Oh Jerusalem - Lauryn Hill: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts

Oh Jerusalem

16,824

R&B/Soul

Oh Jerusalem was released on May 7, 2002 by Columbia as a part of the album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0

Song Details

AlbumMTV Unplugged No. 2.0

Release DateMay 7, 2002

LabelColumbia

Melodicness

Acousticness

Valence

Danceability

Energy

BPM91

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS

Lauryn Hill

Vocals

COMPOSITION & LYRICS

Lauryn Hill

Songwriter

PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING

Max Feldman

Assistant Engineer

Herb Powers

Mastering Engineer

Adam Blackburn

Recording Engineer

Alex Coletti

Producer

Christopher Koch

Christopher Koch

Post Production Editor

Lauryn Hill

Producer

Mel Papaterpou

Guitar Technician

Sue Pelino

Post Production Mixing Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]

Oh Jerusalem, yeah

Oh Jerusalem

Oh Jerusalem

Oh Jerusalem

[Verse 2]

Realizing that there's no place else to go

And there's nobody I know who can help me

Text book solutions are so improbable

'Cause everybody else is just as empty

[Verse 3]

Naked as the day that I was born, I tried to hide

Behind education and philosophy

Hopeless explanation to describe a situation

I can't see because the world's on top of me

[Verse 4]

Oh wretched man that I am, who will deliver me

From the body of this death?

Freeing me from dust and the superficial trust

Of an enemy that seeks to take my breath

[Verse 5]

Failing to connect, 'cause I'm morally defect

By reason of the god inside my head

Causing me to see only what pertains to me

Believing I'm alive when I'm still dead

[Verse 6]

Limited to earth, unable to find out my worth 'cause I

Can't see past my own vanity

If I'm not included, then I just have to remove it

From my mind because it has to be insanity

[Verse 7]

Oh wretched man that I am, who will deliver me

From the body of this death?

Can I even factor, that I've only been an actor

In this staged interpretation of this day

[Verse 8]

Focused on the shadow

With my back turned to the light

Too intelligent to see it's me in the way

What a paradox, havin' God trapped in a box

All this time professin' to be spiritual

Naturally pretending

That I'm actually defending

God through my facade, only material

[Verse 9]

Oh Jerusalem

Wash they heart from wickedness

That thou mayest be saved from thy deception

How long shall they vain thought lodge within thee?

Oh Jerusalem

Keeping thee from perfection

[Verse 10]

Submit to truth, leave the deception of thy youth

So we can walk in the council of authority

Forget the proof

A generation so aloof

Only followin' the steps of the majority

[Verse 11]

Trust in the lord with all thy heart

And lean not to thine own understanding in all thy ways

Acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths

Be not wise in thine own eyes, or you can't follow Him

[Verse 12]

We judge and condemn

Just as ignorant as them

Who religion tells us that we should ignore

Perpetrating we're in covenant with Him

Exposed by the very things that we adore

[Verse 13]

We grin and shake hands

Then lay ambush for the man

Who has a different point of view than us

Infuriated, 'cause he doesn't understand

Bringing up those things we don't want to discuss

[Verse 14]

Why still do evil?

Ooh, we don't know how to do good

Walkin' on in darkness, runnin' from the light, ay

Ay, led to believe because we live in neighborhoods

Tellin' us what's goin' on will be alright

[Verse 15]

Oh, so repressed

So convinced that I was blessed

When I played with my game of monopoly

Oh, to suggest, that my life is still a mess

Will reveal the pride I'm hiding is what's stoppin' me

[Verse 16]

Oh Jerusalem

Wash thine heart from wickedness

That thou mayest be saved from thy deception

How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

Oh Jerusalem

Keeping them from perfection

[Verse 17]

Abide in me and I in you

As the branch cannot bare

Fruit of itself except in the vine

I am the Vine, ye are the branches

He that live in Me and I in him

The same bring forth much fruit

For without me you can do nothing

[Verse 18]

Oh Jerusalem

You're traditions have deceived you

I've chosen you, you haven't chosen me

Do whatsoever you ask in my name

He may give to you

[Verse 19]

But in vain they call my name

Teachin' doctrines just the same

Justified among themselves

But God knoweth the heart

What man esteems as smart

Is an abomination to Emmanuel

[Verse 20]

Just repent, turn from selfish motivation

So iniquity will not cause your demise

Make you a new heart

And a new spirit, for why would ye die?

Oh Jerusalem, please tell me why?

[Verse 21]

I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth

Says the Lord God, whereforth, turn yourselves and live

It's not the talkers, but the walkers and His word

Are the only ones the Father will forgive

[Verse 22]

Oh Jerusalem

Wash they heart from wickedness

That thou mayest be saved from thy deception, yeah

How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

Oh Jerusalem

Providing you no protection

[Verse 23]

Oh Jerusalem

Oh, yeah

Oh Jerusalem

Oh

Yeah

Oh, yeah

Written by: Lauryn Hill

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