I can’t see Jesus

[male quartet sings old African American spiritual in e minor at a tempo of 54 bpm]
[Verse 1]
I’d love to sit down at the feet of Jesus 
and listen to him all my life 
I’d like to lay down all my heavy burdens 
and shut out all the noise and strife
[Chorus]
I might even give up everything I had
to follow in his steps today
and when I finally went across the river
all my last doubts might fade away
[Choir begins making a transition to jazz with swing rhythm and syncopation]
[Verse 2]
I’d like to find out who he was 
and what came from his own lips 
I’m sure it would surprise me, like nothing else
ever mattered or could eclipse
[Verse 3]
But I don’t really know Jesus
or what he said without the lens
of filtered, copied manuscripts
that all came down from later pens
[Chorus]
I might even give up everything I had
to follow in his steps today
and when I finally went across the river
All my last doubts might fade away
[Bridge]
I’m not even sure he really knows me:
who I am or what I’ve been through
Does he even know who I am?
How can he, and know the others too?
[Verse 4]
If he knows me, it’s just passim
at least a billion souls claim him
as if they were personal friends
but all their odds seem mighty slim
[Chorus]
I might even give up everything I had
to follow in his steps today
if anywhere I could see or hear his soul
in those who claim to know the way
[Outro]
Something tells me they don’t know him
any better than anyone
and all their pious talk conspires
to hide from others their god’s son

a female quartet sings an arrangement of an e minor African American spiritual; flamenco guitar; flute; turns into jazz