About
Jesus in a Camper Van, written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, was one of the more playful and controversial songs on I've Been Expecting You. Blending humour and social commentary, it imagines a modern-day Christ figure travelling across Britain in a camper van. The track’s upbeat tempo and tongue-in-cheek lyrics reflect Williams’ fascination with fame, faith and rebellion, themes that recur throughout his early solo work.
The song was inspired by a remark Williams heard while in rehab, later discovered to echo a lyric from Loudon Wainwright III’s 1973 track I Am the Way. The similarity led to a copyright dispute with Ludlow Music, which owned the rights to the original lyric. In 2002, a court ruled in favour of Ludlow, awarding them 25 per cent of the publishing royalties. As a result, the album was reissued with It's Only Us replacing the track on later pressings and streaming editions.
It cost me a fortune in the end. I didn’t know I’d nicked a line — it was just something someone said to me in rehab.Robbie Williams
Musically, the song fuses bluesy guitars and gospel-tinged backing vocals, with Williams adopting a sardonic delivery. Lines such as “Even the son of God gets it hard sometimes” balance irreverence with self-awareness, a hallmark of his writing at the time. Though rarely performed live, Jesus in a Camper Van remains a cult favourite, valued for its wit and for embodying the mischievous confidence that defined Williams’ late-1990s pop persona.
Lyrics
Heroes let'im down so he sleeps with the
Light on
And there's nothin' left to do but kneel him down
And pray
Sail away with Caesar if you're a non believer
Everybody get high if you're a
Diamond geezer
It's the devil that needs ya so go out and play
And blame yourself it's easier
There's no need to trouble her you trouble her
Jesus in a camper van he said sorry to
Leave you but I've done all I can
I suppose even the son of God
Gets it hard sometimes
Especially when he goes round
Saying I am the way
And now it's four in the mornin' yes yes y'all in
No one can shoot but everybody's scoring
Trust me it's boring get down and pray
They told you not to meddle with the bass
and the treble
There's dust on your needle and you think that
You're a rebel
You're Evel Knievel so get down and pray
Blame yourself it's easier
There's no need to trouble her you trouble her
Jesus in a camper van he said sorry to
Leave you but I've done all I can
I suppose even the son of God
Gets it hard sometimes
Especially when he goes round
Saying I am the way
I am the way, I am the way, I am the way
I am the way
I am, I am, I am, I am, I am, I am the way
Jesus in a camper van he said sorry to
Leave you but I've done all I can
I suppose even the son of God
Gets it hard sometimes
Jesus in a camper van he said sorry to
Leave you but I've done all I can
I suppose even the son of God
Gets it hard sometimes
Blame yourself it's easier
There's no need to trouble her
Blame yourself it's easier
There's no need to trouble her
Jesus in a camper van he says sorry to
Leave you but I've done all I can
I suppose even the son of God
Gets it hard sometimes
Jesus in a camper van he says sorry to
Leave you but I've done all I can
I suppose even the son of God
Gets it hard sometimes
Credits
-
Vocalist
Robbie Williams -
Songwriter
Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers, Loudon Wainwright III