Jesus Just Left Chicago - ZZ Top

Artist: ZZ Top
Song: Jesus Just Left Chicago
Year: 1973
Album: Tres Hombres

My first exposure to ZZ Top was in the eighties, when the ZZ Top car would roar through a series of music videos. This was over a decade into their career. In a few years, the band will enter its sixth decade together. They started in 1969.

Before the MTV age made them megastars, they were winning fans through concerts and albums of hard rock, blues and boogie. This song comes from their third album. The same album that would spawn "La Grange" and a few other minor hits.

"Jesus Just Left Chicago" is a pretty straightforward blues number. It's very mellow, but easy to sit back and enjoy. What captured my attention first was the word Chicago in the title. I discovered this song on the radio in the middle of the night. One classic rock station around Chicago would play album tracks and B sides mixed in with the usual fare, on the overnight shift.

There's really no mistaking the ZZ Top sound. This was before all the synthesizers of the eighties. This was from a time when they played music for themselves, honoring the great musical heroes in their life.

Lyrics:
Jesus just left Chicago and he's bound for New Orleans.
Well now, Jesus just left Chicago and he's bound for New Orleans.
Yeah, yeah.
Workin' from one end to the other and all points in between.

Took a jump through Mississippi, well, muddy water turned to wine.
Took a jump through Mississippi, muddy water turned to wine.
Yeah, yeah.
Then out to California through the forests and the pines.
Ah, take me with you, Jesus.

You might not see him in person but he'll see you just the same.
You might not see him in person but he'll see you just the same.
Yeah, yeah.
You don't have to worry 'cause takin' care of business is his name.