# Songs Martians Mistake as Religion **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 9, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834 "2018-05-09T00:21:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/1 "2018-05-09T00:21:58Z")
Not like Amy Grant’s “Baby Baby” (ugh). Songs for which the unsuspecting being from another planet could conceivably think the song was worship material, from a religion that the aliens had not discovered yet. First example: Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls”. (Many less-worthy religions have existed!) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/2 "2018-05-09T00:46:30Z")
[How about this sweet spiritual?](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=one+toke+over+the+line+lawrence&view=detail&mid=089F12AFCB6061541A1A089F12AFCB6061541A1A&FORM=VIRE) ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/3 "2018-05-09T00:55:22Z")
Ooooo yes I like it 🙂 I originally meant the lyrics praising or worshipping, and you’ve found one where the music is what sounds religious, but sure. I guess that “Son of a bitch, gimme a drink” song sounds pretty gospel-y. 🙂 Probably songs that sound gospel style or spiritual style but aren’t religious are fairly common, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/4 "2018-05-09T01:11:45Z")
Springsteen and the E Street Band’s live version of “Light of Day,” with the extended witnessing to the Church of Rock and Roll in the middle. That’ll make anyone a Believer! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/5 "2018-05-09T01:20:44Z")
Pinball Wizard Flashlight Whip It Paper Roses Afternoon Delight ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/6 "2018-05-09T01:23:09Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > I originally meant the lyrics praising or worshipping, and you’ve found one where the music is what sounds religious, but sure. > > I guess that “Son of a bitch, gimme a drink” song sounds pretty gospel-y. 🙂 > Probably songs that sound gospel style or spiritual style but aren’t religious are fairly common, I don’t know. As you listed a Queen song in your OP, I’ll further nominate _[Somebody to Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kijpcUv-b8M)_, for its gospel feel. And, for that matter, one _could_ interpret the lyrics as a search for a deity to worship. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/7 "2018-05-09T02:07:42Z")
I suppose [Personal Jesus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xrNaTO1bI) is out? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/8 "2018-05-09T02:41:03Z")
[First, perform the following ritualized gesture. And then perform _this_ gesture likewise. And truly put your whole self into it, for, lo, that’s what it’s all about.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s_P9PU5FcMQ) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/9 "2018-05-09T02:58:56Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [How about this sweet spiritual?](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=one+toke+over+the+line+lawrence&view=detail&mid=089F12AFCB6061541A1A089F12AFCB6061541A1A&FORM=VIRE) Notice, also, that it follows the classic chorus-verse-chorus-chorus-chorus-chorus convention of popular songwriting. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/10 "2018-05-09T03:04:39Z")
I’m thinking “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.” I can imagine the report back to Mars: "Earthlings gather in a huge house of worship to watch their priests; who, wearing holy garb, attempt to defeat priests from another house of worship, in order to establish some sort of dominance in the religious hierarchy. To encourage their priests, adherents of the local house will often chant something that sounds nonsensical, but does culminate in the Earth word, “Goodbye.” ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/11 "2018-05-09T03:09:40Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I’m thinking “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.” I can imagine the report back to Mars: > > "Earthlings gather in a huge house of worship to watch their priests; who, wearing holy garb, attempt to defeat priests from another house of worship, in order to establish some sort of dominance in the religious hierarchy. To encourage their priests, adherents of the local house will often chant something that sounds nonsensical, but does culminate in the Earth word, “Goodbye.” Hahaha Me like I never thought of that but wish I had ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/12 "2018-05-09T03:20:11Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > As you listed a Queen song in your OP, I’ll further nominate _[Somebody to Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kijpcUv-b8M)_, for its gospel feel. And, for that matter, one _could_ interpret the lyrics as a search for a deity to worship. What’s the closest thing to a god, without being one? Well, I figure it’s a superhero; and what’s the closest thing to a superhero? I figure it’s Flash Gordon, who’ll save every one of us: every man, every woman, every child… ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/13 "2018-05-09T04:22:41Z")
“We gotta get out of this place” The Animals. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/14 "2018-05-14T19:14:28Z")
_Spirit In The Sky_ The Church of The Fuzzy Guitar. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/15 "2018-05-14T19:29:45Z")
“Now You’re In Heaven” by Julian Lennon (actually about sex) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/16 "2018-05-14T20:09:06Z")
If they think ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man” is a religious song, they may think [Michael B. Jordan, Chadwick Boseman, and Daniel Kaluuya](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mzcZvxYthpE/Wn5IExR_4fI/AAAAAAABgQc/X0xqRE0iJ-4GlbSX5ZyD84jRj5XoneXqACLcBGAs/s1600/Chadwick%252C%2BDaniel%2B%2526%2BMichael.jpg) are our gods. I’m ok with that. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/17 "2018-05-14T20:27:11Z")
[Purple People Eater](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL1ZH0Ke92A) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/18 "2018-05-14T20:29:21Z")
_The Candy Man_–a reality warper capable of transforming anything into confections. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/19 "2018-05-14T20:47:06Z")
Queen again. “We Will Rock You”. After all, pretty much everyone within earshot when it plays performs a ritualized, rhythmic action throughout the song. Obviously a religious ritual. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834/20 "2018-05-15T13:09:36Z")
_Paradise By The Dashboard Light_ would be one of several songs suggesting the role of cars in religion. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-martians-mistake-as-religion/813834.md?page=2)