God Songs
Music is a universal language. Whether you’ve come to this site a Christian, an Atheist, a Muslim or a Jew, music is a language that we all speak. I’ve tried to compose a list of musicians that speak the language AND have the bravery to add faith to the mix.
Some of the music is critical–as it should be.
Other selections glorify the beauty and vastness of God. I’ll be adding to this list regularly. Got a great song that isn’t on the list? Leave a comment so that I can add it. Enjoy!
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Forgiven by Alanis Morissette
Don’t let those pretty brown eyes fool you: Alanis has a brutal mouth. Her Jagged Little Pill album (IMO her best) houses Forgiven, a song that chronicles her experiences with confession and sin as a Catholic school girl. Her familiar yell is heard in this one, and you feel the power of her hostile claim. She wants people to know that the man behind the curtain (or wall, or shade, or whatever) has his own dirty little secrets.
Dear God by Willie D
Wille D, originally a member of The Geto Boys (this song is off his solo album) crafts a masterpiece from XTC’s original song with the same title. This song has it all: lyrics, beats, and reality. Hearing the name Geto Boys, you might expect a dirty string of words when you click play, but that’s not Willie D’s style—>well, at least not on this subject. This song is clean in that department. Willie wanted more than the usual range of listeners. I admire his courage in this department, because when it comes to faith and black people, serious scrutiny of religion is beyond taboo.
Whenever I say your name by Sting and Mary J. Blige
The first time I heard this song, I really had no idea it was religious in nature. Call it stupidity, but I just missed it. When my lightbulb moment happened though, there was no denying that this song should be on the list. These two fabulous musicians compliment each other beautifully, and the song is amazing.
Jesus gonna be here by Tom Waits
You gotta turn this one up…LOUD!! Tom wouldn’t have it any other way. His tribute to Jesus is a solid A+ here. Add to that the familiar–and sometimes cacophonous–sound of his voice, you just can’t go wrong! Jesus gonna be here comes off Waits’ “Beautiful Maladies: The Island Years” album.
The Return of a King by Ky-mani Marley
Son of the great Bob Marley, Ky-Mani’s tribute to Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930-1974. Selassie had a fondness for civil disobedience–in order to bring about social change.
Glad to see you’ve got religion by Loudon Wainwright III
Few people approach the subject of religion with such passion, and such sarcasm. Loudon blurs the lines of so many things in his music, and religion is no exception. See if you can figure out if he’s actually sincere, or being a complete ass about his friends recent conversion.
All babies by Sinead O’Connor
This song comes from her Universal Mother album. As the melody of the song builds, you are reminded of religion’s trance-like capabilities. Not only do you ride the wave of the song, but you find yourself believing in it, wanting babies to be born “saying God’s name.” Also, her belief that God is a woman is such a powerful statement against the traditional notions of who and what the creator is.
Hush by Afroman
You just have to love this song. Taken from the black spiritual “Somebody’s calling my name”, Hush (Lightning Hopkins does a blues version that’s awesome) is Afroman’s attempt to give Jesus some love! It’s interesting that he raps about weed, ladies, and money–but deep down, he has a flare for the son of God that’s too sweet not to sing along to.Enjoy!
Jesus don’t want me for a sunbean by Nirvana
When I think about how Curt Cobain left this world, this song always enters my mind. How does it feel for a person to know that they are constantly being judged? How do you respond when you’ve made choices in life that aren’t the best, but deep down, you want to be “good”? If you’re raised Christian, you invariably come to the conclusion that “Jesus doesn’t want me. I’m no good.” Not only does that not help you find peace in life, but it prevents you from having the courage to move beyond your failures.
This is the unplugged version of the song…and it’s beautiful. We miss you Curt!!
Videotape by Radiohead
Radiohead’s masterpiece opens with: “When I arrive at the pearly gates, this’ll be on my videotape…” I love this song; videotape controls you. There’s no getting away from the power of the rhythm. This one of the few songs that makes me angry as well. How nice it would be to believe such a thing; how nice it would be to know it’s validity without repose. Ah, but I’m an Atheist, and I can only enjoy the music because I have no belief in Radiohead’s pearly gates…
