songs about Jesus that aren't christian rock songs, hymns, or gospel songs

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any pop/rock songs about the savior?

― bsj30 (bsj30), Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:12 (twenty years ago)

I could be wrong about this, but I think making a song about Jesus automatically drops it in the gospel slot. I mean, unless it's militantly anti-jesus or something.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:15 (twenty years ago)

Jesus, by the Velvet Underground

― jz, Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:16 (twenty years ago)

Jesus Was Way Cool, by King Missile

― kaygee (kaygee), Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:34 (twenty years ago)

"Jesus Walks", obviously.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:36 (twenty years ago)

"Jesus He Knows Me" by Genesis. That's hardly a Christian rock song.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:37 (twenty years ago)

The Byrds, Jesus Is Just Alright
Judee Sill, Jesus Was a Carpenter

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:38 (twenty years ago)

"Jesus Christ" by Big Star

― James, Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:38 (twenty years ago)

"They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore" by Kinky Friedman (himself a Jew).

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:40 (twenty years ago)

Popol Vuh, The Christ Is Near

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:41 (twenty years ago)

Violent Femmes - Jesus Walking On The Water

― mzui (mzui), Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:51 (twenty years ago)

Walking With Jesus - Spacemen 3

― Ah! The Feinbos! (kate), Thursday, 5 January 2006 14:52 (twenty years ago)

Sugar "J.C. Auto"

― James, Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:03 (twenty years ago)

You Don't Know Jesus - Mogwai - an instrumental (apart from some muffled shouts here and there I think). I suppose instrumentals can be religious (obviously) but I don't know if this is...

The Ballad of Jim Jones - Brian Jonestown Massacre mentions Jesus.

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:04 (twenty years ago)

"Kooler Than Jesus" My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult

― elgin again (golf and games), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:04 (twenty years ago)

Jesus was a terorist - Dead Kennedys

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:06 (twenty years ago)

John Prine's got lots, "Jesus don't killing, no matter what the reasons for" from "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" and "Everybody" where "I bumped into the Savior, and he said, 'pardon me'/I said, 'Jesus, look tired'/he said, 'Jesus, so do you'"

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:07 (twenty years ago)

Elton John, "Levon"

Artist unknown, "Dashboard Jesus"

Jefferson Airplane, "Son of Jesus" and "Easter?"

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:11 (twenty years ago)

Simon Finn "Jerusalem"

― Tripmaker (SDWitzm), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:27 (twenty years ago)

I could be wrong about this, but I think making a song about Jesus automatically drops it in the gospel slot

This is wrong. Gospel is a distinct musical style, otherwise Amy Grant would have been considered a gospel singer.

I'd also like to point out that the thread question does not rule out masses, requiems, motets, cantatas, oratorio works or anthems, ergo my list:

"Crucifixus" - Lotti
"Requiem" - Howells (specifically Psalm 23)
"Requiem" - Brahms (specifically movements II, V and VI)
"Requiem" - Mozart (specifically "Kyrie" and "Lacrymosa")
"Requiem" - Verdi (specifically "Dies irae" and "Lacrymosa")
"Mass for Double Choir" - Martin (specifically "Credo" and "Agnus Dei")
"Alleluia" - Thompson
"Hear My Prayer, O Lord" - Purcell
"Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied" - Bach
"Jesu, meine Freude" - Bach
Cantata 140 - Bach (specifically the first soprano-bass duet)
"Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz" - Brahms

― Dan (Etc Etc) Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:29 (twenty years ago)

"Mary" by Lou Barlow (funny song)

― silence dogood (catcher), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:31 (twenty years ago)

The key one by Prine is "Jesus The Missing Years."

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:40 (twenty years ago)

that horrible modest mouse song

― cutty (mcutt), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:43 (twenty years ago)

wilco, jesus etc.

― sibsi (sibsi), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:46 (twenty years ago)

Dead Milkmen, I Dream of Jesus

― phil d. (Phil D.), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:48 (twenty years ago)

Tsk, 20+ replies and no one's mentioned Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode.

Jesusland by Ben Folds is obliquely about Jesus - or at least the Mid-west American conception of him.

― klee (klee), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:48 (twenty years ago)

"Jesus Drove a Motor Home" - Jim White

― Cliftonb, Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:49 (twenty years ago)

"Jesus Built My Hotrod" - Ministry

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:50 (twenty years ago)

The key one by Prine is "Jesus The Missing Years."
Ha ha, I completely forgot that one, even though it's probably one of my top five Prine songs ever.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:56 (twenty years ago)

"Personal Jesus" isn't actually about Jesus, though.

― Dan (For Reals) Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 5 January 2006 15:57 (twenty years ago)

I was about to ask if we're listing (again) songs that mention Jesus or songs that are actually about Jesus.

― D.I.Y. U.N.K.L.E. (dave225.3), Thursday, 5 January 2006 16:02 (twenty years ago)

"Jesus Don't Want Me For A Sunbeam" - The Vaselines

― Ron Mexico (Ron Mexico), Thursday, 5 January 2006 17:35 (twenty years ago)

"Gloria" by Patti Smith

― Ron Mexico (Ron Mexico), Thursday, 5 January 2006 17:38 (twenty years ago)

Violent Femmes - Jesus Walking On The Water

Um, I hate to break it to you, but this one is gospel. Whether or not it's supposed to be ironic is beside the point.

The Flaming Lips have an entire cycle of songs with subtitles like "Jesus Song No. 6," none of which fit into the categories mentioned.

― martin m. (mushrush), Thursday, 5 January 2006 17:41 (twenty years ago)

I thought Gano was a sincere Bible freak.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Thursday, 5 January 2006 17:47 (twenty years ago)

That whole new Page France record is about Jesus, yet somehow I can overlook that, since I love it.

― schwantz (schwantz), Thursday, 5 January 2006 18:07 (twenty years ago)

The Cure - "The Blood"

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Thursday, 5 January 2006 18:19 (twenty years ago)

If I Was The Priest--Bruce Springsteen

Great early song with biblical imagery.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Thursday, 5 January 2006 18:24 (twenty years ago)

"The Blood" isn't about Jesus, either!

― Dan ("Blood Of Christ" = Wine) Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 5 January 2006 18:33 (twenty years ago)

The Jesus Songs album by The Broken Family Band

― jellybean (jellybean), Thursday, 5 January 2006 18:35 (twenty years ago)

that nas song fits here, right? the one where he identifies with jesus?*

*perhaps this is several nas songs

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Thursday, 5 January 2006 18:40 (twenty years ago)

"Turn Blue": "Jesus, this is Iggy."

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 5 January 2006 18:48 (twenty years ago)

jesus christ pose by soundgarden

― naturemorte, Thursday, 5 January 2006 20:13 (twenty years ago)

"The Blood" isn't about Jesus, either!
-- Dan ("Blood Of Christ" = Wine) Perry ([email protected]), January 5th, 2006 1:33 PM.

I know but the wine was about Jesus! I think the actual wine that inspired him was called Lagrimas Del Christo (Tears Of Christ). Anyway, great song! (x-post)

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Thursday, 5 January 2006 20:25 (twenty years ago)

"gay messiah" by rufus wainwright

― phil turnbull (philT), Thursday, 5 January 2006 20:27 (twenty years ago)

Neutral Milk Hotel's "king of carrot flowers pt. 2" has got some christ-talk, methinks..

― jack l, Thursday, 5 January 2006 20:32 (twenty years ago)

"He Was God" by Big Dipper

― DW, Thursday, 5 January 2006 20:36 (twenty years ago)

Oodles of Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, obviously

Contemporaries who sing His praises, in some form or another: Neutral Milk Hotel, Palace / Will Oldham, the whole Dark Holler scene, Wooden Wand, Low - don't see any of those folks as churchgoers. I could be wrong though.

― Hank Hill, Thursday, 5 January 2006 23:04 (twenty years ago)

"Kiss Me, Son of God" by They Might Be Giants.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Thursday, 5 January 2006 23:25 (twenty years ago)

And, okay, fine, it's about someone with a superiority complex, but it's as close to being "about" Jesus as "Personal Jesus" is. And it'd fit just fine in a holiday program.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Thursday, 5 January 2006 23:26 (twenty years ago)

that Woody Guthrie song, "Jesus Christ", where he sings (paraaphrasing) "it was the landlords and the cops that nailed Jesus to the cross".

Boy, there are a LOT of songs that fit the thread's criteria.

― sleeve (sleeve), Thursday, 5 January 2006 23:28 (twenty years ago)

where is the slayer?

― wolves (wolves), Thursday, 5 January 2006 23:45 (twenty years ago)

"Jesus and Tequila", Minutemen.

And aren't Low mormon, or something like that?

― Eggzakly Huhh? (zachary v.), Friday, 6 January 2006 05:58 (twenty years ago)

Jesus Gonna Be Here - Tom Waits

― flannelmouthed, Friday, 6 January 2006 06:23 (twenty years ago)

Silver Jews - "Rebel Jew"

― A|ex P@reene (Pareene), Friday, 6 January 2006 06:34 (twenty years ago)

Current 93 "Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in Sorrow"
Nervous Gender "Confession" aka "Jesus' Clone"
Black Sabbath "After Tomorrow"
Crass "Reality Asylum"
Dying Fetus "Praise the Lord"
Rudimentary Peni "Army of Jesus"
The Locust "Get Off the Cross, the Wood Is Needed"
Slayer "Jesus Saves"

― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), Friday, 6 January 2006 06:58 (twenty years ago)

Sir Lord Baltimore, "Man From Manhattan"
Kinky Friedman, "High On Jesus"
ZZ Top, "Jesus Just Left Chicago"
Leadbelly (? - Koerner, Ray & Glover, anyways), "Mumblin' Word"

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 6 January 2006 09:02 (twenty years ago)

"Jesus To a Child" anyone?

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 6 January 2006 12:12 (twenty years ago)

Tool - "Eulogy"

― Hat (Hat), Friday, 6 January 2006 13:31 (twenty years ago)

Close-ish: "Mary" by Langhorne Slim

― Tarpley (Tarpley), Friday, 6 January 2006 20:08 (twenty years ago)

Couple New Order ones.

― öROXYMUZAKö (roxymuzak), Friday, 6 January 2006 20:09 (twenty years ago)

how has no one mentioned the Flaming Lips classic "Jesus Shooting Heroin"???

― davelus (davelus), Friday, 6 January 2006 20:27 (twenty years ago)

Bicycle's "Oh Jesus I'm Dying," unless that's cribbed from some traditional source or something.

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 7 January 2006 00:25 (twenty years ago)

danny wilson "summer of love"
jesus in calico ,jesus in the rain

― retroboy, Saturday, 7 January 2006 11:39 (twenty years ago)

'Jesus' by Spinmaster Plantpot

― marianna (mariannapm), Saturday, 7 January 2006 11:59 (twenty years ago)

"Ye Sleeping Knights of Jesus" by Robyn Hitchcock

― clotpoll, Sunday, 8 January 2006 03:29 (twenty years ago)

that Woody Guthrie song, "Jesus Christ", where he sings (paraaphrasing) "it was the landlords and the cops that nailed Jesus to the cross".

sung to the tune (and lifting words from) "Jesse James," unless "Jesse James" was based on "Jesus Christ," which I doubt.

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Monday, 9 January 2006 02:04 (twenty years ago)

Leanord Cohen - "Suzanne"

― weather1ngda1eson (Brian), Monday, 9 January 2006 03:00 (twenty years ago)

Calvin Johnson f/Beth Ditto "Lightning Rod for Jesus"

― Charming Tedious, Tuesday, 10 January 2006 19:30 (twenty years ago)

four months pass...

Jesus Children of America - Stevie Wonder

I Would Die 4 U - Prince

Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz

― Denise Montgomery, Wednesday, 24 May 2006 15:14 (twenty years ago)

i would die 4 u ?

really?

― pisces (piscesx), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 15:28 (twenty years ago)

i would die 4 u ?

really?

-- pisces (damien.johnston...), May 24th, 2006.

Yep... so they say. Also, "A Man Called Jesus" by Prince.

― Denise Montgomery, Wednesday, 24 May 2006 15:43 (twenty years ago)

Todd Edwards owns this thread.

"Saviour Tonight"
"Sweet Jesus"
"God Will Be There"
"Light of the Son"
"Be a Friend (God calling remix)"
"Saved My Life"
remix of Phoenix "If I Ever Feel Better" (Somebody took my place / Jesus took my place)
etc etc

― scnnr drkly (scnnr drkly), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 16:08 (twenty years ago)

Screaming Blue Messiahs, "Jesus Chrysler Drives A Dodge"

― hank (hank s), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 16:24 (twenty years ago)

Loudon Wainwright III "I am the Way"

― Tripmaker (SDWitzm), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 16:33 (twenty years ago)

Loose Fur - "Ruling Class"

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 16:40 (twenty years ago)

Jesus Was Born on an Indian Reservation - Big Stick
Jesus Never Lived On Mars - The Lee Harvey Oswald Band
Cross of Jesus - Jennyanykind (like Jesus Walking on the Water, this could be taken as gospel, depending on author's intentions)
Nailing Jesus to the Cross - The Moles
King Jesus - Vodka
Come On Down Jesus - John Kongos (totally great, very late-VU sounding track that does go slightly gospel on the chorus, but I think it'd be classed as rock)

― dlp9001 (dlp9001), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 17:10 (twenty years ago)

http://www.yardwear.net/blog/content/binary/jesus-south-park.jpg

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 18:42 (twenty years ago)

Low - "If You Were Born Today"

"Kiss Me, Son of God" by They Might Be Giants

"I look like Jesus / or so they say"

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 19:10 (twenty years ago)

The Waterboys - A Pagan Place

― Palomino (Palomino), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 20:18 (twenty years ago)

Quote Jarvis Cocker:

"I'm not Jesus, but I have the same initials"

(One of the most brilliant lyrical lines ever IMO)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 20:24 (twenty years ago)

Phoenix from the Flames - Robbie Williams.
"Jesus in a camper van...."

I Have Forgiven Jesus - Morrissey

Jesus Christ - Longpigs

― Navek Rednam (Navek Rednam), Wednesday, 24 May 2006 22:19 (twenty years ago)

"Man in Black" by Johnny Cash isn't about Jesus, but he's mentioned in very positive terms.

― shorty (shorty), Thursday, 25 May 2006 16:21 (twenty years ago)

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