I forgot that one.
I never thought of it as using his name in vain, I thought they were telling Jesus not to cry. I don’t know if that’s supposed to be sacreligious or what.
Here’s another one – “American Jesus” by Bad Religion. A criticism of religious hypocrisy, of those who believe that this country has some kind of special claim to Christ.
“Stuart” by the Dead Milkmen contains one of my all time favorite lines: “Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick!”
Then there’s Tori Amos:
Muhammed my friend,
it’s time to tell the world,
we both know it was a girl,
back in Bethlehem.
Convoy mentioned, as part of the eponymous convoy, “…and eleven long-haired friends of Jesus in a chartreuse microbus”
Slight nitpick. I don’t think “Jesus” is in the title of the album. On his website it’s listed as simply “The Missing Years.”
Rush, The Pass from Presto
“Christ, what have you done?”
There are quite a few songs by Rush that address the issue indirectly. For example: 2112, Free Will, Totem, Natural Science, Hemispheres (and Cygnus X-1 book I).
The Toadies “Possum Kingdom”
-“So help me, Jesus!”
The Flaming Lips “Thank You Jack White For the Fiber Optic Jesus That You Gave Me.”
-Contains that line, of course. And is that really the title?
Say It Aint So by Weezer
“You clean up, found Jesus. Things are good, or so I hear.”
Tori Amos: Me and a Gun
"Me and Jesus, few years back,
used to hang and he said
“It’s your choice babe, just remember,
I don’t think you’ll be back
in three days time, so you choose well.”
Pearl Jam: WMA
“Jesus greets me, looks just like me.”
The Eels: Novacaine for the Soul
Life is white and I am black. Jesus and his lawyers are coming back."
Not to forget “Do The Nothin”
Kris Kristofferson - Why Me Lord?
Although I don’t know if you’d call that ‘secular’ - It’s been pretty thoroughly adopted by various religious organizations.
Warren Zevon, surprisingly, has used Jesus in his lyrics on numerous occasions, including the titles of two songs: Jesus was a Cross Maker, and Jesus Mentioned, which is a fine song:
I’m going down to Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
I’m going down to Graceland
Thinking about the King
Remembering him sing
About those heavenly mansions
Jesus mentioned
Can’t you just imagine
Digging up the King
Begging him to sing
About those heavenly mansions
Jesus mentioned
He went walking on the water…
He went walking on the water…
He went walking on the water…
With his pills.
*
Then there’s My Ride’s Here:
*I was staying at the Marriott
With Jesus and John Wayne
I was waiting for a chariot
They were waiting for a train
The sky was full of carrion
“I’ll take the mazuma”
Said Jesus to Marion
“That’s the 3:10 to Yuma
My ride’s here…”
*
From Gorilla You’re a Desperado:
They say Jesus will find you wherever you go
But when He’ll come looking for you, they don’t know
In the mean time, keep your profile low
Gorilla, you’re a desperado
*
Jesus Hearted People, credited here to B.J. Thomas, also performed by the Atlanta Rhythm Section
Mixed emotions about these “easy-going people” back home who are too “hard-set in their ways” for the rockers’ tastes.
Sit Down Young Stranger, Gordon Lightfoot
A man who appears to be a draft dodger fleeing to Lightfoot’s native Canada during the Vietnam War is seen as a Christ figure in this ballad. Direct mention of Jesus in this verse:
That’s the song that got me into them. I heard it on the radio and thought it was just another weird song that the station plays and didn’t like it, but then I heard it again.
I looked them up, and was surprised at how well thought of they are. So I bought Yoshimi and went from there.
John Cougar Mellencamp’s’ “Small Town” says:
“Educated in a small town
Taught to fear Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic that’s me”
Two good ones: Happy In The Lord (Stackridge) and The Second Sitting For The Last Supper (10CC).
*Another Guru in the money
Another mantra in the mail
An easy way from rags to riches
God’s little acre’s up for sale
The time is right for resurrection
We think you’d better come down
The church don’t ring with hallelujahs
You haven’t been for so long
So long, so long
Two thousand years and he ain’t shown yet
We kept his seat warm and the table set
The second sitting for the Last Supper*
And while it’s doubtfully about Jesus, I’ve heard Time Has Come Today (Chambers Bros.) played on a gospel station.
Nobody’s mentioned “Jesus Ranch” by Tenacious D?
*It was a big day on Jesus Ranch, Jesus Ranch.
He was harvesting a big tomato, it was in the sand, alright.
I’m taking a walk in the woods, and it’s nice outside.
Smells of sh*t, Liga Guinggligagiggagoogwayogo.
I come upon a silver, striped mushroom and I fa la la la ly la ly.
And I fly, fly.*
There’s the entirety of Kanye West’s Jesus Walks (that link is not to a spyware/popup laden lyric site, btw, so it’s safe to click)
Also: Round Here by Counting Crows:
She parks her car outside my house
And takes her clothes off
Says she’s close to understanding Jesus
And All This Time by Sting:
And all this time the river flowed
Endlessly like a silent tear
And all this time the river flowed
Father, if Jesus exists,
Then how come he never lived here
Joools: how could you mention ‘Stuart’, but not mention The Dead Milkmen’s ‘I Dream Of Jesus’!
“Mommy she loved Jesus,
but not like others did
For she had a special bottle
in which our saviour lived.”
Kris Kristofferson: Jesus Was A Capricorn