Lyrics


Pieces of Jesus


by Animal J. Smith
[VERSE 1]

I lay on my bed and I’m covered in fright,

In Pieces of Jesus that wake me at night -

A fingertip falls on my chancreous balls

And my comforter covered in glutinous gore!

A Scofield Bible lies next to my head,

With all of the sayings of Jesus in red.

The words we’re not sure that He truly did say

Are marked in ambiguous shadings of grey!


[CHORUS]

Now Pieces of Jesus wash up on my shoreline

In multiple shadings of crimson and grey,

We all know that nothing leaves marks that will last

Like the dangerous junk of amphetamine past!

Your vision, your insight, will come like the Flood,

So if you believe there is power in the blood,

Then say in the Latin, as Catholics say,

“Vero Fluxit Sanguine!”


[VERSE 2]

O Pieces of Jesus in endless reprises!

And with His salvation, He does as He pleases;

The blood that was shed there has not yet sufficed

To cover me now in the comfort of Christ!

He climbs to the top of the overtone series,

He marshals his partials, he collates his queries –

The truth that you seek there I’ll surely confess:

The answer is not necessarily Yes!


[CHORUS]

Now Pieces of Jesus show up on my doorstep,

Delivered each day with deliberate speed,

The promise He made is the promise He kept:

I finally know this is why Jesus wept!


Your vision, your insight, will come like the Flood,

So if you believe there is power in the blood,

Then say in the Latin, as Catholics say,

“Vero flexit sanguine!”


[VERSE 3]

He’s hanging around at the punk open mikes,

How lucky for him that he knows what he likes:

The furry young fellows on messenger bikes

And faggots in Mohawks with 40-inch spikes!

I know that my treasure in safety is stored,

I feel my hands nailed firm to the board,

I let out my breath and I give up the ghost!

So remember me next time you’re chewing the host!


[CHORUS]

Now Pieces of Jesus crop up in my garden

In varying stages of moldy decay;

Through layers of chaos they’re making their way –

I wonder whose soul I’ll be saving today!

Your vision, your insight, will come like the Flood!

So if you believe there is power in the blood,

Then say it in Latin, as Catholics say:

“Vero Fluxit Sanguine!”


(©1990-2024 Animal J. Smith.)