# Secular Songs That Mention Jesus **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 25, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981 "2004-10-25T02:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/1 "2004-10-25T02:32:35Z")
I’ve noticed that a lot of secular songs mention Jesus. Sometimes they’re doing it to be weird, but other times it just puzzles me… _The Velvet Underground- Jesus_ VU would be one of the last bands I’d have expected to sing about Jesus. This songs actually sounds like a religious song. _Big Star- Jesus Christ_ I’m not sure about this one. It sounds like some kind of christmas song, but it also seems like a parody. _Neutral Milk Hotel- King of Carrot Flowers part 2_ I think they’re just doing it to be weird here. It’s my best guess. _Chris Bell- Better Save Yourself_ I don’t know what to make of this one. _Billy Bragg/ Wilco- Jesus Christ for President_ Of course, the lyrics were written by Woodie Guthrie. I’m guessing this one is making fun of religion’s role in politics. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/2 "2004-10-25T02:49:11Z")
“One Toke Over The Line” by Brewer and Shipley. “Your Own Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode. Maybe I don’t know the songs well enough, and they really aren’t secular, but they sound so to me. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/3 "2004-10-25T02:54:30Z")
R.E.M.'s “New Test Leper” (“I can’t say that I love Jesus/That would be a hollow claim”) and the new “Make It All Okay” (“Well, Jesus loves me fine/But his words fall flat this time”). Whether or not a song is secular, Christianity so thoroughly permeates our society that it doesn’t seem at all unusual to me that Jesus would get a few mentions here and there. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/4 "2004-10-25T02:56:59Z")
How could I forget to mention Patti Smith? From “Gloria”: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine.” ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/5 "2004-10-25T02:57:52Z")
“Jesus Built My Hotrod” – Ministry Who knows what they mean? Ding a ding dang my dang a long ling long. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/6 "2004-10-25T03:00:42Z")
I guess there’s also Morrissey’s song I Have Forgiven Jesus I think that one’s written from the point of view of a gay person. It’s a really powerful song. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/7 "2004-10-25T03:07:33Z")
If you’re looking for a reason that secular songs would mention Jesus, that’s a good place to start. The cognitive dissonance created by realizing the huge difference between what the Gospels report the actual (if you believe he was actual) man said and did and what Christian churches in general say and do compels many artists to explore the issue lyrically. ---
**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 25, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/8 "2004-10-25T03:13:21Z")
“Jesus Christ, Football Star” by Martin Mull ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/9 "2004-10-25T03:17:45Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > If you’re looking for a reason that secular songs would mention Jesus, that’s a good place to start. The cognitive dissonance created by realizing the huge difference between what the Gospels report the actual (if you believe he was actual) man said and did and what Christian churches in general say and do compels many artists to explore the issue lyrically. That’s a good point. I do think that’s why a lot of them do it. Anyone else have thoughts about these songs? I was hoping for this thread to have more discussion in addition to listing songs. I didn’t make that very clear in my OP though. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/10 "2004-10-25T03:31:40Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > “Jesus Christ, Football Star” by Martin Mull The same Martin Mull who was on _Roseanne_? “Can’t Hardly Wait” by the Replacements (“Jesus rides besides me/but he never buys any smokes”) “Jesus Loves You (But Not as Much as I Do)” by Eve’s Plum “Jesus Says” by Ash “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam” by the Vaselines “Jesus of Suburbia” by Green Day Also the band Jesus and Mary Chain isn’t a religious band. Or Jesus Jones. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/11 "2004-10-25T03:50:25Z")
If all you need is songs that MENTION the name “Jesus,” regardless of context, I can think of dozens. 1. Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” features the lines: “Jesus freaks out in the street Handing tickets out for God Turning back she just laughs The boulevard is not that bad” 1. James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”: “Won’t you look down upon me, Jesus? You’ve got to help me make a stand.” 1. King Crimson’s “In the Wake of Poseidon”: “Their children kneel in Jesus til they learn the price of nails, while all around our Mother Earth lies balanced on the scales.” 1. Dire Straits’ “Industrial Disease”: “I go down to speaker’s corner. I’m thunderstruck. They got free speech, tourists, police in trucks. Two men say they’re Jesus- one of them must be wrong. There’s a protest singer singing a protest song.” 1. Don Henley’s “If Dirt Were Dollars”: “Flying back from Lubbock, I saw Jesus on the plane. Or maybe it was Elvis. You know, they kinda look the same.” 1. The Rolling Stones’ “Far Away Eyes”: “I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield, Listening to gospel music on the colored radio station. And the preacher said, you know you always have the Lord by your side. And I was so pleased to be informed of this that I ran 20 red lights in his honor. Thank you Jesus! Thank you, Lord!” ---
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/12 "2004-10-25T03:52:29Z")
Jesus is just alright- Doobie Brothers ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/13 "2004-10-25T03:58:40Z")
Sheryl Crow, “Am I Getting Through” _Jesus loves me I know/for my mom told me so_ U2, “One” _Have you come here to play Jesus to the lepers in your head_ ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/14 "2004-10-25T04:04:21Z")
Cake - “Jesus wrote a blank check” ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/15 "2004-10-25T04:12:59Z")
_Men At Work_ have that song that goes: Don’t ask me to pray to Jesus/ I never met the man And then of course there’s… Jesus/ Get off the notorious/ Penis 😃 ---
**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:** [October 25, 2004, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/16 "2004-10-25T05:47:41Z")
“Free Falling” has the line “She loves Jesus/ and America too” They Might Be Giants’ “Kiss me, Son of God” isn’t particularly religious, either. Who the heck did “Plastic Jesus”? If indirect mentions (not by name) count, then in “American Pie” you have “The three men I admire the most/ The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”. And “Mrs. Robinson” has the line “Jesus loves you more than you can know”, but that seems sincere, so that line at least might be considered religious. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/17 "2004-10-25T05:54:15Z")
ZZ Top - _Jesus Just Left Chicago_? ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/18 "2004-10-25T06:05:27Z")
Marilyn Manson’s got some. _Cruci-fiction in Space_: “If Christ was in Texas / The hammer, the sickle, the only son.” _Lamb of God_: “There was Christ in the metal shell / there was blood on the pavement / the camera will make you god / that’s how Jack became sainted.” Many, _many_ references to god or to Christ by various titles, but rather few specific mentions of his name (though I guess _Christ_ is itself a title). ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/19 "2004-10-25T06:14:36Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > If all you need is songs that MENTION the name “Jesus,” regardless of context, I can think of dozens. > > 1. Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” features the lines: > > “Jesus freaks out in the street > Handing tickets out for God > Turning back she just laughs > The boulevard is not that bad” Elton John, “Levon” Levon wears his war wound like a crown He calls his child jesus `cause he likes the name And he sends him to the finest school in town Levon, levon likes his money He makes a lot they say Spend his days counting In a garage by the motorway He was born a pauper to a pawn on a christmas day When the new york times said God is dead And the war’s begun Alvin tostig has a son today And he shall be levon And he shall be a good man And he shall be levon In tradition with the family plan And he shall be levon And he shall be a good man He shall be levon Levon sells cartoon balloons in town His family business thrives Jesus blows up balloons all day Sits on the porch swing watching them fly And jesus, he wants to go to venus Leaving levon far behind Take a balloon and go sailing While levon, levon slowly dies ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/20 "2004-10-25T06:53:22Z")
\*Man in the Box \* by Alice in Chains [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981.md?page=2)