Wicked Tenants Blues

This blues song is inspired by the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33–46). Jesus tells the story of a vineyard owner who entrusts his land to tenants. When the time comes to give an account, the tenants reject, abuse, and kill the servants—and even the owner’s son. The parable speaks about stewardship, rejection of truth, and the consequences of hard hearts.

Scripture Matthew 21:33–46

⁴²Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’^[a]?

⁴³“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. ⁴⁴Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Lyrics

Verse 1
Man planted a vineyard on a hillside fine,
Yeah, he planted a vineyard on a hillside fine,
Put a wall all around it, said, “This land’s mine.”

Verse 2
He leased it to some tenants, then he went away,
Yeah, leased it to some tenants, said, “I’ll be back someday,”
Left ‘em tools and trust, thought they’d walk straight.

Chorus
Oh, wicked tenants, you done crossed the line,
Yeah, wicked tenants, you done crossed the line,
You wanted the harvest, but you weren’t the vine.

Verse 3
Harvest time came, he sent a servant down,
Yeah, harvest time came, sent a servant down,
They beat him, sent him back, broken and bound.

Verse 4
Sent another servant, then another one more,
Yeah, sent another servant, laid him out on the floor,
Stoned one, killed one, slammed shut the door.

Chorus
Oh, wicked tenants, hear that warning bell,
Yeah, wicked tenants, hear that warning bell,
You’re digging your own grave, can’t you tell?

Verse 5
Then the owner said, “I’ll send my only son,”
Yeah, he said, “I’ll send my only son,”
“They’ll respect him surely when they see him come.”

Verse 6
But they saw him coming, whispered low and mean,
Yeah, saw him coming, eyes cold and keen,
“Said, ‘This is the heir—let’s take everything.’”

Chorus
Oh, wicked tenants, hearts hard as stone,
Yeah, wicked tenants, hearts hard as stone,
You killed the Son just to steal the throne.

Verse 7
They dragged him outside, left him to die,
Yeah, dragged him outside beneath an open sky,
Thought the vineyard was theirs once the heir was gone.

Verse 8
Now tell me what happens when the owner returns,
Yeah, tell me what happens when the owner returns,
Justice rolls heavy, and the vineyard burns.

Final Chorus
Oh, wicked tenants, hear the lesson clear,
Yeah, wicked tenants, hear the lesson clear,
The stone you rejected is the cornerstone here.

Outro
Kingdom ain’t stolen, it’s given in trust,
Yeah, the kingdom ain’t stolen, it’s faithful or dust,
Bear good fruit—or fall with the unjust.

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