This song has another of John Bell’s extraordinary texts. He writes lyrics that are blunt and brave and unlike anyone else, except maybe Shirley Erena Murray. He uses each of the five senses until he gets to knowing and the punch line “will you carry on as if he’s dead.”
It is not a well known song and deserves to be better known so here are the lyrics:
1 Once you’ve seen the baby in the manger,
Will you go to tell the jealous king?
Will you trade the safety of the Saviour,
Sell your soul and ruin everything?
Chorus
Go home (Go home) Go Home (Go Home)
Go home by another way!
Go home (Go home) Go Home (Go Home)
Go home by another way!
2 Once you’ve heard the teacher in the temple,
Will you take offence at what he says?
Will you call him saved and yet misguided
When he claims that profit seldom pays.
3 When you feel the handshake of the healer,
Will you let him take your deepest pain?
Will you dare release the hurt you’re feeling
Or ensure his interest is in vain?
4 When you taste the wine from heaven’s waiter,
Will you celebrate his presence here?
Will you shout with joy instead of anger
or suspect God’s presence in good cheer?
5 When you smell the death of the redeemer,
Will you realise he died for you?
Will you see the suffering and forgiving
Are the work of grace he came to do?
6 When you know that Jesus Christ is risen,
Will you carry on as if he’s dead?
Will you recognise that love has triumphed,
Hell has lost and Heaven is her instead?
© 1988 WGRG, The Iona Community, Glasgow.
I also have a copy in the collection Enemy of Apathy, which can be purchased at Wild Goose where you can hear a snippet of the song. It is also available at GIA.