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.