# Songs for Atheists **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 10, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778 "2003-09-10T15:50:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/21 "2003-09-10T21:26:22Z")
What is REM’s “Losing my Religion” about? I’ve read the lyrics, but nothing jumps out at me. Lyrics: [http://www.rlyrics.com/R\REM/LosingMyReligion.asp](http://www.rlyrics.com/R%5CREM/LosingMyReligion.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/22 "2003-09-10T21:29:50Z")
Howzabout [“God Isn’t Real”](http://robbiefulks.com/discography/songs/00035.html) by Robbie Fulks? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/23 "2003-09-10T21:36:16Z")
Smashing pumpkins - Quiet - jesus, are you listening, up there, to anything at all? We are the fossils, relics of our time, mutilate the meanings so they’re easy to deny… \* ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/24 "2003-09-10T21:55:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*What is REM’s “Losing my Religion” about? I’ve read the lyrics, but nothing jumps out at me. > > Lyrics: [http://www.rlyrics.com/R\REM/LosingMyReligion.asp](http://www.rlyrics.com/R%5CREM/LosingMyReligion.asp) \*\* Nothing to do with religion, actually. It’s about having a secret crush on someone. ---
**Author:** ![look\_hergo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85e7bf/32.png) [@look\_hergo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_hergo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/25 "2003-09-10T21:55:27Z")
Revtim: “losing your religion” as I understand it, is a southern expression for… well, maybe not _going crazy_, but slipping from societal norms, mentally. ---
**Author:** ![toque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9e8a1a/32.png) [@toque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toque)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/26 "2003-09-10T22:07:41Z")
Isn’t “What I Am” by E.D. Brickell or someone else? There’s Patti Smith’s cover of “Gloria”: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins But not mine…” ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/27 "2003-09-10T22:12:56Z")
Roll the Bones by Rush. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/28 "2003-09-10T22:15:36Z")
Fight Song by _Marilyn Manson_ is the first that comes to mind (well, actually the first was ‘Forgiven’, but we’ve already had that). _“I’m not afraid of a God that doesn’t exist”_ ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/29 "2003-09-10T22:22:50Z")
About the R.E.M. _Losing My Religion_: It’s a colloquialism meaning to be at the end of one’s tether. It’s not about religion. **Biggirl** , John Lennon was definitely not an atheist, so you may be misinterpreting the line “Imagine there’s no religion”. He was talking about organized religion, not spirituality. In a lot of cases, songwriters are railing against organized religion. It’s a step further to infer that they are declaring atheism. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/30 "2003-09-10T22:27:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr Tambo \* > \*\*It’s got to be _Everything You Know is Wrong_ by Weird Al Yankovich. The last verse is such a searing indictment of spiritual afterlife beliefs. \*\* [You’ve got to be joking.](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/weirdalyankovic/everythingyouknowiswrong.html) ---
**Author:** ![Sacrilegium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/31 "2003-09-10T22:28:24Z")
“No Believers” by **Sacred Reich** Excerpt: > [@](#): > > God doesn’t control my life > I choose me own destiny > Religion is for the weak > Your soul will die forever > Get up off your knees > There’s no God in heaven ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/32 "2003-09-10T22:29:51Z")
Here’s a really obvious one Leftover Crack - Atheist Anthem [http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/leftovercrack/atheistanthem.html](http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/leftovercrack/atheistanthem.html) > [@](#): > > From high up on yourr crucifix > You preach about my triple 6 > You spit about my this and that > And yank away your welcome mat > With a coupon jesus christ will save > So don’t you christians misbehave > 'cuz santa makes the list himself > And he’s rotting on the warehouse shelf ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/33 "2003-09-10T22:39:55Z")
I love this one! We Unitarians have it in our official songbook! Die Gedanken Sind Frei (Our Thoughts Are Free) Die Gedanken sind frei My thoughts freely flower, Die Gedanken sind frei My thoughts give me power. No scholar can map them, No hunter can trap them, No man can deny: Die Gedanken sind frei! More here at: [http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/poems/1185.html](http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/poems/1185.html) ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/34 "2003-09-10T22:47:26Z")
> [@](#): > > I didn’t think that line was intended atheistically. I always thought it was supposed to be a quote from some preacher, the gist of it being that the purpose of prayer is to praise/thank God, not to ask Him for favors. I think you’re right. It’s the best I could do on short notice. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/35 "2003-09-10T23:00:06Z")
Most **Slayer** songs 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Tambo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@Mr\_Tambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Tambo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/36 "2003-09-10T23:02:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*[You’ve got to be joking.](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/weirdalyankovic/everythingyouknowiswrong.html) \*\* Heavens, no. You’re just not looking beyond the surface. _Everything You Know is Wrong_ is a fearful journey into the heart and mind of a troubled man. Even the title suggests impermanence, paranoia and the long, dark night of the soul. It’s hard, beautiful poetry is reminiscent of Leonard Cohen, but without his happy-go-lucky sense of optimism, or Nick Drake if he had an accordion. Ah me, when will you Philistines learn? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/37 "2003-09-10T23:03:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toque \* > \*\*Isn’t “What I Am” by E.D. Brickell or someone else? > > \*\* Edie Brickell sang lead on What I Am for 10,000 Maniacs. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/38 "2003-09-10T23:35:07Z")
Michael Smith: “I’ve Suddenly Realized There Is No God So I’m Going To Go Slap Around A Crack Whore.” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/39 "2003-09-10T23:56:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*Edie Brickell sang lead on What I Am for 10,000 Maniacs. \*\* “What I Am” was by Edie Brickell and New Bohemians. Natalie Merchant was the lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778/40 "2003-09-11T00:05:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*“What I Am” was by Edie Brickell and New Bohemians. > > Natalie Merchant was the lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs. \*\* D’oh! But were either of them agnostatheist? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-for-atheists/200778.md?page=3)