s agent man,

 

But I couldn’t get a meet.

 

Cause he had signed up to make,

@  Cause he had signed up to do

 

Transformer sequels and Wall Street.

 

 

CHORUS 

 

That's why

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

But ain’t no way

 

It’ll keep me down.

 

 

VERSE 10

 

After

 

Just three days of an Israel tour.

 

We knew that we had to leave.

 

We could not find good Tex Mex

 

Yeah, we searched all of Tel Aviv.

 

 

CHORUS

 

That's why

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

I’m the Hebrew

 

Man of Constant Sorrow

 

But ain’t no way

 

It’ll keep me down.

 

 

Copyright © Michael Kimbro 2015.  All rights reserved.