# Looking for religious music that isn't typical of religious music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302 "2007-07-18T20:15:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/21 "2007-07-19T02:17:50Z")
[QUOTE=cbawlmer] Prince has a lot of religion-themed songs. A bunch of the songs on _LoveSexy_, “The Cross,” “7,” “The Holy River.” He’s Jehovah’s Witness now and has always had a lot of Christian threads in his work. I think more religious artists should record songs like “Gett Off.” [/QUOTE] He won’t sing songs like that anymore, though. During concerts, he says that the only four-letter word he’ll say now is Love. While he was always a little bit religious, like with the aforementioned songs, the last few years have found him a very devout JW. He even goes knocking on people’s doors to spread the word. (Wouldn’t you just DIE?) His last album _3121_ is quite religious but still rocks. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/22 "2007-07-19T02:26:17Z")
[In My Life](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beatles/in+my+life_10026479.html) is a secular song. However, it is one of the very rare secular songs I’ve ever heard in church. ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/23 "2007-07-19T02:45:54Z")
Just Another Poor Boy by Chris De Burgh Drop Kick Me Jesus Through The Goalposts Of Life by Bobby Bare ---
**Author:** ![archmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@archmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/archmichael)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/24 "2007-07-19T03:07:22Z")
A lot of reggae. Forever Loving Jah by Bob Marley ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/25 "2007-07-19T03:09:22Z")
[QUOTE=Alice The Goon] He won’t sing songs like that anymore, though. During concerts, he says that the only four-letter word he’ll say now is Love. While he was always a little bit religious, like with the aforementioned songs, the last few years have found him a very devout JW. He even goes knocking on people’s doors to spread the word. (Wouldn’t you just DIE?) His last album _3121_ is quite religious but still rocks. [/QUOTE] Speaking of JW, if I understand correctly, Stevie Wonder wrote “Spiritual Walkers” in defense of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, although Stevie himself is not a JW. Other Stevie Wonder songs on religious themes include “Have a Talk with God” and “Heaven Is Ten Zillion Light Years Away.” ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/26 "2007-07-19T03:15:43Z")
[QUOTE=Skammer] Maybe this is too subtle, but I’m pretty sure U2’s [“Mysterious Ways”](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Mysterious-Ways-lyrics-U2/B4AC116C8BEC308E48256896002E9833) is about the Holy Spirit. Of course U2 has plenty of other “religious” songs, some that specifically refer to God or Jesus and some that don’t. [/QUOTE] U2’s the first band that came to mind after reading the OP. Their “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” is (IIRC) comprised entirely of religious-themed songs. Nick Cave has a number of 'em – the first that comes to mind is “Into My Arms.” Along that line, PJ Harvey (about whom “Into My Arms” was written, IIRC) also refers to religion in a bunch of her songs (like “The Garden,” “Long Snake Moan,” “Send His Love to Me,” etc). The Waterboys’ “Glastonbury Song” is spiritual and has a great chorus: “I just found God…where He always was.” Cold War Kids’ “God, Make Up Your Mind” Morrissey’s “I Have Forgiven Jesus” Mule’s “I’m Hell” Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus.” All of 16 Horsepower’s songs are explicitly about religion, and they could be classified as blue-grass, but they’ve got a wild-eyed, occasionally frightening (in the best possible way) vibe that would keep them from being “typical” religious music. And there’s always Type O Negative’s “Christian Woman,” but I don’t know if that’s what the OP was looking for. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/27 "2007-07-19T03:46:30Z")
“All You Zombies” by the Hooters “Flood” by Jars of Clay “Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode (later covered by Johnny Cash and Marilyn Manson\*) \*Seperately - but wouldn’t it have made a cool duet ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/28 "2007-07-19T05:43:24Z")
Well, there’s a fair chunk of Nick Cave’s output. _Wormwood_ by the Residents is a concept album about some of the more interesting bits of the Bible. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/29 "2007-07-19T06:54:40Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] “Flood” by Jars of Clay [/QUOTE] I fell in love with this song before I found out it was by a Christian band. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that, I just probably would have avoided it.) I like JoC, and they have an acoustic and electric version of the song. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/30 "2007-07-19T07:16:04Z")
One Toke over the Line…Sweet Jesus…One Toke over the Line… **Brewer and Shipley** 🙂 , tsfr ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/31 "2007-07-19T07:56:22Z")
“Jesus is just alright” and “Turn!turn!turn!” both by the Byrds “Dimming of the Day” by Richard & Linda Thompson, by Emmylou Harris, by the Five Blind Boys of Alabama “Shake a hand” by faye Adams “Touch a hand” and “I’ll take you there” by the Staple Singers “His eye is on the Sparrow” by Lauren Hill and by Selah “Beneath still Waters” by Emmylou Harris “Oh! happy day” by the Edwin Hawkins Singers ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/32 "2007-07-19T08:22:01Z")
The Goldberg Variations, by Glen Gould… seek out his last recording of the Bach clasic Or admit you do not have a soul FML ---
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/33 "2007-07-19T09:49:30Z")
“Jesus Christ Was Born Today” by Alex Chilton/Big Star. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/34 "2007-07-19T14:53:21Z")
“Spirit in the Sky” would show up on the oldies station. Never been a sinner, I’ve never sinned I’ve got a friend in Jesus So you know that when I die He’s gonna set me up with the spirit in the sky but I’m starting to think it was tongue in cheek. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/35 "2007-07-19T14:59:57Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] I fell in love with this song before I found out it was by a Christian band. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that, I just probably would have avoided it.) I like JoC, and they have an acoustic and electric version of the song. [/QUOTE] One of the members of JoC and his family are acquaintences of mine - we attend church together. Very nice family with cute young boys. Nothing more to add, just wanted to share my brush with semi-fame 🆒 ---
**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:** [July 19, 2007, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/36 "2007-07-19T16:08:56Z")
_Give Us a Song_ by Jonathan Edwards is lovely, [if you can dig it up](http://www.amazon.com/Honky-Tonk-Stardust-Cowboy-Jonathan-Edwards/dp/B00005REPA). ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/37 "2007-07-19T16:15:12Z")
Bob Dylan’s **Slow Train** album. It’s an all-Christian compilation. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/38 "2007-07-19T18:02:53Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Bob Dylan’s **Slow Train** album. It’s an all-Christian compilation. [/QUOTE] This is the first (and, if I understand correctly, most highly regarded) of the three albums **cbawlmer** mentioned in Post #17. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/39 "2007-07-19T20:05:53Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] “Spirit in the Sky” would show up on the oldies station. Never been a sinner, I’ve never sinned I’ve got a friend in Jesus So you know that when I die He’s gonna set me up with the spirit in the sky but I’m starting to think it was tongue in cheek. [/QUOTE] I rather enjoyed the **Kentucky Headhunters** cover of the song. They changed the first two lines above to _I’ve been a sinner, yes I’ve sinned, But I’ve got a friend in Jesus_ I thought it made a marked improvement in the song. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302/40 "2007-07-19T20:32:37Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] > [@Little Nemo](#): > > “Flood” by Jars of Clay I fell in love with this song before I found out it was by a Christian band. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that, I just probably would have avoided it.) I like JoC, and they have an acoustic and electric version of the song. [/QUOTE] I liked this song so much when I first heard it, that even after I found out they were a Christian band, I went out and bought the CD, and actually like the whole thing. And I’m Jewish! :eek: 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-religious-music-that-isnt-typical-of-religious-music/412302.md?page=3)