1.

Judas Iscariot had a friend in the Roman Guard,

And they sat down to a checker game, one day in the courthouse yard.

And said the soldier unto Judas, “I’d like to make a bet

“That your gypsy sidekick, Jesus Christ, is soon gonna meet his death.”

 

2.

Judas flew in anger and hollered at his friend.

Said, “Why, man, you must be crazy to think his life could end.

“For he’s the Lord’s own chosen one, and the Lord won’t let him die.”

“I’d like to bet,” said the soldier, “that you just told a lie.”

 

3.

“Aw, you ain’t got no faith,” cried Judas, “but just to show you where it’s at,

“For thirty bucks, I’ll take you up to Jesus by myself.”

“It’s a deal. Tonight at two o’clock,” said the soldier, and they shook hands,

And Judas left rather hurriedly just to find his beloved friend.

 

4.

Now Jesus, he was with the gang, up in some garret room.

They were drinking wine and dancing to a Galilean tune.

So Judas, he slips up to his friend and says, “Let’s step outside.

“We got a chance to show all these people here that you won’t ever die.”

 

5.

Well, Jesus, he let go his jug and grabbed Iscariot’s hand.

Said, “This wine sho’ is wicked stuff. I can’t hardly stand.

“And I swear I thought I heard you say that I won’t ever die?”

“That’s what I said,” cried Judas, and Jesus heaved a sigh.

 

6.

“Let’s catch a breath of air,” he said, and once outside the door,

They made their way to the stairway and on down to the second floor.

And Jesus, he filled up his pipe with a healthy lump of hash,

And they sat right down at the foot of the stairs, and Judas struck a match.

 

7.

“Now you look here,” says Jesus, “I done told you a thousand times.

“I’m just a man, like all the rest. One of the mortal kind.

“So you can take these crazy thoughts on death and erase them from yo’ mind.

“And pass that pipe. I do believe, I’ve had too much wine.”

 

8.

“Aw, but you don’t understand,” cried Judas. “Why, I just made a bet

“With a soldier in the Roman Guard that you can outlive death.”

You did what!” cried Jesus, and there he lost a good lungful of smoke.

“They’re coming for you late tonight,” and there he nearly choked.

 

9.

“Let’s get on back to that party,” said Jesus, looking sick.

“I got a lotta things to do, and I gotta do ‘em quick.

“We’ll get them women outta there and grab a bite to eat.”

You could hear ‘em shuffling down the hall with the sandals on their feet.

 

10.

Well, it was not long thereafter that the gambling bet was lost,

For Jesus died a lonesome death, hanging from a cross.

And down the hill and around the field, on the far side of the creek,

They found poor Judas Iscariot, hanging from a tree.