# Popular songs that evoke Buddhist philosophy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030 "2015-11-20T00:17:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/1 "2015-11-20T00:17:25Z")
…either intentionally or unintentionally. I nominate Lauryn Hill’s [“Everything is Everything”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3_dOWYHS7I) as the best example of such a song. (Interesting tidbit: John Legend’s playing the piano part in this song.) ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/2 "2015-11-20T01:08:28Z")
First one I could think of: “Instant Karma!” Several of George’s Beatles songs would fit, though he was more into Hinduism and Hare Krishna. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/3 "2015-11-20T01:11:58Z")
Leonard Cohen is a certified Buddhist monk - while I don’t know if any songs of his are explicitly about Buddhism, many of them hint at it. Some more Beatles songs, too - almost certainly unintentional, but “I’m Only Sleeping”, “Let it Be” and “Fixing a Hole” come to mind. Also, the bit of “You Never Give Me Your Money” that talks about being freed from all obligations could fit. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/4 "2015-11-20T01:19:12Z")
Ooh, add in Modest Mouse’s [“Float On”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTAud5O7Qqk). ---
**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 20, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/5 "2015-11-20T01:37:32Z")
Bodhisattva - _Steely Dan_ ---
**Author:** ![Jane\_Elliot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jane_elliot/32/6166_2.png) [@Jane\_Elliot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_Elliot)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/6 "2015-11-20T01:51:03Z")
Kansas _Dust in the Wind_ ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/7 "2015-11-20T01:57:26Z")
What I am is what I am - are you what you are, or what? – Edie Brickell & New Bohemians (Throw me in the shallow water, before I get too deep) ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/8 "2015-11-20T02:28:53Z")
Tomorrow Never Knows Rain Strawberry Fields forever Sorry I don’t think Instant Karma is one. Think about the lyrics. ---
**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 20, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/9 "2015-11-20T02:33:11Z")
Probably not a very _accurate_ depiction of Buddhist philosophy, but “Galileo” by the Indigo Girls is about reincarnation. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/10 "2015-11-20T06:22:29Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Sorry I don’t think Instant Karma is one. Think about the lyrics. I make no claims for its accuracy, but it does evoke Buddhist philosophy. (And it’s closer to genuine Buddhism than, say, “Karma Chameleon.”) The Beastie Boys’ [“Bodhisattva Vow,”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3zcJnWgVvI) though, both namechecks Buddhism and is a genuine expression of Buddhist faith. ---
**Author:** ![yawuntz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a5b964/32.png) [@yawuntz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawuntz)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/11 "2015-11-20T06:59:16Z")
Donovan There is a Mountain ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/12 "2015-11-20T07:03:28Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > I make no claims for its accuracy, but it does evoke Buddhist philosophy. (And it’s closer to genuine Buddhism than, say, “Karma Chameleon.”) > > The Beastie Boys’ [“Bodhisattva Vow,”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3zcJnWgVvI) though, both namechecks Buddhism and is a genuine expression of Buddhist faith. Instant Karma is a rock star lecturing someone that we all shine on and reacting to someone he is angry at and taking satisfaction that the person will get his. It isn’t really buddhist as an idea. Within You Without You, and Inner Light are good ones IMO. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/13 "2015-11-20T07:20:59Z")
Not sure how we define “popular”, but **Bauhaus** ’ _Kick In The Eye_ mentions “Searching For _Satori_” and the title itself is a metaphor for that sudden awakening. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/14 "2015-11-20T08:06:32Z")
[True Happiness This Way Lies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fckRgkNJWZY)– The The ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/15 "2015-11-20T09:22:23Z")
Van Morrison’s [Cleaning Windows](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYyVxQgnhDo). He gives out a call to an early zen author > [@](#): > > I went home and read my Christmas Humphreys’ book on Zen ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/16 "2015-11-20T13:59:04Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Bodhisattva - _Steely Dan_ I believe _Do it Again_ is also. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/17 "2015-11-20T15:26:33Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Not sure how we define “popular”, but **Bauhaus** ’ _Kick In The Eye_ mentions “Searching For _Satori_” and the title itself is a metaphor for that sudden awakening. Which reminds me of “Kundalini Express” by Love & Rockets (who were 75% of Bauhaus) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/18 "2015-11-20T20:04:48Z")
I think it’s kind of interesting to find old songs (i.e., predating the Beat/hippie focus on Eastern philosophy) that fit this category to some degree. Like “I’ve Got Plenty of Nothing” (1934) or “The Best Things in Life Are Free” (1927). ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2015, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-that-evoke-buddhist-philosophy/738030/19 "2015-11-21T10:01:35Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > Which reminds me of “Kundalini Express” by Love & Rockets (who were 75% of Bauhaus) Kundalini is Hindu, not Buddhist, or I would have mentioned it.