Talented banjo player and boy-preacher Tod sent me to “She Left Me for Jesus” (go to YouTube and load it yourself as I can’t seem to create a workable link here) and that got me to thinking about all the popular (or not-so-popular) songs that sound theological to me.
Depeche Mode’s (and Johnny Cash’s) “Personal Jesus” is one, but that’s kind of obvious. I always liked Elvis’s “In the Ghetto” (surely you didn’t think a Jesus blog written by a hillbilly would go too long before mentioning The King, did you?) because even as a little kid, I heard context in that tune. There might be a reason a kid in the ghetto would grow up and do bad things. Elvis said so. The Fixx’s “How Much Is Enough” is a nice little sermon about the dangers of acquisitiveness. Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” is pure joy without getting all Jesus-y.
That’s off the top of my head. Tod? You’re the musician. What am I missing?
Understand I love the old hymns, especially the scary get-your-ass-to-church songs with lyrics like “Jesus is co-oming soon, morning or night or noon, many will meet their doom, [happy thought, that] trumpets will sound…” Give it a good strong bass and a soaring tenor and I’m there, but it always thrilled me to hear songs that could cross-over. Or maybe I’m just weird like that.
Paul Thorn’s “What Have You Done to Lift Somebody Up” on last year’s “A Long Way from Tupelo” (Perpetual Obscurity Records) fits nicely I think, as do several cuts on Susan Werner’s “The Gospel Truth,” self-released. More “this is a good way to live” than “God’s gonna getcha if you don’t watch out.”
How did I miss Paul Thorn? What a great song. You rock, Songlover.
The first obvious old one that comes to my mind is Cat Stevens’ “Morning Has Broken,” which I love and used to have on a poster. The Carpenters did it, too, and probably others.
I also think of Johnny Mathis and “A Child Is Born,” which I think was done by others, too.
Being “old” myself (ha), my mind goes far back in remembering such songs. But, you can’t get any better than listening to early Elvis.
I’ll think of some more. In the meantime, however, I guess you know I now have “Jesus is coming soon . . .” with all of it’s glorious four part harmony parts running through my head! Me singing alto, of course.
Cheers!
Dee
Oh yeah – speaking of the Carpenters (among others) – there’s “Top of the World.”
“I’m on the top of the world, looking down on creation and the only explanation I can find . . . “
Oooh, you sing alto? Me, too. I wonder if that’s just where the girls who can’t hit the high notes end up…I come from a musical family but I, sadly, am the one sour note.
Susan, I’m not a musician – I play banjo. (Seriously, there’s t-shirt.)
These come to mind for a variety of reasons and I stand by them as hymns, even if I can’t explain why.
Starting with Johnny Cash -
“Hurt”
“Sunday Morning Coming Down”
Going to another written by Kris Kristofferson, “Why me Lord.”
Dee has already mentioned “Morning Has Broken” – a song I think is lovely on the banjer.
“We Shall Overcome” – listen to Springsteen’s cover with the right frame of mind and it becomes a love song as much as a hymn. It could even be construed as a love song to God.
“This Land is Your Land” – with all the socialist, socially conscious lyrics with which few people are familiar.
“Stairway to Heaven” – the Dolly Parton cover.
“Reason to Believe” – Springsteen
“Reason to Believe” – Rod Stewart
“Night Rider’s Lament” – traditional, Garth Brooks version.
“Ghost Riders in the Sky” – just about any version.
“Brothers in Arms” – Dire Straits
“Heaven Can Wait” – Meat Loaf
“If I Had a Hammer” – Peter, Paul, and Mary
“Last Train” – Arlo Guthrie
“What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding” – Elvis Costello
“Penny Evans” – Steve Goodman
“Sam Stone” – John Prine
“Night in White Satin” – Moody Blues
And finally, for now, if only because I am in Virginia and I have to live with people that are as likely to stand for this song as they are for the Hallelujah Chorus…
“Free Bird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
I KNEW Tod would come through. I’m going to go load some of these on my IPod. Thankee! Did any one else ever read that wonderful essay about how the practice of shouting “Freebird” at concerts — certainly not just Lynyrd Skynyrd’s — got started? LOVE the Elvis Costello addition. I hadn’t thought of that one. Tod rocks.
I beg to differ with Tod: a well-played banjo (Howie Bursen, Craig Smith) makes beautiful music. Also, “Night Rider’s Lament” was written by Michael Burton, although a lot of people think it’s traditional the way they think Tom Paxton’s songs are traditional (“but I learned it at CAMP!”).
Songlover Susan, thank you. The source I had on it claimed “traditional” and I am glad to learn otherwise.
SC, you’re welcome…just don’t tell my dad how much time I am spending here. ;-)
The banjo/music dichotomy is part of the community’s self-deprecating humor. I can point you to 200+ plus banjo jokes on a single page.
However, as an example of the sheer musicality of the banjo, I urge y’all to head over to youtube and look for Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, and Tony Trishka playing “The Crow.” I will not likely ever be that good…but I play/practice 2 or 3 times a day in hopes. Most of the songs I listed are on my playlist and that should tell you something about what I really think about banjos and music.
Also, it occurred to me (when the song was playing on Sirius/XM Outlaw Country a moment ago) that Billy Joe Shaver’s “If you don’t love Jesus, go to hell” might fit…but not really one that would make my list.
I’d also like to recommend, if anyone’s really in the mood to follow up on all of this, last year’s CD by the very inventive Sparrow Quartet, featuring the aforementioned Mr. Fleck as well as Abigail Washburn on banjo, Casey Driessen on fiddle, and Ben Sollee on cello. Not your average string quartet, you betcha.
If you cite This Land is Your Land, you have to give props to Phil Ochs’ Power and the Glory. I’ve sung the following songs at our Quaker Meeting’s Christmas Eve service over the years:
John Denver’s Rhymes and Reasons
Lui Collins’ Baptism of Fire
Bob Dylan’s I Shall Be Released
Dave Mallet’s Hope for One and All
Monk’s of the Western Priory Winter’s Coming Home
Joni Mitchell’s River
Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Why Walk When You Can Fly
Just for starters…
And how could I forget “Washed By the Water,” by Needtobreathe? Shame on me.
…and Mary Chapin Carpenter’s “Late for Your Life!” A great new-year-new-resolution song.
As the list grows longer with great suggestions, more come to my mind:
Take me to the River – Talking Heads
I go Walking (After Midnight) – Patsy Cline
Infamous Angel – Iris Dement (how could i have forgotten this one?)
The Pretender – Jackson Brown
House of the Rising Sun – any
There Ain’t no Good Chain Gang – Cash and Jennings
He Stopped Loving Her Today – George Jones (a model for Christian love – someone could do an entire sermon on that song alone)
When You’re Next to Me – Mitch and Mickey
River of Dreams – Billy Joel
Presence of the Lord – Blind Faith
It probably wouldn’t surprise you that I think a lot about thematic groupings of music. I had to work to narrow my choices….otherwise Inagaddadavida would have made the list.
…and Iris’s “Let the Mystery Be!”