# Skeptic Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 5, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021 "2003-08-05T00:55:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021/41 "2003-08-07T05:42:55Z")
On the Guess Who’s Wheatfield Soul album is a track called “Friends of Mine,” with singer Burton Cummings channeling Jim Morrison. One of the stanzas: > [@](#): > > The gallows was made from a tree created by God > The man’s blood dripped into the ground which was created by God > Even the giant cloaked figure which was the man’s own end was created by God > Even the man’s soul which went down was created by God > Even the black birds which picked the man’s corpse apart were created by God > AND WHERE WAS GOD? On that last line, Cummings’ voice rises to an accusing shout. Pretty powerful stuff for an impressionable young kid back in the late 60s. The irony of it all is that Cummings got religion during his solo career and wrote a song called "I’m Scared, which included the lyrics: > [@](#): > > I’m scared Lord I’m scared I’m terrified > Never been much on religion > But I sure enough would like to hear the call > I’m scared Lordy Lord I’m shakin’ I’m petrified > Never been much on religion > But I sure enough just fell down on my knees Not sure where he stands today, but that’s what the OP stirred up in this ancient Boomer brain. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021/42 "2003-08-08T01:38:39Z")
I guess Rush’s **Tom Sawyer** might count: “His mind is not for rent, To any God or government…” In fact, a lot of Rush songs are agnostic in bent. They were followers of Ayn Rand at one point, and she hated, hated, hated religion. The second side of “Moving Pictures” has a song that’s just a picture of fear and hatred caused by superstition and mass paranoia. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021/43 "2003-08-08T03:03:00Z")
“It’s Money That I Love” - Randy Newman _I don’t love the mountains And I don’t love the sea And I don’t love Jesus He never done a thing for me_ ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021/44 "2003-08-08T03:05:43Z")
Skeptic of something…Jim Morrison shouting: “YOU CANNOT PETITION THE LORD WITH PRAYER!” ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021/45 "2003-08-08T04:16:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*The second side of “Moving Pictures” has a song that’s just a picture of fear and hatred caused by superstition and mass paranoia. \*\* Ah, yeah, “Witch Hunt.” Great song: “Quiet in conscience, calm in their right, Confident their ways are best. The righteous rise With burning eyes Of hatred and ill - will.” ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021/46 "2003-08-08T04:28:27Z")
Pretty much anything by **Gary Numan:** **This Wreckage:** “And what if God’s dead, We must have done something wrong” His latest album, **Pure** , is entirely devoted to his losing his belief in God as a result of his wife Gemma having a miscarrage. If you’re into goth/industrial type music you should look into it. Although, this too would likely count as “angry at god” music. ---
**Author:** ![Fifteen\_Iguana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Fifteen\_Iguana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fifteen_Iguana)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021/47 "2003-08-08T05:07:54Z")
Did I miss it or has no one mentioned Randy Newman’s “God’s Song?” Also his (lesser known) “He Gives Us All His Love,” which a casual listener could even think is pro-religion. And my wife would argue that “From a Distance” is skeptical. Fifteen Iguana ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021/48 "2003-08-08T14:30:16Z")
A few for you all to consider: “Dust in the Wind” (by Kansas?) Patti Smith’s “Horses”. At the end she says “Jesus died for somebody’s sins…but not mine” “Plastic Jesus”…(sitting on the dashboard of my car…surely you remember that one?) There are 2 parodies of old timey hymns which fit: “Pie in the Sky” is a parody of “In the Sweet By and By”. Very critical of hypocritical religious leaders, I think. There is also a parody of “Gimme that old time religion” which lists druidism as one of those old-time religions. The original and parody lyrics are all be in the “Sing Out” group singing song book…can’t remember the book’s actual title, but it’s really good. Check their web site or local library, I guess. By the way, Malvina Reynolds wrote songs with a skeptical tone. And to those who mentioned Tom Lehrer, isn’t he great? Deserves a revival, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021/49 "2003-08-08T15:08:40Z")
I’ve been a Tom Lehrer fan since before I knew what most of his songs meant, thanks to my parents! But onto my song–“Tomorrow, Wendy” by Concrete Blonde _I told the priest Don’t count on any second coming God got his ass kicked The first time he came down here slumming He had the balls to come The gall to die and then forgive us No, I don’t wonder why I wonder what he thought it would get us._ ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021/50 "2003-08-08T16:32:15Z")
_God’s Song_ is a great call, I’m surprised I forgot that one. Here’s an excerpt: > [@](#): > > And the lord said > "Man means nothing he means less to me > than the lowiliest cactus flower > or the humblest yucca tree > he chases round this desert > cause he thinks that’s where i’ll be > that’s why i love mankind > > I recoil in horror from the foulness of thee > from the squalor and the filth and the misery > How we laugh up here in heaven at the prayers you offer me > That’s why i love mankind" > > … > > “I burn down your cities–how blind you must be > I take from you your children and you say how blessed are we > You must all be crazy to put your faith in me > That’s why i love mankind > You really need me > That’s why i love mankind” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptic-songs/193021.md?page=2)