Were you there when
they crucified My Lord

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when God raised him from the dead? Were you there when God raised him from the dead? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when God raised him from the dead?

This is a well-known African American spiritual, written by slaves and is believed, according to hymnary.org, to predate the American Civil War. It first appeared in the hymnbook 'Old Plantation Hymns' by William Eleazar Barton in 1899. It has been recorded by several artists including Marion Williams, Johnny Cash, Harry Belafonte and as recently as 2014 by Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys).

Here are some scriptures which are believed to have inspired these words;

Matthew 27:50-56 (NKJV) Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;...So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

Luke 23:44-45 (NKJV) Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened.

Galatians 3:13 (NKJV) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree").

John 19:34 (NKJV) But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear,

Luke 23:50-56 (NKJV) A man Joseph, a council member,...He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea,...who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God...went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath...

Matthew 28:1-6 (NKJV) As the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen."

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NKJV) Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day.

Philippians 2:8-12 (NKJV) As a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of...the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,...but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

James 2:19 (NKJV) You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!