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Jesus is Still Alright
Words and Music by Arthur Reynolds, 1965
Performed by DC Talk, 1992
Beyond comprehension
I believe that I failed to mention that
There’s a lack of recognition
When it comes to His position
‘Cause if Christ can’t be crossed over
Then I’ll keep my beat up NOVA.
Jesus is still alright with me
Jesus is still alright, oh yeah!
Jesus is still alright with me
Jesus is still alright…
You know that He’s alright!
I don’t care what they may say
I don’t care what they may do
I don’t care what they may say
‘Cause Jesus is still alright.
Back in place
And I’m all up in your face
With a rhyme that I embrace
Like a mother to a child
I’m kickin’ it Jesus style
To the ones that think they heard
I did use the J-word
‘Cause I ain’t too soft to say it
Even if DJ’s don’t play it!
Jesus is still alright with me
Jesus is still alright, oh yeah!
Jesus is still alright with me
Jesus is still alright..
You know that He’s alright!
Strike a pose! — H-h-how do they do that?!
Jesus is alright
I know He’s alright
Jesus is alright
You know He’s alright
Jesus is alright
We know He’s alright
Jesus is alright
We know He’s alright…
Now we come to the play-off!
I am the one that is known as the Son
Of the G to the O to the D never done
With the flow in the know
On the go like a Pro
Not for show ’cause I aint
In the biz for the dough
Or the me or the ray
All the dough’s gotta stay
‘Cause I can’t, no I can’t take it home anyway
Never trite when I write
‘Cause the Lord is my light
And His Word is my bond
So you know… He’s alright
Jesus is still alright with me
Jesus is still alright, oh yeah!
Jesus is still alright with me
Jesus is still alright…
(You know that He’s alright!)
Over 2000 years after Jesus walked the earth, He is still “alright” with His current followers. He crosses over culture, generations, national identity, ethnicity, tradition, languages and political or economic classes.
Often Jesus is considered old fashioned and out of date. Why do you think this happens and what particular areas do people have the most problem with?
Why do you think it is important to use different styles of music to share Jesus and His message? Why do many people have such a problem with this?
The band’s primary songwriter, TobyMac (Toby McKeehan), retained the song’s chorus but added a number of new verses consisting of his own lyrics. These lyrics were rapped. DC Talk’s version also includes subtle lyric alterations, with the line “Jesus is just alright” being intermittently changed to “Jesus is still alright”. Thus, DC Talk’s recording can be seen as something of an update on the previous version. McKeehan changed the line in an attempt to express his feeling that Jesus was still alright with him even if many others did not share his beliefs. The song’s lyrics also comment on the lack of acceptance and recognition that faith-based music often receives from mainstream radio. In addition to being musically based upon the earlier Byrds and Doobie Brothers’ recordings, DC Talk’s version of the song also features samples of Madonna’s hit single “Vogue” and the Snap! song “The Power”.