I AM REDEEMED

A challenge for the amateur lyricists

I used to ride the bus to school.  Occasionally on our bus route, someone would break the tedium by singing some catchy little ditty that repeated endlessly as the miles went by.  Later on in a college fellowship, we sang some simple, repetitive choruses that stuck in my mind.  One that I recall fondly was "I am Redeemed."  Even today as I drive along I sing it to myself and add new verses to make it last longer.  Finally,  It has become quite a tale.  So, I reproduce it here and challenge the reader to submit new verses.

I think it could make a fun game.  In a carload of people, they would take turns adding verses.  The criteria is that it has to roughly follow the same meter and approximate rhythm. The subject must always be something to do with faith or salvation. The theme should be consistent and the intensity of the subject should gradually escalate. Each participant would be allowed to use the chorus once if they can't think of anything immediately.  If they failed to come up with a new verse, repeated a previous verse or sang something that didn't rhyme well, they were out.  The last lyricist in the game wins!

Here's what I have so far:

I Am Redeemed

Opening verse and chorus

I am redeemed,
by the blood of the Lamb.
I am redeemed,
Oh! yes I am.
I am redeem by the blood of the Lamb,
filled with the Holy host I am.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Regular verses

Oh you can't get to heaven
by lying in bed.
No you can't get to heaven
by lying in bed.
You can't get to heaven by lying in bed
You must lift that lazy head!
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
by crawling around.
No you can't get to heaven
by crawling around.
You can't get to heaven by crawling around
Heaven's built on higher ground.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
by taking a walk.
No you can't get to heaven
by taking a walk.
You can't get to heaven by taking a walk
That's just some silly talk.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
on a pogo stick.
No you can't get to heaven
on a pogo stick.
You can't get to heaven on a pogo stick
A pogo stick won't do the trick.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
on a roller skate.
No you can't get to heaven
on a roller skate.
You can't get to heaven on a roller skate.
You'll arrive there much to late.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
by riding a bike.
No you can't get to heaven
by riding a bike.
You can't get to heaven by riding a bike.
Any more than taking a hike.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
by riding a horse.
No you can't get to heaven
by riding a horse.
You can't get to heaven by riding a horse.
A horse don't know the way of course.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
in a fast go cart.
No you can't get to heaven
in a fast go cart.
You can't get to heaven in a fast go cart.
You must have Christ within your heart.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
in a city bus.
No you can't get to heaven
in a city bus.
You can't get to heaven in a city bus.
It's in God alone we trus'
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
in a taxi cab.
No you can't get to heaven
in a taxi cab..
You can't get to heaven in a taxi cab.
Only Christ can pay your tab.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
in a fancy car.
No you can't get to heaven
in a fancy car.
You can't get to heaven in a fancy car.
A fancy car won't go that far.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
in a motor boat.
No you can't get to heaven
in a motor boat.
You can't get to heaven in a moor boat.
That's way to far to float.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
in a submarine.
No you can't get to heaven
in a submarine.
You can't get to heaven in a submarine..
That's one thing'll never be seen.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!


Oh you can't get to heaven
in a motor boat.
No you can't get to heaven
in a motor boat.
You can't get to heaven in in a moor boat.
That's way to far to float.
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
in an aeroplane..
No you can't get to heaven
in a aeroplane..
You can't get to heaven in an aeroplane..
To try is just insane!
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Oh you can't get to heaven
in a rocket ship..
No you can't get to heaven
in a rocket ship..
You can't get to heaven in a rocket ship.
A rocket ship won't make that trip,
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Traditionally there's a couple more verses, but I don't know where this one would fit:

Oh you can't get to heaven
in powder and paint.
No you can't get to heaven
in powder and paint.
You can't get to heaven in in powder and paint.
God won't take you as you ain't. (and I cringe at bad grammar)
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

Then there's just plain silly:

Oh you can't get to heaven
in dirty blue jeans.
No you can't get to heaven
in dirty blue jeans.
You can't get to heaven in dirty blue jeans.
Heaven has no washing machines!
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

There's my favorite too:

Oh the Lord and I,
we both agree.
Oh the Lord and I,
we both agree.Oh the Lord and I,we both agree.
I love Him and He loves me!
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

There's one like it about hating the devil, but I don't want to give that scoundrel any significant attention.

Finally, it concludes with:

And that's not all,
there's more besides.
And that's not all,
there's more besides.
And that's not all, there's more besides.

I've been to the river and baptized!
All my sins are washed away I am redeemed!

If the reader isn't exhausted by this already, I challenge them to submit more (appropriate) verses to this collection.

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