# 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:** 7
**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:** [November 9, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/121 "2019-11-09T15:21:17Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Yeah, Right. Alone With Murray Head’s Superstar. > [@mcgato](#): > > I think some of the songs from Jesus Christ Superstar hit the charts. > [@cochrane](#): > > How about _Superstar_ from the musical _Jesus Christ, Superstar_? It reached #14 on the Billboard singles chart in 1969. Yes, Superstar charted, but most people do not consider it “Overtly religious.” Particuarly if you were around to see the brouhaha over the whole thing. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/122 "2019-11-09T17:28:52Z")
I don’t know how any of the individual tracks did, but _Chant_, by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos, peaked at #3 on the album charts. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/123 "2019-11-09T17:34:02Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Although there was a resurgence in 2010, after New Orleans won the Super Bowl. Peaked at #11. Cite? I can’t find _The Saints_ on the Billboard charts in 2010. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/124 "2019-11-09T18:10:23Z")
Long Black Train by Josh Turner? According to wikipedia it peaked at 72 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and 13 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs for 2003-04 and debuted at 60 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks in May 2003 which is apparently yet another Billboard chart ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/125 "2019-11-09T20:55:13Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Cite? I can’t find _The Saints_ on the Billboard charts in 2010. [Louis Armstrong Chart History](https://www.billboard.com/music/Louis-Armstrong/chart-history/jazz-digital-song-sales) - scroll down to #7. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/126 "2019-11-09T22:11:35Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Has anyone mentioned _Let It Be_? Explicit reference to Mother Mary. > [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > There are so many Marys in the New Testament that I wonder if “Mary” isn’t Aramaic for “some random woman.” “Mother Mary” is an explicit reference to Paul McCartney’s own mother, named Mary. During the recording of the Beatles’ White Album, McCartney had a dream about his mother which left him feeling full of peace. The dream was the inspiration for the song. McCartney himself started that the reference is not religious. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/127 "2019-11-09T22:29:19Z")
James Corden (host of The Late Late Show on CBS) has a regular segment called Carpool Karaoke, in which he drives around with a famous musician, while they talk and sing the musician’s songs. On one such segment, he drove around Liverpool with Paul McCartney, who pointed out landmarks referenced in Beatles songs, and told the story of the dream of his mother that inspired that lyric. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/128 "2019-11-09T22:31:30Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [Louis Armstrong Chart History](https://www.billboard.com/music/Louis-Armstrong/chart-history/jazz-digital-song-sales) - scroll down to #7. Oh, my mistake. Despite having Hot 100 at the top, that’s not actually the Hot 100. ---
**Author:** ![misling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@misling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misling)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/129 "2019-11-11T19:31:06Z")
“Down in the River to Pray” sung by Alison Krauss (pllus chorus), used in the movie “Oh, Brother Where Art Thou” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSif77IVQdY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSif77IVQdY) ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/130 "2019-11-11T19:38:52Z")
> [@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.) “From a distance” is high on my list of songs that people don’t listen to the lyrics of. It’s pretty much the exact opposite of everything that I learned in church - as the message of the song is “God isn’t paying attention and doesn’t give a shit.” ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/131 "2019-11-12T00:37:06Z")
**"Honey"** Bobby Goldsboro “One day while I was not at home While she was there and all alone The angels came Now all I have is memories of Honey” I’d say that kidnapping/murdering angels is overtly religious. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/132 "2019-11-12T01:25:18Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Yes, Superstar charted, but most people do not consider it “Overtly religious.” Particuarly if you were around to see the brouhaha over the whole thing. ??? As I recall, everyone saw it as explicitly religious. Some people liked that, some people didn’t care, and some people it made sick and they wrote insulting satirical parodies. But everybody knew it was explicitly religious. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/133 "2019-11-12T01:28:49Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > **“Honey”** Bobby Goldsboro > > “One day while I was not at home > While she was there and all alone > The angels came > Now all I have is memories of Honey” > > I’d say that kidnapping/murdering angels is overtly religious. Without knowing _anything_ else about that song, it sounds like she (presumably Honey) died while alone. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/134 "2019-11-12T01:45:03Z")
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. I don’t know how to get official chart positions, but that’s been top 20 a couple of times? ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/135 "2019-11-12T01:46:05Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Without knowing _anything_ else about that song, it sounds like she (presumably Honey) died while alone. She didn’t die. She got recruited to play baseball in California. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/136 "2019-11-12T06:25:26Z")
Neil Diamond had _Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show_ hit #22 in 1969. He brought religion back to the charts in 1970 with _He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother_, which got up to #20. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/137 "2019-11-12T06:47:20Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Louis Armstrong - “[When the Saints Go Marching In.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyLjbMBpGDA)” > > Does that count? And though not overtly religious, his [What a Wonderful World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE) is pretty much an anthem for deists. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/138 "2019-11-12T06:55:22Z")
Poison’s Something to Believe In. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/139 "2019-11-12T07:05:24Z")
Here’s a genuine “modern day spiritual” (from 1972), inspired by Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Styx released this the following year. Flip the LP over and you get their classic "Plexiglass Toilet." Skip the first 1:15. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/enaXYTUGJFY/hqdefault.jpg "Styx - Krakatoa/Hallelujah Chorus") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enaXYTUGJFY) ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130/140 "2019-11-12T09:17:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > James Corden (host of The Late Late Show on CBS) has a regular segment called Carpool Karaoke, in which he drives around with a famous musician, while they talk and sing the musician’s songs. On one such segment, he drove around Liverpool with Paul McCartney, who pointed out landmarks referenced in Beatles songs, and told the story of the dream of his mother that inspired that lyric. They both won an Emmy for that episode. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overtly-religious-top-40-hits/843130.md?page=8)