In my recent article on this subject, Theophilus, I dealt with songs about God and faith from a positive perspective, coming from artists one may not have expected.
In this installment, we will talk about songs that cover God and religion, but from a different point of view than one of pure faith.
Think: songs that are coming from a disbelieving, questioning, critical or contrarian perspective.
As a young believer, I was taught to shut out these outside voices, or perhaps it came from pure instinct to instantly reject them. Nowadays, I am not as easily threatened by them. On the contrary:
At times, they echo my own experiences with doubt and points in my journey where faith is no longer a given, like the air I breathe.
Regarding songs that are critical of religious institutions, particularly Christianity:
As I grew older, I increasingly was able to see the many reasons why someone would have serious issues with how humans have represented the faith, and why they would walk away. The more I realize just how messed up some of it is, the more I tend to think we’ve been let off easy.
Whatever the viewpoint, I find it encouraging that people want to talk about God at all in this day and age.
And a song that broaches the topic will nearly always have my attention, even if it pushes hard against the core of my being as a person of faith.
The following are songs coming from such a place. I mostly have avoided some of the more extreme or hostile examples that don’t leave themselves open for much thought or discussion, beyond their ability to shock.
For example, bands that go by names such as Deicide, or Rotting Christ pretty much speak for themselves.
And I have no idea what a song like “Jesus Built My Hot Rod” by Ministry is trying to say, if anything, so you won’t find it here.
I included some key lyrics, but if you are not terribly familiar with the song, it is best to take it in entirely in order to get the full effect of what is being conveyed.
So: let’s get started down the divergent path and see where it takes us…
“Unbelievers”
Vampire Weekend
(2013)
We know the fire awaits unbelievers
All of the sinners the same
Girl, you and I will die unbelievers
Bound to the tracks of the train
I’m not excited, but should I be?
Is this the fate that half of the world has planned for me?
I know I love you, and you love the sea
But what holy water contains a little drop, little drop for me
Written from the perspective of an unbeliever looking for just a bit of mercy or grace and finding only condemnation, this song was actually performed in my church. Here is part of a reflection I wrote that was read beforehand:
“Does our definition of church allow for God’s promise of a home to extend to all people, not just those who believe exactly as we do? “
“Have the teachings of our faith in any way barred the doors to some, making it impossible for them to enter into the kingdom of heaven? “
“Jesusland“
Ben Folds
(2005)
Town to town
Broadcast to each house, they drop your name
But no one knows your face
Billboards quoting things you’d never say
You hang your head and pray
For Jesusland
Jesusland
Miles and miles
And the sun’s goin’ down
Pulses glow
From their homes
You’re not alone
Lights come on
As you lay your weary head on their lawn
The lyrics paint a fascinating picture of Jesus showing up somewhere in middle America, and walking around for miles, but not actually encountering anyone. He is in a land saturated with the religion that bears his name but is essentially an unwelcomed stranger.
“Dear God”
XTC
(1986)
I won’t believe in heaven and hell.
No saints, no sinners, no devil as well.
No pearly gates, no thorny crown.
You’re always letting us humans down.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown.
Those lost at sea and never found,
And it’s the same the whole world ’round.
The hurt I see helps to compound
That Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Is just somebody’s unholy hoax
And if you’re up there you’d perceive
That my heart’s here upon my sleeve.
If there’s one thing I don’t believe in…
It’s you…
Dear God.
The narrator talks to God as if they believe God is real and created humankind only to allow terrible things to happen to it, but at same time questions God’s existence and whether or not God created us or the reverse.
The song was originally left off the album because the label was concerned about offending American audiences.
Songwriter Andy Partridge assented, as he wasn’t sure he had written a song strong enough to take on religion. It ended up as a B-side, got played on college radio and found its audience. The album was re-pressed to include it.
“My God”
Jethro Tull
(1971)
People, what have you done?
Locked him in his golden cage, golden cage
Made him bend to your religion
Him resurrected from the grave, from the grave
He is the God of nothing
If that’s all that you can see
You are the God of everything
He’s inside you and me
This song does not appear to criticize God or question God’s existence, but states that organized religion has trapped God into a distorted image of their own making.
“I Need Love”
Sam Phillips
(1994)
I left my conscience like a crying child,
locked the doors behind me, put the pain on file.
Broken like a window, I see my blindness now,
(Chorus)
And I need love, not some sentimental prison,
I need God, not the political church,
I need fire, to melt the frozen sleet inside me,
I need love.
Leslie Phillips was a popular Christian recording artist who increasingly felt alienated within that scene and left it, subsequently recording under the name Sam Phillips. The song is basically about seeking a measure of peace and refuge after a painful experience.
It could have easily fit with her old material, but the second line of the chorus would have never flown in CCM.
It points out what happens when the love we all innately need and the church get divided, as the church is aligning itself with a different agenda.
“Get Up, Stand Up”
Bob Marley
(1973)
Most people think great God will come from the sky
Take away ev’rything, and make ev’rybody feel high
But if you know what life is worth
You would look for yours on earth
And now you see the light
You stand up for your right, yeah!
Written while Marley was on tour in Haiti and witnessed extreme levels of poverty, the song pushes back hard on the belief that some are just going to suffer in this life and have to wait for the next life, where there will be no pain.
It shows how religious beliefs can keep people from fighting against injustice.
It implores them not to wait for heaven, but to stand up for their rights, here on earth.
“Burn Down the Mission”
Elton John
(1970)
You tell me there’s an angel in your tree
Did he say he’d come to call on me
For things are getting desperate in our home
Living in the parish of the restless folks I know
Everybody now bring your family down to the riverside
Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide
Behind four walls of stone the rich man sleeps
It’s time we put the flame torch to their keep
The plight of the natives has gotten dire. A missionary that was sent to save their souls is behind the walls of a lavish estate nearby, apparently impervious to their peril.
With no help impending, the only way for them to survive is to burn down the mission, to provide warmth and resources. This is saying quite a bit on multiple levels.
“Jesus He Knows Me”
Genesis
(1991)
I believe in the family
With my ever-loving wife beside me
She doesn’t know about my girlfriend
Or the man I met last night
Do you believe in God?
‘Cause that is what I’m selling
And if you wanna go to heaven
Well, I’ll see you right
This was released during the scandal-rocked era of televangelism. Enough said.
“It’s a Sin”
Pet Shop Boys
(1987)
When I look back upon my life
It’s always with a sense of shame
I’ve always been the one to blame
For everything I long to do
No matter when or where or who
Has one thing in common, too
It’s a, it’s a, it’s a, it’s a sin. It’s a sin
Based on Neil Tennant’s experiences attending Catholic grammar school, this is what he had to say about the song:
“People took it really seriously; the song was written in about 15 minutes, and was intended as a camp joke and it wasn’t something I consciously took very seriously—sometimes I wonder if there was more to it than I thought at the time…
But the local parish priest in Newcastle delivered a sermon on it, and reflected on how the Church changed from the promise of a ghastly hell to the message of love.”
“Jesus Loves Me (But He Can’t Stand You)”
Austin Lounge Lizards (1991)
I know you smoke, I know you drink that brew,
I just can’t abide a sinner like you.
God can’t either, that’s why I know it’s true,
That Jesus loves me but he can’t stand you.
I’m going straight to heaven, boys, when I die,
’cause I’ve crossed every T and I’ve dotted every I
Why, my preacher tells me I’m god’s kind of guy,
That’s why Jesus loves me, but you’re gonna fry.
Oh, it gets even better…
“I Have Forgiven Jesus”
Morrissey
(2004)
Why did you give me so much desire
When there is nowhere I can go to offload this desire?
And why did you give me so much love in a loveless world
When there is no one I can turn to
To unlock all this love?
And why did you stick me in self deprecating bones and skin?
Jesus, do you hate me?
Why did you stick me in self deprecating bones and skin?
Ah, Morrissey.
“The Vatican Rag”
Tom Lehrer
(1965)
The recently passed satirist Tom Lehrer wrote this as the Second Vatican Council was convening. It was in response to the news that among many reforms, the church would be expanding the types of music that would be allowed in church.
He proceeds to point out the oddity of ancient traditions juxtaposed with modern music by mocking the rituals, set to a rollicking ragtime.
This song strikes at the very heart of not just my faith, but my vocation as a liturgical musician who has been known to incorporate everything from bossa nova to rock to swing jazz to spaghetti western soundtracks.
Yet, somehow: it’s too good to hate.
Get in line in that processional,
Step into that small confessional.
There the guy who’s got religion’ll
Tell you if your sin’s original.
If it is, try playin’ it safer,
Drink the wine and chew the wafer,
Two, four, six, eight,
Time to transubstantiate!
“I Will Follow You Into the Dark”
Death Cab for Cutie
(2005)
In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule,
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black,
And I held my tongue as she told me,
“Son, fear is the heart of love.”
So I never went back.
Our own TNOCS Contributing Author DJ Professor Dan recently covered this song. It takes a swipe at the harsh discipline and teachings based in a fear of God that many experienced in Catholic schools of yore, mostly before my time.
“God”
Tori Amos
(1994)
God, sometimes you just don’t come through
Do you need a woman to look after you
This is Tori explaining the meaning of the song:
“There’s a division of power, male and female power, and there’s a division within my own being. There’s been a dishonoring of us with each other, and us with ourselves, and women against women, and men against men, and women against men… and that’s how the song ‘God’ got written”
“The institutional God who’s been ruling the universe, in the books, has to be held accountable. I want to have a cup of tea with him and just have a little chat. I feel like the song is a releasing, a sharing. It’s honest and loving. And it’s sensuous.”
” It’s the goddess coming forth and saying, “Come here, baby. I think you’ve had a bit of a rough job, and I don’t mind helping out now.” Which I think is really cute.”
“The Fallen”
Franz Ferdinand
(2005)
Reimagines Christ as a basic hooligan that occasionally robs grocery stores, gets drunk and punches people. But he is pure of heart- feeding the outcasts and never judging others.
Did I see you in a Limousine
Flinging out the fish and the unleavened
Turn the rich into wine an’ you walk on the mean
Well, the fallen are the virtuous among us
Walk among us, never judge us, yeah we’re all
Then there is this line:
So, I’m sorry, if I ever resisted
I never had a doubt, you ever existed
I only have a problem when people insist on
Taking their hate and placing it on your name
Other songs to consider:
- “Laughing With” – Regina Spektor (2009)
- “Letter to God” – Cheryl Crow (2005)
- “Divine Intervention” – Matthew Sweet (1991)
- “Freewill” – Rush (1980)
- “Blasphemous Rumours” – Depeche Mode (1984)
- “Fascist Christ” – Todd Rundgren (1993) – If you can withstand Todd’s rapping, it is scary how much this relates to what is transpiring in the U.S. right now, over 30 years later.
Full playlist here:
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Never saw the music video for “I Need Love” before.
It being rooted in a literary reference is how I would defend the short film against critics. But yeah, I was a little surprised. The song itself doesn’t sound that angry. The music video is a provocation, but an artful one, more artful than Rotting Christ, probably.
Phillips was questioning her faith from the beginning of her career as a secular artist. All of the songs on The Indescribable Wow seem to have a common theme.
“Holding on to the Earth” has artful lyrics about the loss of faith. It went past me until five minutes ago. It’s very catchy. I wasn’t paying attention.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a fan. The Turning could’ve been her debut as Sam Phillips.
Conan O’Brien grew up Catholic. It didn’t stop him from having Phillips as a guest.
“Jesusland” reminds me of a mature “American Jesus”.
Good insights on Sam/Leslie. The Turning has songs on it that were definitely pushing the edge of CCM and in retrospect were a clear signal that she wasn’t much longer for that world. I loved a lot of those songs at the time, and some of them resonate with me today more than ever.
I think I heard American Jesus at the time but it escaped my memory. Really good call on that one. What it’s pointing out would only become more grossly inflated after 9/11 and makes total sense now maybe more than ever.
A mature approach to your Christian faith, rollerboogie. It is easy to want to shield oneself from questions of one’s own lifestyle choices, but I think we have to do that in some ways throughout life. I am pretty sure God understands that we all question our faith. It’s part of being human. And while some of these songs/attitudes are completely disrespectful, some are in fact respectful questioning. We can learn from both approaches.
Well put!
Interesting list, rb, and insightful commentary. Balance faith and doubt is tricky, so it’s good to have artists to help us figure it out
Also well put!
First song that came to mind when I read the intro was Dear God which states its case in a forthright and passionate manner.
Next thought was Nick Cave who opens up love song Into My Arms with the line; ‘I dont believe in an interventionist God’.
He’s used a lot of biblical and religious imagery in his lyrics and writing. His website the Red Hand Files where he answers fans questions has many which relate to faith, religion and God. I’m not sure I could easily pin down his position other than that he is someone that has questioned and considered his position over a prolonged period. In his own words in 2018 he wrote;
‘I share many of the problems that atheists have toward religion – the dogma, the extremism, the hypocrisy, the concept of revelation with its many attendant horrors’
On the other hand he does appear to have belief in faith but that it is a very personal thing.
One of his songs that comes to mind in this area is God Is In The House. This performance has a very intimate feel which makes it all the more captivating.
https://youtu.be/4f6wzGpFKUQ?feature=shared
I was thinking you would know that XTC one well, JJ, and a number of others.
Nick Cave does come up a lot in any discussion of spirituality and music. Listening to God is in the House. I will need time to unpack it further, but I can certainly get the gist of where he is going with it. Powerful stuff. Thank you for including a link.
Great article RB. I am very familiar with some of these songs and their sometimes provocative lyrics. Bob Marley was right on when he addressed the poor and suffering to stand up for their rights. Ditto to Neil Tennant and wondering why if he’s made in Gods image, why is he a sin?
Great Art makes us question and wonder about life’s big questions. Why do some people have so much and others have so little, not just in worldly goods, but in their capacity for love and compassion? I love that you explored this area of music. For me, God is Love. But for many years, I equated religion with judgement fear and damnation. I suspect that most of these songs reflect that specific distaste dogma inspires.
Thank you, PDE (a.k.a. little sis). Some great thoughts here.
Try this one…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gQVS2fCsek
Interesting take, and not what you’d expect with that style of music.