Topic: Why Did Jack Sing Water Walking Jesus?

[greenfrog]

When Ennis goes to the Twist farm it is Spartan to the extreme. Jacks room in particular has nothing in it. I personally don't think they had much money. If they were poor then maybe they didn't have a radio. I grew up in the 50's and 60's and we weren't dirt poor but TV's and Radios were relatively expensive and there were times when we didn't have one or the other and occasionally both. The only music I heard at those times were

a) the songs my mother sang to me
b) the songs I got in music class at school
c) the songs I got at Sunday school.

Now jack was from a mid western town which would be a lot more religious back then than it is even today, so as his mother was a church goer it follows that he probably was too. If you listen to sound recordings from that area from the "country" genre like the Carter Family etc then there was a very religious, moral and spiritual aspect to the music. If they did have a radio I am sure his mother would have had it tuned to this kind of channel.

So I think imo that the reason he sang Water walking Jesus and not the pop songs of the day was down to his not having access to them and the religious influence of (1) the times he was living in (ii) the area of the US he was living in at that time and (iiii) his mother who obviously loved her son and doted on him. We know from the short story how his dad treated him so I think he would have had the closer bond with Mama Twist.

I don't think it's because he didn't like the pop stars of the day he probably didn't have much experiences of listening to them , that is all. Also you have to remember his young age, even the year before he was working on BBM which was probably his first time away from home, so how would he be able to listen to songs up the side of a mountain. OK he may have heard some on the rodeo circuit, but watch the film....in the bar scenes, in the car with Laureen, at the dance ....it is country music and not pop music that is being played. Remember also that the majority of Americans at that time thought Rock and Roll was the devils music.....Christ they even had record burning sessions.

These are just observations of mine as to why he sang that song. I am not American and I wasn't around in the US, in the mid west at that time so maybe one of you could tell me different.

Great post Tom. 

[Raisa]

Does someone know all the words for Water Walking Jesus? I would like to have the lyrics.

[tpe]

Does someone know all the words for Water Walking Jesus? I would like to have the lyrics.

I ask the same thing.  James McMurty's site gives the following info:

Water Walking Jesus,” was written by James McMurtry, Stephen Bruton and Annie Proulx and is performed by Jake Gyllenhaal in "Brokeback Mountain"

From this information, we get the impression that what Jake sang was the entire thing.  But is this really the case?  It certainly was given the appearance of a song fragment...

[Raisa]

Now I´m imagining in my head the whole hymn Water Walking Jesus! This song does exist - at least in the parallel universe. I´m sure Jack Twist can sing this song from the beginning to the end.

[welshwitch]

It sounds very specific - i wonder why they chose this particular thing as a subject for the "hymn"?

[tpe]

It sounds very specific - i wonder why they chose this particular thing as a subject for the "hymn"?

A bit OOT, but I also found it interesting that the song subject of a walking Jesus is also important in Jarhead, which came out about the same time as BBM.

Back to your question: I would guess it was sufficiently Pentecostal?  I am not familiar with the images used in Pentecostal hymns.  I am extrapolating here...

[ksxks]

Now I´m imagining in my head the whole hymn Water Walking Jesus! This song does exist - at least in the parallel universe. I´m sure Jack Twist can sing this song from the beginning to the end.

Parallel universe, oh boy. 

kathy

[greenfrog]

It sounds very specific - i wonder why they chose this particular thing as a subject for the "hymn"?

Interesting 

I was having a look at a website and the heading at the top stood out too me.

WALKING ON WATER IS A SYMBOL OF CONQUERING OUR FEARS AND HAVING POWER OVER EVIL.

http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/walking_water.htm

Maybe this is why they chose this particular hymn for Jack to be singing.

[tpe]

It sounds very specific - i wonder why they chose this particular thing as a subject for the "hymn"?

Interesting 

I was having a look at a website and the heading at the top stood out too me.

WALKING ON WATER IS A SYMBOL OF CONQUERING OUR FEARS AND HAVING POWER OVER EVIL.

http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/walking_water.htm

Maybe this is why they chose this particular hymn for Jack to be singing.

This reference to Peter is certainly rooted in the gospels.  I love the application of this interpretation to BBM.  Thanks, greenfrog.  Truly wonderful.



 

[welshwitch]

Wasn't walking on water a test of his faith in Jesus? Jesus could walk on the water; others could, too, but only if they had complete faith in him.

In the same way you might see Ennis as able to be himself and conquer his fear only when he's with Jack; without Jack's presence he sinks into an ocean of fear.

[jesseanne21]

It sounds very specific - i wonder why they chose this particular thing as a subject for the "hymn"?

Interesting 

I was having a look at a website and the heading at the top stood out too me.

WALKING ON WATER IS A SYMBOL OF CONQUERING OUR FEARS AND HAVING POWER OVER EVIL.

http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/walking_water.htm

Maybe this is why they chose this particular hymn for Jack to be singing.

This reference to Peter is certainly rooted in the gospels.  I love the application of this interpretation to BBM.  Thanks, greenfrog.  Truly wonderful.
 

Wasn't walking on water a test of his faith in Jesus? Jesus could walk on the water; others could, too, but only if they had complete faith in him.

In the same way you might see Ennis as able to be himself and conquer his fear only when he's with Jack; without Jack's presence he sinks into an ocean of fear.

OMG, I just love this forum... Sometimes I am just AMAZED at the comments that are made, the thoughts and feelings expressed.   

[ksxks]

Wasn't walking on water a test of his faith in Jesus? Jesus could walk on the water; others could, too, but only if they had complete faith in him.

In the same way you might see Ennis as able to be himself and conquer his fear only when he's with Jack; without Jack's presence he sinks into an ocean of fear.

I like this symbolism in connection with Jack singing these particular words, and how they interact with Ennis also.  And Jack sings this with such gusto.  And at the crescendo, Ennis is beating in time with a stick on the fire-grill-thing, and when Jack's finished, says "Very good."  And then the wonderful little talk about the Pentacost, and sinners, and ain't yet had the opportunity, and Jack's yummy little smile and "Mmmm...." 

kathy