Phil Collins and Genesis wrote a lot of great music and this is one of my favorite songs. The three members of Genesis were fed up with the televangelist preachers and decided to voice a very satirical song. It’s catchy and really gets to the heart of the issue — money and power (no big suprise). There really isn’t much to add as I think the song and video says it all.
Some fun facts.
- Collins skewers televangelists in general but his performance is modeled after Earnest Angley who, misunderstanding the song, was flattered. The intro preaching compared to a sermon by Angley.
- The Genesis 3:25 refers to the three members of the Genesis band that had been in existence for 25 years. The biblical book of Genesis has only 24 verses.
- The video was nominated for British Video of the Year.
- There are lots of satirical magazine covers such as “Vatican Enquirer” and “God Housekeeping”. How many can you find?
- There is a second, more recent edit that eliminates the speaking parts and tones down some of the moral infractions.
- Whoever plays the son (seen singing with Collins and “wife” on the TV set) looks so much like Steve Irwin that I tried to find out who it really is, but failed.
Finally, regarding that picture on top with Jerry Jr. and assistant, my guess is that those are not his pants but maybe the famous pool boy left some pants behind.
The newer, shorter video is here. And finally the Wikipedia entry has lots more information.
You see the face on the TV screen
Coming at you every Sunday
See that face on the billboard
That man is me
On the cover of the magazine
There's no question why I'm smiling
You buy a piece of paradise
You buy a piece of me
Ill get you everything you wanted
Ill get you everything you need
Don't need to believe in hereafter
Just believe in me
Cos Jesus he knows me
And he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
Oh yes he knows me
And he knows I'm right
And he's been telling me
Everything is alright
I believe in the family
With my ever loving wife beside me
But she don't know about my girlfriend
Or the man I met last night
Do you believe in god
Cos that's what I'm selling
And if you wanna get to heaven
Ill see you right
You wont even have to leave your house
Or get outta your chair
You don't even have to touch that dial
Cos I'm everywhere
And Jesus he knows me
And he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
Oh yes he knows me
And he knows I'm right
Well he's been telling me
Everything’s gonna be alright
Wont find me practicing what I'm preaching
Wont find me making no sacrifice
But I can get you a pocketful of miracles
If you promise to be good, try to be nice
God will take good care of you
Just do as I say, don't do as I do
I'm counting my blessings,
I've found true happiness
Cos I'm getting richer, day by day
You can find me in the phone book,
Just call my toll free number
You can do it anyway you want
Just do it right away
There’ll be no doubt in your mind
You’ll believe everything I'm saying
If you wanna get closer to him
Get on your knees and start paying
Cos Jesus he knows me
And he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
Oh yes he knows me
And he knows I'm right
Well he's been telling me
Everything’s gonna be alright, alright
Jesus he knows me
Jesus he knows me, you know...
__________________________________________________________________________
Songwriters: MICHAEL RUTHERFORD, PHIL COLLINS, TONY BANKS
Album: We Can’t Dance (1991)
