# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/21 "2004-10-25T07:16:34Z")
First line in Prince’s “Thunder” – Thunder/ All through the night/ Promise to see Jesus in the morning light/ Take My hand / It’ll be all right /C’mon, save your soul tonight. There’s lots of faux-religious imprecations and imagery but nothing in the song is remotely treated as sacred, holy or a praisesong. ---
**Author:** ![boobooruboo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boobooruboo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boobooruboo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/22 "2004-10-25T07:24:32Z")
Drop Kick Me, Jesus by Bobby Bare Jesus Was Way Cool by King Missile They Ain’t Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore by Kinky Friedman Are You Drinking With Me Jesus? by The Beat Farmers ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/23 "2004-10-25T08:45:29Z")
Two Eltons (or Bernies) mentioned thus far: \*Tiny Dancer \* and _Levon_. There was also a later one: the title cut from _Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy_. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/24 "2004-10-25T08:55:13Z")
Another mention for Don Henley, from “The Last Resort” - two actually: ‘And you can leave it all behind and sail to Lahaina Just like the missionaries did, so many years ago. They even built a neon sign that said “Jesus is coming”, They brought the white man’s burden down They brought the white man’s reign’ following shortly after: 'Some rich men came and raped the land Nobody caught 'em Put up a bunch of ugly boxes, and Jesus, people bought ‘em’ Must have been in his religious phase. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/25 "2004-10-25T10:13:50Z")
**Live** - [Operation Spirit (the tyranny of Tradition)](http://www.lyricscafe.com/l/live/operationspiritthetyrannyoftradition.htm) > [@](#): > > _Heard a lot of talk about this Jesus > A man of love, and a man of strength > But what a man was two thousand years ago > means nothing at all to me today_ **U2** - [Wake Up dad man](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/u2/wakeupdeadman.html) > [@](#): > > _Jesus, Jesus help me > I’m alone in this world > And a fucked up world it is too_ ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/26 "2004-10-25T10:35:15Z")
The Hooters - [_Living in the Shadow of Jesus_](http://www.songlyricscollection.com/h/The%20Hooters/Out%20of%20Body/Shadow%20of%20Jesus%20lyrics.htm) Unlike some of the other songs listed already, Jesus doesn’t just get a passing mention here - it’s about a relationship torn apart by widely differing feelings about religion. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/27 "2004-10-25T10:56:18Z")
J **esus, He knows me** by Genesis is a song about the televangelist scandals in the late 1980s ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/28 "2004-10-25T11:24:02Z")
Lots of different people apparently. But originally, Ernie Marrs: [http://www.commonplacebook.com/songs/plasticjesus.shtm](http://www.commonplacebook.com/songs/plasticjesus.shtm) > [@Chronos](#): > > … > > Who the heck did “Plastic Jesus”? > > … ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/29 "2004-10-25T11:57:53Z")
“Don’t wanna talk, talk about Jesus – just wanna see his face.” (The Stones) ---
**Author:** ![jinty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jinty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jinty)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/30 "2004-10-25T12:05:27Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > 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… > _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. On Jeff Mangum’s “Live at Jitter Joe’s” there’s a lot of banter with the audience. At one point, one of them asks for the “Jesus Christ” song, and Mangum eventually plays it after saying something like “I’m not one of those, y’know… I’m just as confused about it as everybody else” so I guess it is secular. Also, a lot of the “In the Aeroplane over the Sea” album is about Anne Frank, and (my guess) in this case perhaps the song is supposed to reflect her beliefs rather than the songwriter’s. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/31 "2004-10-25T12:38:04Z")
Tom Waits , “Chocolate Jesus” Modest Mouse, “Jesus Christ was an only Child” PJ Harvey, “Taut” ---
**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:** [October 25, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/32 "2004-10-25T12:43:45Z")
Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne” And Jesus was a sailor When he walked upon the water And he spent a long time watching From his lonely wooden tower. And when he knew for certain Only drowing men could see him. He said “All men shall be sailors then Untll the sea shall free them.” But he himself was broken Long before the sky would open. Forsaken, almost human He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone. And you want to travel with him, And you want to travel blind. And you think maybe you’ll trust him Cause he’s touched your perfect body with his mind. Also “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which is not religious. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/33 "2004-10-25T12:54:14Z")
John Prine wrote “Jesus: The Missing Years” and named the whole (Grammy-winning) album after it. It’s worth a listen. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2004, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/34 "2004-10-25T13:00:43Z")
Tom Paxton’s “Jesus Christ SRO.” ---
**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, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/35 "2004-10-25T14:32:18Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > The same Martin Mull who was on _Roseanne_? Yes. Martin is an accomplished visual artist and songwriter who released several albums in the early 70s. His best album is probably “Martin Mull and his Fabulous Furniture Live in Your Living Room,” with “Deuling Tubas,” “(How Could I Not Miss) A Girl Your Size,” “Ukelele Blues,” “2001 Polka,” and “Licks Off Of Records,” plus he had realeased singles like “Santa Doesn’t Cop Out on Dope.” Funny stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/36 "2004-10-25T14:41:29Z")
**"Sam Stone"** by John Prine: _There’s a hole in Daddy’s arm Where the money goes And Jesus Christ died for nothing I suppose_ **"You Are Loved"** by Victoria Williams: _Jesus walked on the water He turned the water into wine He went down to the drunkards To tell them everything was fine_ **"Long Haired Country Boy"** by Charlie Daniels: _Jesus walked on the water I know that it’s true But sometimes I think that preacher man Would like to do a little walkin’ too_ ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/37 "2004-10-25T14:46:36Z")
Oh yeah, and an indirect mention in \*\*“She Talks to Angels” by The Black Crowes: _She keeps a lock of hair in her pocket She wears a cross around her neck Yes, the hair is from the little boy And the cross is someone she has not met, not yet_ ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/38 "2004-10-25T15:06:47Z")
> [@mouthbreather](#): > > Modest Mouse, “Jesus Christ was an only Child” That title reminds me that Jesus also pops up in “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” by Smashing Pumpkins. The line is “Jesus was an only son.” That band also did an EP called Pisces Iscariot, which is sort of a Biblical thing I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/39 "2004-10-25T15:09:23Z")
_Nailed_ from Hedwig and the Angry Inch. _Jesus in a Camper Van_ by Robbie Williams. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981/40 "2004-10-25T15:09:54Z")
astorian, yesterday at church, the guest speaker said “the Lord is on your side” and I immediately thought- “I was so pleased to be informed of this that I ran 20 red lights in his honor. Thank you Jesus! Thank you, Lord!” _G_ now to the OP, Nirvana/Kurt Cobain had a song with the line “Jesus doesn’t want me for a sunbeam.” Leonard Cohen’s “Closing Time”- “the whole damn place goes crazy twice and it’s once for the devil and once for Christ”, and “The Future”- “Give me Christ and give me Hiroshima” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secular-songs-that-mention-jesus/270981.md?page=3)