He’s a bandit and a heart breaker/
Oh, but Jesus was a cross maker.

Judee Sill is one of the most tragic rock n roll stories. “Jesus Was a Cross Maker” was a close as she came to a hit. She had several great songs, but none of them had huge commercial success.  When she died of a drug overdose at age 35 her name didn’t even make the paper: people had forgotten about her. She had an angelic voice and played piano and guitar.

In real life, Sill was in love with a “bandit and a heart breaker” but she felt that there must be something inside of him that was good, despite that.  That is, if Jesus was a cross maker- that is, he could build crosses—something antithetical to his nature as a healer and lover of people-couldn’t her lover be truly different than how he appears to act?

Perhaps the bandit and heart-breaker is truly good on the inside. We see people do these mental gymnastics to explain their shitty relationships. It is a great lyric. Sadly, few have been exposed to this great song.

The way Sill describes the effect her lover has on her is truly poetic. She asks the angels of the sea to guide her because “the junctions getting nearer and dangers in the wind.” She has so little control over her heart “cuz I heard his sweet song and it was enticing me”. It was rumored that this song was written for Eagles JD Souther.

Jesus Was a Cross Maker Lyrics

Sweet silver angels over the sea,
Please come down flyin’ low for me.
One time I trusted a stranger
Cuz’ I heard his sweet song,
And it was gently enticin’ me,
Tho there was somethin’ wrong;
But when I turned he was gone.

Blindin’ me, his song remains remindin’ me,
He’s a bandit and a heart breaker;
Oh, but Jesus was a cross maker.

Sweet silver angels over the sea,
Please come down flyin’ low for me.
He wages war with the devil
A pistol by his side.
And tho he chases him out windows,
And won’t give him a place to hide,
He keeps his door open wide.

Fightin’ him he lights a lamp invitin’ him,
He’s a bandit and a heart breaker;
Oh, but Jesus was a cross maker.

Sweet silver angels over the sea,
Please come down flyin’ low for me.
I heard the thunder come rumblin’,
the light never looked so dim.
I see the junction git nearer’,
and danger is in the wind.
And either road’s lookin’ grim.

Hidin’ me, I flee, desire dividin’ me,
He’s a bandit and a heart breaker;
Oh, but Jesus was a cross maker.
Yes, Jesus was a cross maker.

Sweet silver angels over the sea,
Please come down flyin’ low for me.
One time I trusted a stranger
Cuz I heard his sweet song,
And it was gently enticin’ me
Tho there was somethin’ wrong,
But when I turned he was gone.

Blindin’ me, his song remains remindin’ me,
He’s a bandit and a heartbreaker;
Oh, but Jesus was a cross maker.
Jesus was a cross maker.

Songwriters: Judee Sill