They said this preacher man, comes from Galilee
Did somethin' so absurd that he deserved to serve my penalty
How can it be?
I know I've done my wrong
'Cause doin' wrong is somethin' I do well
I know the court of law
And somethin' like this doesn't ring a bell
How can it be?
And how can it be?
I am Barabbas
You took upon my cross
I was a prisoner
'Til you bought my bond with blood
And I can't run away
From what my accusers say
'Cause I am Barabbas
I am Barabbas
Your friend
They made me sit right there
As I watched them beat that preacher man
39 of all them lashes should have been on my own skin
How can it be?
How can it be? (Ohh)
And I am Barabbas
You took upon my cross
I was a prisoner
'Til you bought my bond with blood
And I can't run away
From what my accusers say
'Cause I am Barabbas
I am Barabbas
Your friend (ooh-ooh)
I'll never understand
The repercussions of my every sin
Is this love? Or is this hatred flowing out from bitterness
How can it be?
But he looked at me
And I said
I am Barabbas
You took upon my cross
I was that prisoner
'Til you bought my bond with blood
And I can't run away
From what my accusers say
'Cause I am Barabbas
Oh, I am Barabbas
I am Barabbas
Your friend
Did somethin' so absurd that he deserved to serve my penalty
How can it be?
I know I've done my wrong
'Cause doin' wrong is somethin' I do well
I know the court of law
And somethin' like this doesn't ring a bell
How can it be?
And how can it be?
I am Barabbas
You took upon my cross
I was a prisoner
'Til you bought my bond with blood
And I can't run away
From what my accusers say
'Cause I am Barabbas
I am Barabbas
Your friend
They made me sit right there
As I watched them beat that preacher man
39 of all them lashes should have been on my own skin
How can it be?
How can it be? (Ohh)
And I am Barabbas
You took upon my cross
I was a prisoner
'Til you bought my bond with blood
And I can't run away
From what my accusers say
'Cause I am Barabbas
I am Barabbas
Your friend (ooh-ooh)
I'll never understand
The repercussions of my every sin
Is this love? Or is this hatred flowing out from bitterness
How can it be?
But he looked at me
And I said
I am Barabbas
You took upon my cross
I was that prisoner
'Til you bought my bond with blood
And I can't run away
From what my accusers say
'Cause I am Barabbas
Oh, I am Barabbas
I am Barabbas
Your friend
💡 Song Meaning & Background
This song uses a powerful biblical metaphor to express the reality of grace, identifying the sinner with the guilty man who was set free when Jesus took his place. It is directly based on the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion, illustrating penal substitutionary atonement.