# songs with philosophical themes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 5, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264 "2011-09-05T13:44:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [September 6, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/21 "2011-09-06T16:55:36Z")
[Spirits In The Material World,](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/sting+police/spirits+in+the+material+world_20132261.html) by the Police? ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/22 "2011-09-06T17:05:56Z")
[Let’s Live for Today](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnFZsrs32Co) - Grass Roots [Within You Without You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4G2RlBKbrM) - Beatles [Heavy Disguise](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkfkC2oioAs) - The Strawbs [Secret 'o Life](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhekXBbOo_Q) - James Taylor 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/23 "2011-09-06T22:03:14Z")
Mary Chapin Carpenter: “I Take My Chances” and “The Bug.” ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/24 "2011-09-06T23:17:27Z")
Really? I’m first to suggest Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life by Eric Idle? [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ) ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/25 "2011-09-07T07:09:13Z")
We really need the OP back here, to explain what exactly he or she is looking for. A “_specific_ philosophy,” eh? Most suggestions seem (to me, at least) to just be along the lines of “hey, this song is really _deep_, man” without espousing any one specific philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/26 "2011-09-08T03:04:16Z")
The song “[Nahan 'The Hidden](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-60E_tVEjXw)’” by Niyaz has lines in Persian by Jalāl al-Din Rumi, e.g.: خوش باش كه هر كه راز داند داند كه خوشى خوشى كشاند _Khosh bāsh keh har ke rāz dānad Dānad keh khoshi khoshi keshānad_ My no-frills translation: Be happy, because everyone who knows the secret Knows that happiness attracts happiness Translation that was printed on the CD cover: Rejoice, for he who knows Truth Knows that bliss begets bliss. If you can drink of life’s bitterness and laugh in the face of adversity In your soul no bitterness will remain. Did somebody say Heraclitus? And so it goes This too shall pass away It cuts so strange The only thing that stays the same Is change The only thing That stays the same Is change —Melissa Etheridge ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/27 "2011-09-08T06:23:03Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > The song “[Nahan 'The Hidden](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-60E_tVEjXw)’” by Niyaz has lines in Persian by Jalāl al-Din Rumi Speaking of songs which take their lyrics directly from a philosophical text, i.e. set philosophy to music, a couple of excellent examples would be: 1. Blood Axis’ _[Between Birds Of Prey](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-9DUR3B2pM)_, which borrows its lyrics directly from Nietzsche’s _Also Sprach Zarathustra_. (“Thou, Zarathustra, still loveth the abysses…”) 2. Current 93’s _[Imperium II](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_-892Ugp_4)_, which borrows its lyrics directly from the _Dhammapada_. (“How can there be pleasure / how can there be joy / when the whole world is burning…”) The latter track, specially, is absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful. Bring a hankie. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/28 "2011-09-08T07:46:02Z")
[“The greatest thing You’ll ever learn Is just to love And be loved In return”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_m0etqUNg0&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/29 "2011-09-08T13:56:35Z")
Patti Smith’s version of “Gloria” - not the entire song, but specifically the [prologue](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxygqSTO1lQ) she added. And then for something completely different, you can talk about [Up With People](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MO1LKPsc4I&feature=related)! ---
**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:** [September 9, 2011, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/30 "2011-09-09T13:35:24Z")
Heard one of my absolute favorites this morning: [STAND!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14yEO8nfqxE) by Sly and the Family Stone. Brillant marriage of lyrics and music. There’s a cross for you to bear. Things to go through if you’re going anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/31 "2011-09-09T13:59:44Z")
Philosophical/political: [There’s a wheel turnin’ on muddy ground](http://www.prometheus-music.com/eli/filk/wheel.html) Gains an inch every time it goes round Come on, let’s make another revolution Turn, turn, turn! – by Leslie Fish, Filker and Wobbly. She has a **lot** of philosophical/political songs. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/32 "2011-09-09T14:03:55Z")
Also by Leslie Fish: [Freedom Road:](http://www.6lyrics.com/freedom_road2-lyrics-leslie_fish.aspx) Did you think the first leader, come preachin’ down the pike, Could give you one big answer, as if we were all alike? Well, there’s no set salvation! You should have known all along, That Jesus, Marx, and your guru could be wrong! Freedom road is a long haul, Freedom road is a long haul, But it’s worth the ride, Even if you never get there at all! ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264/33 "2011-09-09T18:55:20Z")
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds —Bob Marley, “Redemption Song” (quoting Marcus Garvey) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-philosophical-themes/595264.md?page=1)