What If Jesus Comes Back Like That

"What If Jesus Comes Back Like That"
Single by Collin Raye
from the album I Think About You
B-side"The Time Machine"
ReleasedNovember 1996 (1996-11)
Recorded1995
GenreChristian country
Length3:07
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Pat Bunch, Doug Johnson
Producer(s)Paul Worley, Ed Seay, John Hobbs
Collin Raye singles chronology
"Love Remains"
(1996) 		"What If Jesus Comes Back Like That"
(1996) 		"On the Verge"
(1997)

"What If Jesus Comes Back Like That" is a song written by Pat Bunch and Doug Johnson, and recorded by American country music singer Collin Raye. It was released in November 1996 the fifth single from his album I Think About You.

Content

The song is in E mixolydian (an E major scale with the seventh tone lowered by a half-step). Its main chord pattern is E-D/E-A/E.[1] In the song, the narrator questions how people would react to Jesus returning in the modern day as a hobo or a child born of a drug-addicted parent.[2][3]

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price of Billboard gave it a positive review, saying that it "may be his most risky venture yet."[4]

Chart performance

The song entered the Hot Country Singles chart dated November 25, 1995, peaking at No. 57 on the December 16, 1995, chart. It spent 11 weeks on the chart in this timespan, receiving unsolicited airplay alongside Raye's then-current single "Not That Different". Upon its official release as a single, it re-entered in November 1996, reaching a new peak of No. 21 on the January 4, 1997, chart. Overall, it spent 22 weeks on the charts between its two runs.[5][6]

Chart (1995) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 57
Chart (1996-1997) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 21
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 22

References

  1. ^ "'What If Jesus Comes Back Like That' music". MusicNotes.com. 13 March 2001. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  2. ^ Mansfield, Brian; Graff, Gary (1997). MusicHound Country. Visible Ink. what if jesus comes back like that Collin raye.
  3. ^ Ronance, Mark; Gray, Patrick. Teaching the Bible Through Popular Culture and the Arts. Society of Biblical Lit. p. 38.
  4. ^ Price, Deborah Evans (November 9, 1996). "Single reviews": 68. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ Jessen, Wade (January 11, 1997). "Country Corner". Billboard. p. 28.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 341. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  7. ^ "Collin Raye Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Collin Rsye Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.