Stand Up For Judas

The Romans were the masters
 When Jesus walked the land
 In Judea and in Galilee
 They ruled with an iron hand
 The poor were sick with hunger
 And the rich were clothed in splendour
 And the rebels, whipped and crucified
 Hung rotting as a warning
 And Jesus knew the answer -
 "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's"
 Said, "Love your enemies"
 But Judas was a Zealot and he
 Wanted to be free
 "Resist", he said, "the Romans' tyranny"
 Now Jesus was a conjuror,
 Miracles were his game
 He fed the hungry thousands
 And they glorified his name
 He cured the lame and leper
 He calmed the wind and the weather
 And the wretched flocked to touch him
 So their troubles would be taken
 And Jesus knew the answer -
 "All you who labour, all you who suffer
 Only believe in me"
 But Judas sought a world where no-one
 Starved or begged for bread
 "The poor are always with us", Jesus said
 Chorus
 So stand up, stand up for Judas
 And the cause that Judas served
 It was Jesus who betrayed the poor with his word
 Now Jesus sowed division
 Where none had been before
 Not the slave against the master
 But the poor against the poor
 Caused son to rise up against father
 And brother to fight against brother
 For "He that is not with me
 Is against me" was his teaching
 Said Jesus, "I am the answer
 You unbelievers shall burn forever
 Shall die in your sins"
 "Not sheep or goats" said Judas but
 "Together we may dare
 Shake off the chains of tyranny we share"
 Chorus
 So stand up, stand up for Judas
 And the cause that Judas served
 It was Jesus who betrayed the poor with his word
 Jesus stood upon the mountain
 With a distance in his eyes
 "I am the Way, the Life" he cried
 "The Light that never dies
 So renounce all earthly treasures
 And pray to your heavenly father"
 And he pacified the hopeless
 With the hope of life eternal
 Said Jesus, "I am the answer
 And you who hunger only remember
 Your reward's in heaven"
 So Jesus preached the other world
 But Judas wanted this
 And he betrayed his master with a kiss
 Chorus
 So stand up, stand up for Judas
 And the cause that Judas served
 It was Jesus who betrayed the poor with his word
 By sword and gun and crucifix
 Christ's gospel has been spread
 And two thousand cruel years have shown
 The way that Jesus led
 The heretics burned and tortured
 And the butchering bloody Crusaders
 The bombs and rockets sanctified
 That rain down death from heaven
 They followed Jesus, they knew the answer
 All unbelievers must be believers
 Or else be broken
 "So place no trust in saviours"
 Judas said, "for everyone
 Must be to his or her own self a sun"