Lyrics
I awoke to hear the jailer
Turn the key and push the door
Get out here, he shouted
But I stayed there on the floor
Frozen in the terror
That rose and filled my brain
For I knew what they intended
I could not face the pain
Then soldiers came into the cell
And they dragged me to the yard
They threw me down before a cross
And brought the whip down hard
Carry it, they shouted
As I struggled to my feet
I put my shoulder under it
And dragged it to the street
I stumbled through a wall of screams
As they drove me through the gate
I could see the thousands lined the street
Their voices filled with hate
Like a wolf pack in the night
That moves in for the kill
They closed the gap in front of us
As we started up the hill
And it seemed I'd barely reached the top
As they grabbed me from behind
They threw the cross under me
And tied the ropes that bind
The arms close to the beams
As they nailed the feet and hands
And they raised the cross up in the air
And dropped it in it's stand
Through a blur of pain
I saw the cross there next to mine
There were people all around it
So I looked to read the sign
It was nailed there up above His head
So the world could see the news
The man who seemed so helpless there
Was the King of all the Jews
And the crowd that stood around his cross
Made jokes about his name
They shouted, laughed, and spat on him
So I joined in the game
I said, Hey! If you're the King
Why don't You get us down from here
But the taunt just sounded hollow
It echoed in my ears
As He looked at me with eyes
That seemed to reach into my heart
They shone a light on all my lies
And tore my life apart
There was more that lay behind that gaze
Then simply mud and clay
But knowing was too much for me
I had to look away
But I chanced another look at Him
While He was lookin' down
Where the soldiers who just crucified us
Drank there on the ground
And although He spoke there quietly
Somehow his words came through
He said, Father, please forgive them
They don't know what they do
And then as if they heard Him speakin'
The crowd began to roar
With the frenzy by the priests
Who herds them on to more
But the worse the accusations
The plainer I could see
The guilt of the accusers
Not the One there next to me
But the one on the other cross
Began to curse and swear
And his voice was filled with venom
As he hurled it through the air
All the horror that was in him
It laid his life to waste
Came out of every syllable
He flung in Jesus' face
Jesus only looked at him
But somethin' rolls inside o' me
In spite of all that watched us there
It couldn't be denied
Because his righteousness and innocence
Were shining bright and strong
I just couldn't keep my silence
As that cursing still went on
I said, don't you fear the wrath of God?
Even at the end?
You'll curse us both into the pit
Is that what you intend?
We're only getting what we're due
Send our whole lives long
But don't you talk to Him that way
Cause He's done nothin' wrong
Then with all my courage
In a voice not my own
I asked him, Lord remember me
When You come into your throne
He answered me and even then
His love was undisguised
He said, before the sun will set today
You'll be with Me in paradise
The shouts and curses did not stop
Even when the sunlight ceased
But somehow in the midst of it
My soul had been released
Though the agony continued
It's still too small a price
To be allowed to hear those words
To die beside the Christ