# Best religious songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835 "2009-04-21T13:48:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/41 "2009-04-22T08:25:25Z")
Pretty much anything by [Neal Morse](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Morse) since 2002, when he became a born-again Christian. He decided to focus on religious lyrics from that point forward, but his music still [kicks ass](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK8EIiT9nEU). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/42 "2009-04-22T09:10:39Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Threads like this have me wondering if I’m the only Christian who dislikes Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”… I dislike it because the music is so beautiful, and it sets itself up to be a Christian song, but then from the second verse equates God with sex. I really don’t see how it can be debated that it is a religious song, though. It uses religious symbolism to glorify sex as a god. How can it not be religious? So, do you really not even like the first verse/chorus? Could you like it if the words were changed? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/43 "2009-04-22T12:03:04Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I dislike it because the music is so beautiful, and it sets itself up to be a Christian song, but then from the second verse equates God with sex. > > I really don’t see how it can be debated that it is a religious song, though. It uses religious symbolism to glorify sex as a god. How can it not be religious? > > So, do you really not even like the first verse/chorus? Could you like it if the words were changed? First, who is the singer-songwriter? Leonard COHEN? I think the Jews have first claim to the word “Hallelujah”. Second, the blending of religious & sexual symbolism isn’t the same as using “religious symbolism to glorify sex as a god.” Is it a religious song? Maybe the same way the Song of Solomon is. It’s a spiritual AND carnal song both. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/44 "2009-04-22T15:42:52Z")
[Mary, by Patty Griffin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOxpvKuEruk) _Jesus said, “Mother I couldn’t stay another day longer” Flys right by me and leaves a kiss upon her face While the angels are singing his praises in a blaze of glory Mary stays behind and starts cleaning up the place_ ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@Black\_Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/45 "2009-04-22T16:16:25Z")
> [@fifty-six](#): > > **unknown artist** “The Lord Told Noah” (The Lord told Noah to build him an arky, arky,) We always called that song “Rise and Shine.” "The animals, they came on, they came on by twosies, twosies . . . " Thanks for that. Gonna be singing this all week, now. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/46 "2009-04-22T18:43:38Z")
> [@Jodi](#): > > Josh Turner’s [Long Black Train](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gybGXnciig). The video (YouTube link) is a bit OTT, but the song is catchy, if you like country music. I also like [Me & God](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDatkylkFSM). Also catchy for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/47 "2009-04-22T19:19:33Z")
I’ll second the earlier mention of “Mary Did you Know”. And of songs we routinely sing in church, my favorite is probably “What Wondrous Love is This”. I also have some fond memories of my dad singing us spirituals as a kid-- He has the perfect voice for them, rich and deep. Two in particular that stand out are “Michael Row the Boat Ashore” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”. Then, for old classics, of course, there are plenty of good options. Just about anything from Handel’s _Messiah_ is good, especially the Hallelujah Chorus, and many of the old Latin carols. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/48 "2009-04-22T19:26:14Z")
Leaving aside all the glorious hymns that would take a day to list, a folky one Pete Seeger made popular: How Can I Keep From Singing? What though my joys and comforts die? I know my Savior liveth. What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth. The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing! All things are mine since I am His! How can I keep from singing? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/49 "2009-04-22T19:28:54Z")
Oh, and Blow Gabriel Blow by Cole Porter, to be played at my funeral: Oh, blow, Gabriel, blow, Go on and blow, Gabriel, blow! I’ve been a sinner, I’ve been a scamp, But now I’m willin’ to trim my lamp, So blow, Gabriel, blow! And now I’m all ready to fly, Yes, to fly higher and higher! 'Cause I’ve gone through brimstone And I’ve been through the fire, And I purged my soul And my heart too, So climb up the mountaintop And start to blow, Gabriel, blow ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/50 "2009-04-22T20:04:28Z")
The Call - \*[I Still Believe\*](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=272T8hZUqcs) ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/51 "2009-04-22T20:08:36Z")
For Christian songs: Seconded on Hank Williams’ ‘I saw the light’ ‘Abide with Me’ (played at my grandma’s funeral) ‘I’ll Fly Away’ Jewish songs: ‘Shnirele, Perele’ (Klezmatics rule!) ‘Adon Olam’ (in some versions anyway) ‘Yigdal’ ‘Adir Hu’ **Gigi** , I’m a fan of ‘Blow, Gabriel, Blow’ too! ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/52 "2009-04-22T21:20:36Z")
I like me some **U2** : _40_ (lyrics from the psalm) _When Love come to town_ (with BB King) _Yahweh_ and _Sunday, Bloody Sunday_ > [@](#): > > And the battle’s just begun, to claim the victory Jesus won, on a Sunday, bloody Sunday (ignoring the fact that the victory and the bloody bits were on the Friday, but still) Mr Mister: _Kyrie_ and _Broken Wings_ I love _Hallelujah_, musically and for the self-referential nature of the first verse, but the religious imagery and biblical errors (Cohen conflates David/Bathsheeba and Sampson/Delilah) really, really annoy me. Si ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/53 "2009-04-22T22:45:35Z")
New York hedonists do Jesus: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2FNI0SJnP0) ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/54 "2009-04-23T01:57:17Z")
Ave Maria, the Schubert version. Ave Maria, sung by Denyce Graves. In that order. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835/55 "2009-04-23T06:56:16Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > I like me some **U2** : > > _40_ (lyrics from the psalm) > _When Love come to town_ (with BB King) > _Yahweh_ > > and > > _Sunday, Bloody Sunday_ > (ignoring the fact that the victory and the bloody bits were on the Friday, but still) > > Mr Mister: _Kyrie_ and _Broken Wings_ > > I love _Hallelujah_, musically and for the self-referential nature of the first verse, but the religious imagery and biblical errors (Cohen conflates David/Bathsheeba and Sampson/Delilah) really, really annoy me. > > Si I like **U2** ’s _Gloria_ and _I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For_, as well. Lots to choose from with them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-religious-songs/493835.md?page=2)