# Non-religious songs about God **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319 "2006-03-07T00:04:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/21 "2006-03-07T12:58:29Z")
On Prefab Sprout’s album **Jordan: The Comeback** there is a song (“One of the Broken”) from the point of view of God, seeming to encourage people to worship without religion and care for each other instead of God. (There’s another song from the POV of Lucifer. Also one for Elvis). \*I remember King David, with his harp and his beautiful songs. I answered his prayers, and showed him the place where his music belongs. It’s not too far from here - **come get up off your knees** - if you’re looking for ways to please. Sing me no psalm - you’re not King David Sing me no high, hushed glory-bes Sing it to one, one, one of the broken and brother, you’re singing singing to me.\* ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/22 "2006-03-07T13:19:22Z")
The whole second verse of Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne”: And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water. And he spent a long time watching from a lonely wooden tower. And when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him, He said “All men shall be sailors then until the sea should free them.” But he himself was broken, long before the sky would open. Forsaken, almost human, he sank beneath your wisdom like a stone. There’s also lots of God imagery in Elton John/Bernie Taupin’s “Levon.” ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/23 "2006-03-07T14:08:29Z")
_God Thinks_ by Voltaire. > [@](#): > > God thinks all blacks are obsolete farm eqipment > God thinks the Jews killed his son and must be punished > God thinks the white man is Satan > God, they know what God thinks > > God thinks we should all convert to Judaism > God thinks we must all be Christians and > God thinks we should all embrace Islam > God thinks the only true religion is Hinduism ---
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/24 "2006-03-07T14:34:12Z")
How about “Would Jesus Wear a Rolex (on his Television Show)” by Ray Stevens? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/25 "2006-03-07T14:39:51Z")
How could I miss Kinky’s “They Ain’t Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore”? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/26 "2006-03-07T14:48:43Z")
Pete Townshend did a number of songs, both with the Who and as a solo artist, which he has stated are about God or are inspired by his faith, though not explicit in the lyrics and in fact nearly impossible to notice. For example: “Let My Love Open the Door” “Who Are You” “Bargain” “Drowned” “Love, Reign O’er Me” “A Little Is Enough” and others that I can’t think of right now. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/27 "2006-03-07T15:11:12Z")
I think this is a good time to step in and remind everyone that we need to be careful of the lyrics posted in this thread. If too much of a song is quoted it’s possible it falls under a copyright violation. We, of course, want you to have fun, so we encourage you to post within Fair Use. **Tentacle Monster** , I edited your post because four stanzas seemed like a wee bit too much for Fair Use. I knocked it back down to two. If anyone feels the full lyrics need to be viewed, the best thing to do is to quote a little bit and then link to the rest of the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/28 "2006-03-07T15:46:42Z")
Lots of VNV Nation is about God. Almost all, now that I think about it. _Genesis_: _With you I stand in hope that God will save us from ourselves. Every cry a wasted moment until another day is lost. Even lands we once called home lie undiscovered and unknown. Only Heaven’s silence for an answer._ ---
**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:** [March 7, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/29 "2006-03-07T15:53:06Z")
> [@RobuSensei](#): > > How about “Would Jesus Wear a Rolex (on his Television Show)” by Ray Stevens? 😃 and Mississippi Squirrel Revival and Everything Is Beautiful Or by “non-religious” do we necessarily mean “irreligious”? Most of the songs cited are negative, but there is an occasional God-positive song (Spirit in the Sky) or personally-religious-but-not-pushy artist (Indigo Girls, I think, profess an active liberal C’tian faith) mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/30 "2006-03-07T17:02:37Z")
My favorite — “Wind Up” by Jethro Tull (on the already-oft-cited _Aqualung_): > [@](#): > > So I left there in the morning > with their God tucked underneath my arm > their half-assed smiles and the book of rules. > So I asked this God a question > and by way of firm reply, > He said - I’m not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/31 "2006-03-07T17:16:34Z")
From “Fish and Whistle” by John Prine: Father forgive us for what we must do. If you’ll forgive us we’ll forgive you. We’ll forgive each other till we both turn blue, then we’ll whistle and go fishing in Heaven. ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319/32 "2006-03-07T18:05:37Z")
**Chocolate Jesus** by Tom Waits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-religious-songs-about-god/347319.md?page=1)