For those of us who might be preparing Good Friday sermons or Holy Week school assemblies, I have prepared this (with uncertain copyright, but I’m asserting fair use!)

The point of Joseph’s song, of course, is that it is a meditation on what the crucifixion can possibly mean to modern men and women conditioned as we are to see everything in terms of “what does this person want from me? What is really going on here? What is really behind these claims?” Every image in the song is a way in which modern men and women can explain, rationalise, rationalise away, the crucifixion.

Strange way to start a revolution
Strange way to get a better tan
Strange way to hold a power breakfast
Strange way to show your business plan

Strange way to test if wood would splinter
Strange way to do performance art
Strange way to say ‘I’ll see you later’
Strange way to leave behind your heart

Strange dissident of meekness
And nurse of tangled souls
And so unlike the holy
To end up full of holes
It’s a strange way

Strange way to hang around for hours
Strange way to imitate a kite
Strange way to get a view of Auschwitz
Strange way to represent the light

Strange way to watch for stormy weather
Strange way to disprove gravity
Strange way to go around fund-raising
Strange way to sing ‘l am liberty’

Strange dissident of meekness
And nurse of tangled souls
And so unlike the holy
To end up full of holes
Strange way

Strange way to test for haemophilia
Strange way to spend a happy hour
Strange way to down a bitter cocktail
Strange way to merchandise your power

Strange way to reassure your mother
Strange way to finish your world tour
Strange way to pose for countless paintings
Strange way to gather in the poor

Strange dissident of meekness
And nurse of tangled souls
And so unlike the holy
To end up full of holes
Strange way

The world is too much with us
Could we not now just elope?
Strange way to hold us closer
Strange way to give us hope
Strange way…

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