# Overtly religious Top 40 hits. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 7, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130 "2019-11-07T16:46:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/41 "2019-11-07T19:24:00Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > “My Sweet Lord,” by George Harrison. In the Christian school I attended in the seventies, we had an assembly about the Devil’s music and that song was specifically called out because of the names of “heathen gods” being sung in the background. > [@Horatius](#): > > Mr Mister - Kyrie Eleison I never had the least idea what they were saying in that song, and wouldn’t have been any wiser if I had. Not until the Internet came along did I finally get it. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/42 "2019-11-07T19:38:05Z")
I just remembered - I don’t think you’ll hear it in a church (though you may well hear stuff of a similar bent), but the spectacularly awful [Deck of Cards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Deck_of_Cards)\* is clearly, unambiguously religious. > [@](#): > > T. Texas Tyler’s rendition went to number 2 on the country charts in 1948… > > …The highest-charting version was recorded in 1959 by future game show host Wink Martindale, and was performed on The Ed Sullivan Show. Martindale’s rendition (titled “Deck of Cards”) went to No. 7 on the Billboard charts and number 11 on the country charts in 1959… And, unfortunately for me: > [@](#): > > The song was also a UK No. 13 hit in October 1973 for the entertainer Max Bygraves. j - - Links to recordings omitted due to basic human decency ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/43 "2019-11-07T20:28:17Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > In the Christian school I attended in the seventies, we had an assembly about the Devil’s music and that song was specifically called out because of the names of “heathen gods” being sung in the background. > > I never had the least idea what they were saying in that song, and wouldn’t have been any wiser if I had. Not until the Internet came along did I finally get it. They should have played the _ **Mister Ed** _ theme backwards. It’s been claimed it contains “Someone sang this song for Satan.” It boggles the mind that someone actually took the time to determine this, and that they chose this song to listen to. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6GAbc5uQXJo/maxresdefault.jpg "Mr. Ed Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GAbc5uQXJo) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/44 "2019-11-07T20:34:33Z")
Jesus, Take the Wheel > [@Biggirl](#): > > Greenbaum wrote it mockingly but it has been embraced by Christians. Sorta like Blur’s Song 2 being a parody of radio friendly grunge and then. . . you know the rest. Do you have a cite? He didn’t have any religious bent, but I thought it was more like trying to see if he could do it instead of a polemic. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/45 "2019-11-07T20:41:33Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > So Joan Osborn’s What if God Was One of Us probably wouldn’t count. I don’t see why not. Seems to adequately show Hebrews 13:2 - “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” - in song form. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was playing at a church function (aside from that our church doesn’t play contemporary music). ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/46 "2019-11-07T20:52:12Z")
I will also point out that U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” has some very strong Christian imagery. I guess one can say it’s not overt, but when one of the verses goes: “I believe in the Kingdom Come, Then all the colours will bleed into one, Bleed into one, But yes, I’m still running. You broke the bonds, And you loosed the chains, Carried the cross of my shame, Oh my shame, you know I believe it” - sounds pretty overt to me. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/47 "2019-11-07T20:54:51Z")
[I Write the Songs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Write_the_Songs)? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/48 "2019-11-07T20:55:45Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > I don’t see why not. Seems to adequately show Hebrews 13:2 - “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” - in song form. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was playing at a church function (aside from that our church doesn’t play contemporary music). I don’t know many churches that would be cool with saying God was a slob and just like regular people. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/49 "2019-11-07T20:58:02Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I don’t know many churches that would be cool with saying God was a slob and just like regular people. Most mainline Protestant churches would be completely fine saying what if God was this homeless person. I’ve heard many a sermon somewhat like it. Heck, it was the song for the opening credits of Joan of Arcadia, which was a show that mostly Christians (and not just Progressive ones) watched. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/50 "2019-11-07T21:13:52Z")
The song might be controversial because it ponders "What if God was . . . . " But it seems to explicitly assume that God exists. So I think it qualifies for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/51 "2019-11-07T21:18:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > “The Lord’s Prayer” by Sister Janet Mead hit #4 on the Billboard chart in April of 1974. Damnit Czar ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/52 "2019-11-07T21:22:35Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > The song might be controversial because it ponders "What if God was . . . . " > > But it seems to explicitly assume that God exists. > > So I think it qualifies for this thread. Waitaminit! Who’s making the thread rules here? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/53 "2019-11-07T21:24:37Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I don’t know many churches that would be cool with saying God was a slob and just like regular people. We’ve played that song in my church. As far as I know nobody raked the minister over the coals later. My contribution - [Mary Mary - Shackles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shackles_(Praise_You)) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/54 "2019-11-07T21:32:40Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > We’ve played that song in my church. As far as I know nobody raked the minister over the coals later. > > My contribution - [Mary Mary - Shackles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shackles_(Praise_You)) Someone also noted that Imagine was played at their church to no coal rakings. Just because it has been sung in a church doesn’t mean it will be welcomed in most churches. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/55 "2019-11-07T21:34:15Z")
Dylan’s _Gotta Serve Somebody_ made it to #24. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/56 "2019-11-07T21:43:56Z")
U2’s “With or Without You” can be seen either as a love song or as a man struggling with the demands of faith. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/57 "2019-11-07T21:49:59Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > U2’s “With or Without You” can be seen either as a love song or as a man struggling with the demands of faith. Ya’ll win. I give up. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/58 "2019-11-07T22:01:06Z")
_Why Me Lord?_ - Kris Kristofferson "Recognition and awards “Why Me” was Kristofferson’s lone major country hit as a solo recording artist, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in July 1973.[4] The song peaked only at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, but had at that time one of the longer runs (19 weeks) in the top 40[1] and the most chart reversals (6) in one run on the Hot 100. The song spent 38 weeks in the Hot 100 consecutively, almost tying the record set by Johnny Mathis’ song “Wonderful! Wonderful!” on the charts for 39 weeks. The song ranked sixth on the list of Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1973. “Why Me” was certified gold for sales of one million units by the Recording Industry Association of America.[5][6]" Source: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why\_Me\_(Kris\_Kristofferson\_song)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Me_(Kris_Kristofferson_song)) ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/59 "2019-11-07T22:04:06Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Someone also noted that Imagine was played at their church to no coal rakings. Just because it has been sung in a church doesn’t mean it will be welcomed in most churches. Well are the rules will it be welcomed in Evangelical Churches or will it be welcomed in mainline Protestant or Catholic Churches? Because the sort of music welcomed in one or the other are very, very different. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/60 "2019-11-07T23:03:02Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > How about “From a Distance” as performed by Bette Midler, which peaked at #2 on the US Hot 100 and #1 on the US Adult Contemporary charts. (Written by Julie Gold; first recorded by Nancy Griffith.) FYI: [Julie Gold sings, solo](https://youtu.be/F4q9JUMF0oc). Quite tasty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130.md?page=4)