Put your hands to the sky
Come on
I have wandered through the ages
And flipped through all your pages
Every stage of life I've gone through
I've refused to compromise
I've been locked up in your cages
And my sins became contagious
But when I got right with Jesus Christ
I found things that money can't buy
Oh, Jesus is king
And for his glory, I will sing
So, pray for my salvation and to do the righteous thing
Baptize me in the water
Give glory to our father
Let freedom ring
Spread your wings
Jesus is king
I have begged for your forgiveness
For all my blasphemy
I tried to walk up the river
But it was hard from way down stream
Then it hit me like a freight train
It was a light I never seen
I called his name and he took aim
James 1:17
Oh, Jesus is king
And for his glory, I will sing
So, pray for my salvation and to do the righteous thing
Baptize me in the water
Give glory to our father
Let freedom ring
Spread your wings
Jesus is king (Oh)
Jesus is king
And for his glory, I will sing
So, pray for my salvation and to do the righteous thing
Baptize me in the water
Give glory to our father
Let freedom ring
Spread your wings
Jesus is king (Oh)
Jesus is king
And for his glory, I will sing
So, pray for my salvation and do the righteous thing
Baptize me in the water
Give glory to our father
Let freedom ring
Spread your wings
Jesus is king
Let freedom ring
Spread your wings
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Is king
Jesus is king
Lyrics Page
James 1:17 (Jesus Is King)
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Oct 8, 2026 updated
Verified editorial review
Song Meaning
Kid Rock's "James 1:17 (Jesus Is King)" traces a life of restless searching that finally lands on surrender. The opening verse admits to wandering "through the ages," flipping through pages, and cycling through every stage of life while refusing to compromise — an image of stubborn self-reliance that eventually curdles into feeling caged by sin. The turn comes when getting "right with Jesus Christ" reveals something money can't buy, and the chorus answers with a simple, repeated declaration: Jesus is king. The second verse deepens the confession, asking forgiveness for blasphemy and admitting the attempt to "walk up the river" was hard from way downstream — a vivid picture of trying to reach holiness from a place far from its source. Then comes the freight-train moment, a light never seen before, and a name called out that lands on the song's title verse. The repeated plea to be baptized in water and give glory to the Father keeps the song anchored in concrete acts of faith rather than abstract feeling, closing on the plainest possible statement of the title.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team