[Verse 1] Realizing that there's no place else to go And there's nobody I know who can help me Textbook solutions are so improbable 'Cause everybody else is just as empty
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 3] 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
Oh, wretched man that I am, who will deliver me From the body of this death?
What a paradox, having God trapped in a box All this time professing to be spiritual Naturally pretending that I'm actually defending God through my facade, don't need material
[Hook] Oh Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness That thou mayest be saved from thy deception How long shall thy faith lodge lies within thee? Oh Jerusalem, keeping thee from perfection
[Verse 5] Submit to truth, leave the deception of thy youth So we could walk in the council of authority Forget the proof, our generation so aloof Only follow in the steps of the majority
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 6] We grin and shake hands, then lay ambush for the man Who has a different point of view then us Infuriated 'cause he doesn't understand Bringing up those things we don't want to discuss
Why still do evil? We don't know how to do good Walking on in darkness running from the light, hey Led to believe, because we live in neighborhoods Telling us what's going on will be alright
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 Who reveal the pride I'm hiding is what's stopping me
[Hook] Oh Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness That thou mayest be saved from thy deception How long shall thy faith lodge lies within thee? Oh Jerusalem, keeping thee from perfection
[Verse 8] 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 he die? Oh Jerusalem, please tell me why
I have no pleasure in the death of him to die Says the Lord God where forth turn yourselves and live It's not the talkers, but the walkers and His Word Are the only ones the Father will forgive
[Hook] Oh Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness That thou mayest be saved from thy deception How long shall thy faith lodge lies within thee? Oh Jerusalem, providing no protection
[Outro] Oh Jerusalem Oh Jerusalem, oh Yeah, oh
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Genius Annotation1 contributor
“Oh Jerusalem”, one of the more religion-focused tracks on her MTV Unplugged live album, refers to the ancient city of Jerusalem, located in the Middle East.
The Capital of Israel, Jerusalem has been referred to in script as refuge for many Holy figures. In this song, Lauryn refers to the region as a strong religious safe haven for people of color all over the world.
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