Behind Bars, Or, Up The River (1:12-18)

You may have heard I'm in prison like a jailbird
Made to serve for the words that I spoke
Old Caesar told me not to go and tell the world about the hope
Of Jesus giving up his throne to save the souls of His opponents

It was atonement, it was meant to be a moment where the sins
Of all the remnant were washed away and ended
And Caesar was offended, so he threw me in a prison
And he hoped I would be quiet

But I want you to know, brothers
That prison life has treated me nice
'Cause I get to tell others
About the love of Jesus Christ

Now don’t get me wrong by the tone of my song
My optimism of prison is not contingent on condition
My position is low (tell ‘em, Paul, how low?)
Well, it’s lower than the lowest note my voice thinks it can go

I get to preach to each of the prison guards
That’s enough to warm this imprisoned heart
I am content to spend my life behind bars

And I want you to know, brothers
That prison life has treated me nice
'Cause I get to tell others
About the love of Jesus Christ

Some preach Christ out of envy and strife
Some out of a heart that’s pure and right
But what do I care, as long as they hear
As long as the gospel is shared

I said I want you to know, brothers
That prison life has treated me nice
'Cause I get to tell others
About the love of Jesus Christ

I said, I want you to know, (he wants you to know)
That prison life has treated me nice
'Cause I get to show (he gets to show)
The love and light of Jesus Christ
To shine the light of Jesus Christ
To shine the light of Jesus Christ