ApologetiX- Song Lyrics: Follow Me

Chart History
From the album Doublewide, Follow Me was a #1 hit for Uncle Kracker in 2001.

Songwriter:
M. Shafer and M. Bradford

J's Journal:
One of the simplest and yet hardest commands Jesus ever gave His disciples was “follow Me.” Sure it was easy enough for the disciples to follow Him through Galilee, but the road got harder as it led to Jerusalem and, ultimately, to Calvary. According to what we know from church history, all of Jesus’ original 12 Apostles were martyred, except for Judas, who committed suicide, and John, who still got banished to the isle of Patmos for a while. However, the Bible only officially records the death of the first apostle to be martyred, John’s brother, James. Isn’t it ironic that both James and John came to Jesus and asked to sit beside Him in His kingdom (Mark 10:35-40), and yet they took very different paths as they followed Christ -- one of them was the first Apostle to die as a martyr (James was put to death by the sword) whereas the other one was the last Apostle to die, at a very ripe old age of natural causes? The Bible doesn’t spend much time discussing James’ martyrdom — one verse (Acts 12:2). We decided to write a song from James’ perspective, speculating on what might have been going through his mind while he was in jail, facing death at the hands of King Herod Agrippa I. We don’t know for sure that James was held in jail before his execution, but that’s a pretty fair guess, seeing as Agrippa I captured Peter soon after with the intention of executing him and yet kept him in prison first (Peter was rescued by an angel while awaiting execution.) Herod’s father, Herod Antipas, also kept John the Baptist in jail before beheading him. I don't like using the same title as the original when I write a parody, but this one fell in place too easily to pass it up.

Stats:
Genre: Pop
Length: 3:37

Follow Me
Parody of "Follow Me" by Uncle Kracker
(Matthew 4:18-22, 8:19-22, 9:9, 10:38, 16:24, 19:21; Mark 1:16-20, 2:14, 8:34, 10:21; Luke 5:27, 9:23, 9:59-62, 14:27, 18:22, John 1:43, 10:27, 12:26, 13:36-38, 21:19-22)

You don't know how He met me -- You don't know why
You can't turn around my faith in Christ
Long ago I went-a fishin' one day at sea
He said to me, “James, try some fishin' for Me”
“And if You want to leave life in Galilee
“You know I'll go gladly just like Thee”
I'm not worried 'bout the king out there
Cause the Lord has got my soul and my body don't care
You feel I'm guilty and I'm well aware
A funeral's booked for James but baby I'm not scared
He told me, “Follow Me, ” and I said, “Jesus, all right
“I'll be the one to trust You with his life
“And if You're gonna be fightin' Pharisees
“You know I'll go gladly just like Thee”
Forgive me, Mama, I can't kiss you goodbye
You're better off if you don't drop by
I'm locked in prison; I'll soon go away
Maybe they'll write of this in Acts 12 someday
“Follow Me, ” and I said, “Jesus, all right
“I'll be the one to trust You with his life
“And if You want to lead to Gethsemane
“You know I'll go gladly just like Thee”
You don't know how He met me -- You don't know Christ
You've captured me now and say I'll die
All I know is when I've left you, I'm breaking free
So cling to your vain lives, I'm itchin' to leave
He told me, “Follow Me, ” and I said, “Jesus, all right
“I'll be the one to trust You with his life
“And if You want to lead up to Calvary
“You know I'll go gladly just like Thee”
He told me, “Follow Me, ” and I said, “Jesus, all right
“I'll be the one to trust You with his life
“And if You want to lead up to Calvary
“You know I'll go gladly just like Thee”
He told me, “Follow Me, ” and I said, “Jesus, all right
“I'll be the one to trust You with his life
“And if You want to lead up to Heavenly
“You know I'll go gladly just like Thee”