# Rock n Roll theology **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 12, 2020, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759 "2020-10-12T03:32:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/1 "2020-10-12T03:32:07Z")
“All good children go to heaven.” -The Beatles, You Never Give Me Your Money “God is a concept by which we measure our pain.” -John Lennon, God “She’s gone to heaven so I got to be good, so I can see my baby when I leave this world.” -J Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers, Last Kiss I’m looking for theological nuggets in basically secular songs from secular artists (no straight-up religious songs, don’t post the lyrics to the entire Jesus Christ Superstar musical). If we were gonna lay out the tenets of the religion of Rock ‘n’ Roll, gimme some lines. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2020, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/2 "2020-10-12T03:35:08Z")
“What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us? Just a stranger on the bus trying to make his way home?” - Joan Osborne ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/3 "2020-10-12T03:36:39Z")
“ **God hates us all**.” - Slayer, _Disciple_ from the album _God Hates Us All_ (2001) “This man came up to me just the other day He asked me if I’d been born again I told him I didn’t think I had That I had been rejected But I think **hell’s got all the good bands anyway** ” - The Flaming Lips, _Ode To C.C. (Part II)_ from the album _Oh My Gawd!!!… The Flaming Lips_ (1987) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/4 "2020-10-12T03:37:57Z")
“Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes!” - Wyld Stallyns ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/5 "2020-10-12T03:38:01Z")
“My whole existence is flawed, you get me closer to God.” -Nine Inch Nails, Closer ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/6 "2020-10-12T04:00:14Z")
… There’s an angel standing in the sun And he’s crying with a loud voice “This is the supper of the mighty one” Lord of Lords, King of Kings Has returned to lead his children home To take them to the new Jerusalem Supper’s Ready-Genesis. A very lengthy 24 minute song. Full lyrics: [https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/genius.com/amp/Genesis-suppers-ready-lyrics](https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/genius.com/amp/Genesis-suppers-ready-lyrics) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/K04HYw25zdY/maxresdefault.jpg "Genesis - Supper's Ready (Live 1972)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K04HYw25zdY) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/7 "2020-10-12T04:03:19Z")
Hey St. Peter, won’t you open up your gate I hear the Devil calling, now please don’t make me late He’s got loud guitars, alcohol, cheap Jamaican whores I don’t want to stay in Heaven no more - The Bad Examples, _Hey St. Peter_ ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/8 "2020-10-12T04:10:30Z")
Too lazy to google the quote: “On what day did the Lord create Spinal Tap and couldn’t he have rested on that day, too?” “Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies and everyone goes, everyone knows Brother Love’s show.” Neil Diamond. “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?” Janis Joplin “Hare Krishna…Hare Rama” George Harrison (My Sweet Lord) “Imagine there’s no heaven…it’s easy if you try.” John Lennon “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me…” I did see Paul said he had a dream about his mother, Mary, who told him everything would be ok. But she was Catholic and he was baptized as such…I don’t think religion was emphasized in their house, so is the lyric religious? Not sure. Tears in Heaven implies a hereafter. So does Highway to Hell. Remember Seals and Croft? They apparently belonged to the Baha’i Faith. I always thought this was a really good song but it wasn’t a hit. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Vr5jPp_KkrM/maxresdefault.jpg "Intone My Servant") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr5jPp_KkrM) Then I found this, a Baha’i prayer. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AIUQDHlF9yw/hqdefault.jpg "Intone O My Servant - Baha'í Prayer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIUQDHlF9yw) ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/9 "2020-10-12T04:27:30Z")
**God gave rock and roll to you, gave rock and roll to you** **Put it in the soul of everyone** - _Kiss_ ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/11 "2020-10-12T04:49:18Z")
Moses went up to the mountain high To find out from God why did you make us, why? Secret words in a secret room He said a womp bop a lu bop a lop bam boom - The Rainmakers, _Let My People Go-Go_ ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/12 "2020-10-12T05:01:42Z")
“What god wants, god gets, god help us all.” > **[Roger Waters – What God Wants, Part II](https://genius.com/Roger-waters-what-god-wants-part-ii-lyrics)** > > \[Spoken Intro: TV Evangelist\] / What the fuck / What the fuck / What the fuck / What the fuck / What the fuck / What the fuck / What the fuck / What the fuck / What the fuck / What [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BtcY8iY6jO4/hqdefault.jpg "Roger Waters-What God Wants(Parts 1,2,3)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtcY8iY6jO4) ---
**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:** [October 12, 2020, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/13 "2020-10-12T05:33:29Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Remember Seals and Croft? They apparently belonged to the Baha’i Faith. I always thought this was a really good song but it wasn’t a hit. > Then I found this, a Baha’i prayer. Reminds me of this, also taken from a Baha’i text: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/rf1uyczHH08/maxresdefault.jpg "Parrish & Toppano - The Royal Falcon - 1987") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf1uyczHH08) ---
**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:** [October 12, 2020, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/14 "2020-10-12T06:33:48Z")
“Thank God and Greyhound you’re gone” - Roy Clark ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/15 "2020-10-12T08:31:54Z")
I take it anything from Dylan’s “born again phase” would be off-limits? Would this be acceptable? _Won’t you look down upon me, Jesus_ _You’ve got to help me make a stand_ _You’ve just got to see me through another day_ _My body’s aching and my time is at hand_ _And I won’t make it any other way_ James Taylor – _Fire and Rain_ ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/16 "2020-10-12T10:45:06Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > **God gave rock and roll to you, gave rock and roll to you** > **Put it in the soul of everyone** - _Kiss_ Originally by Argent. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QsG5V-o6uxY/hqdefault.jpg "Argent - God Gave Rock And Roll To You") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsG5V-o6uxY) ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/17 "2020-10-12T11:23:12Z")
Arthur Comix, also performing as the Snivelling Shits, did a fine song called ‘isgodaman’. The [lyrics](https://able2know.org/topic/48778-1) are irreverent, and tend to answer the title question as a yes, so i leave reading them to your discretion. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/18 "2020-10-12T11:52:38Z")
One of the most beautiful songs ever recorded, even for this atheist: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CWPo5SC3zik/maxresdefault.jpg "God Only Knows (Mono / 1997 Remastered)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWPo5SC3zik) ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/19 "2020-10-12T12:28:56Z")
The gods you worship are steel At the altar of rock ‘n’ roll you kneel A slave that forever rocks Is bound in the devil’s locks And slain by the bloody axe I wail W. A. S. P. “Hellion” ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/20 "2020-10-12T12:34:11Z")
And the people bowed and prayed To the neon god they’d made And the sign flashed out its warning In the words that it was forming And the sign said the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/u9Dg-g7t2l4/maxresdefault.jpg "Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence (Official Music Video) [4K UPGRADE]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4) ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759/21 "2020-10-12T12:45:05Z")
I think we already have a division between me and si\_blakely. Because of course we do, we gotta settle the founding principles of this religion (well, what they will be once the Founding Great Prophet Lendervedder passes on). I’m thinking an alliance with Snowboarder\_Bo, uh temporarily anyway, until I can elimin-errr, we can work out an equatable way to share power, I mean determine the true path and meaning of Great Prophet Lendervedder’s(may his blessings be upon you) teachings. Sound good yeah? 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-n-roll-theology/922759.md?page=2)