Jesus The Missing Years

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[Intro]
Jesus, the Missing Years
[Verse 1]
C
It was raining, it was cold
F
West Bethlehem was no place for a twelve-year old
G
So he packed his bag and he headed out
C
To find out what the world's about
C
He went to France and went to Spain
F
He found love and he found pain
G
He found stores, so he started to shop
C
He had no money, so he got in trouble with a cop
C
Kids in trouble with the cops from Israel didn't have no home
F
So he cut his hair and moved to Rome
G
It was there, he met his Irish bride
C
And they rented a flat on the lower east side of Rome
F
Italy, that is
G
Music publishers, book binders
Bible belters, swimming pools
C
Orgies, and lots of pretty Italian chicks
[Chorus]
C F
Charlie bought some popcorn, Billy bought a car
G
Someone almost bought the farm, but they didn't go that far
C F
Things shut down at midnight, at least round here they do
G C
'Cause we all reside down the block inside 23 Skidoo
[Verse 2]
C
Wine was flowing, so were beers
F
So Jesus found his missing years
G
He went to a dance and said, "This don't move me"
C
He hiked up his pants and he went to a movie
C
On his thirteenth birthday, he saw Rebel Without A Cause
F
He went straight on home and invented Santa Claus
G
Who gave him a gift and he responded in kind
C
He gave the gift of love and went out of his mind
C
You see, him and the wife wasn't getting along
F
So he took out his guitar and he wrote a song
G
Called 'The Dove Of Love Fell Off The Perch'
C
But he couldn't get divorced in the Catholic Church
F
At least not back then, anyhow
C
Jesus was a good guy
He didn't need this shit
So he took a pill with a Coca-Cola
F
And he swallowed it
G
He discovered the Beatles
And he recorded with The Stones
Once he even opened up a three-way package
C
For old George Jones
[Chorus]
C F
Charlie bought some popcorn, Billy bought a car
G C
Someone almost bought the farm, but they didn't go that far
C F
Things shut down at midnight, at least round here they do
G C
'Cause we all reside down the block inside of...23 Skidoo
[Verse 3]
C
The years went by like sweet little days
F
With babies crying pork chops and Beaujolais
G
When he woke up, he was seventeen
C
The world was angry, the world was mean
C
Why, the man down the street and the kid on the stoop
F
All agreed that life stank, all the world smelled like poop
G
Baby poop, that is
C
The worst kind
G
So he grew his hair long and he threw away his comb
C
Headed back to Jerusalem to find Mom and Dad and home
C
But when he got there, the cupboard was bare
F
Except for an old black man with a fishing rod
G
He said, "What you gonna be when you grow up?"
Jesus said, "God"
C
Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into?
F
I'm a human corkscrew and all my wine is blood
G C
They're gonna kill me, Mama, they don't like me, Bud
C
So Jesus went to Heaven, he went there awful quick
F
All them people killed him, he wasn't even sick
G
So, come and gather around me, my contemporary peers
F G C
And I'll tell you all the story of Jesus: The Missing Years
[Chorus]
C F
Charlie bought some popcorn, Billy bought a car
G C
Someone almost bought the farm, but they didn't go that far
C F
Things shut down at midnight, at least round here they do
G C
'Cause we all reside down the block inside at 23...Skidoo

Jesus The Missing Years chords and lyrics

Free chords for Jesus The Missing Years by John Prine. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

[Intro]
Jesus, the Missing Years
[Verse 1]
Bible belters, swimming pools
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
He didn't need this shit
So he took a pill with a Coca-Cola
And he recorded with The Stones
Once he even opened up a three-way package
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Jesus said, "God"
[Chorus]

Jesus The Missing Years Chords by John Prine

Learn how to play Jesus The Missing Years by John Prine with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Jesus The Missing Years chords”, “Jesus The Missing Years guitar chords”, or “John Prine Jesus The Missing Years chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Jesus The Missing Years chords and for experienced players who want accurate Jesus The Missing Years lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F, G, A.

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What key is "Jesus The Missing Years" in?

The chords for "Jesus The Missing Years" show the original chord names (including C, F, G, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.