• AOL
  • MAIL
    • You might also like: 
    • Music | 
    • Movies | 
    • TV | 
    • Celebrity News | 
    •  and More
    Sign In / Register
Spinner
  • Main
  • Spinner RPM
  • Features
    • The Hit List
    • Spinner Interview
    • Music Appreciation
  • Songs
    • Free MP3 of the Day
    • Play Full Albums Free
  • Videos
    • The Interface
    • Sessions
    • Video of the Day
    • All Videos
  • Radio
    • AOL Radio
    • AOL Radio Toolbar
    • Shoutcast
  • AOL Music Sites
    • The Boot
    • The Boombox
    • NoiseCreep
    • AOL Music Blog
  • Artists
  • Tours
  • Grammys
  • Send Feedback
  • Beyonce Super Bowl

    PETA Lashes Out at Beyonce
  • Skrillex

    Skrillex Signs Las Vegas Deal
  • Justin Bieber

    Watch Justin's 'SNL' Promos
  • Axl Rose

    Can You Guess This Famous Face?

Spinner Exclusives

  • The Interface - Live Performances
  • MP3 of The Day Free Downloads
  • Spinner Radio
  • Listening Parties - New CDS for Free

Features

  • Top Albums of 2012
  • Best Songs 2011
  • Sad Songs
  • Bizarre Musician Deaths
  • Celebs in Music Videos

All Categories

  • After Hours(4)
  • Call and Response(2)
  • EDM(73)
  • Monthly Mixtape(8)
  • RPM Mix(5)
  • RPM MP3 of the Day(81)
  • RPM/RCRD LBL Mixtape(1)
  • A Day in the Life(6)
  • All About Jazz(96)
  • Awards(306)
  • Free MP3 Download of the Day(2029)
  • Between the Notes(38)
  • Book Club(102)
  • Celebrity Doppelganger(20)
  • Clash of the Cover Songs(52)
  • Concerts and Tours(7268)
  • Count Five(87)
  • Exclusive(6863)
  • Guest Blogger(146)
  • Holy Hell(1152)
  • I Fought the Law(168)
  • I Freakin' Love This Song(253)
  • In House(35)
  • Movies(455)
  • Music Appreciation(260)
  • New Music(1319)
  • New Releases(982)
  • News(14374)
  • News Today, Oh Boy!(764)
  • PhotoSynthesis(89)
  • Politics as Usual(99)
  • Potent Quotables(777)
  • Q + A(594)
  • Quizzes & Trivia(6)
  • R.I.P.(581)
  • Road Report(68)
  • Rock Hall(54)
  • RPM(586)
  • Spinner Says(32)
  • Spinner Interview(234)
  • Television(280)
  • The Hit List(1461)
  • Video(2058)
  • Video of the Day(1481)
  • What's That Song?(135)

Songs About Faith: 20 Tunes Rocking Religious Themes

  • Posted   by Pat Pemberton
  • Comments
Email This
Singing about religion is a risky proposition for a secular act. Skeptical lyrics have the potential to seriously offend the public (remember when radio stations banned John Lennon's 'Imagine?') and/or alienate one's own fanbase. The flip side is that overly preachy or adoring songs can sound pretty square (which is why Christian rock often sounds so much like . . . Christian rock). Yet, some of the best songs with religious themes have been penned -- with great outcomes -- by rock, soul and pop acts. We count down our 20 favorite below.
20
'Judas'
Lady Gaga (2011)
Nice guys fail again in this single, inspired by that two-faced Judas Iscariot, betrayer of Jesus. Here Gaga, who considers herself a Christian, sings about falling for the bad boy again and again. "Jesus is my virtue," she sings, "and Judas is the demon I cling to." The song is so full of Biblical allusions and images, New York Magazine recently offered a line-by-line analysis of the song's liturgical references, from Luke 7:38 to John 13:27. Already controversial, the video -- in which Gaga portrays Mary Magdalene -- is bound to raise even more Cain.
Read 'Judas' Lyrics
Lady Gaga
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
19
'Picture of Jesus'
Ben Harper With the Blind Boys of Alabama (2004)
Plenty of rock stars have lined up to collaborate with the Blind Boys. And the Boys are happy to oblige -- so long as the collaboration meets one criteria: it's got to be gospel. Harper's album with the Boys, 'There Will Be a Light,' featured plenty of original gospel, but also lots of heavenly soul and some wicked steel guitar. Here, Harper sings about keeping close to Jesus with constant reminders -- seemingly omniscient pictures of the Chosen One.
Read 'Picture of Jesus' Lyrics
Ben Harper
KMazur, WireImage
18
'Intervention'
Arcade Fire (2007)
The church organ used in this song supposedly made frontman Win Butler cry during the recording, which, appropriately, occurred in a church. While that organ might have induced a spiritual sensation, the song itself -- like the 'Neon Bible' album it appeared on -- offers no redemption and no light at the end of the tunnel. Instead, its grim lyrics suggest a sense of futility for anyone who believes God's got their back.
Read 'Intervention' Lyrics
Arcade Fire
GNA/Redferns
17
'God Is Love'
Marvin Gaye (1971)
Written after the shocking death of occasional singing partner (and rumored lover) Tammi Terrell, Gaye's groundbreaking 'What's Going On' album suggested that benevolence to man -- especially the needy -- was a spiritual obligation. "God is writing this album," Gaye, a preacher's son, reportedly told Smokey Robinson as he was writing it. "God is working through me."
Read 'God Is Love' Lyrics
Marvin Gaye
Richard E. Aaron, Redferns
16
'40'
U2 (1983)
The Irish rockers have several songs about faith. But this one is perhaps the most obvious, lifting words from the Bible's Psalms 40. The song begins, "I waited patiently for the Lord/He inclined and heard my cry." The tune was supposedly written, recorded and mixed in 40 minutes -- a miracle in the modern music business.
Read '40' Lyrics
U2
Bob King, Redferns
15
'Jesus Walks'
Kanye West (2004)
After a surviving a near-fatal car accident in 2002, West was inspired to write a rarity: a spiritual song by a secular hip-hop artist. "You appreciate all the days you get," he told BET.com. "You take one day at a time and keep God in all your rhymes." In this choir-sampling tune, West rapped, "If I talk about God, my record won't get played." But he eventually made believers out of the hip-hop industry that initially doubted the demo.
Read 'Jesus Walks' Lyrics
Kanye West
M. Caulfield, WireImage
14
'Monkey Gone to Heaven'
The Pixies (1989)
This somewhat surreal alt-rock song manages to combine environmental pollution with religion and numerology. Here, songwriter and son of Pentecostal parents Black Francis tells the tale of a man buried under 10 million pounds of ocean sludge, who later rises above it all and goes to heaven. "I've retained a lot of Bible stories, and I use them a lot," Francis told the Washington Post. "Lots of stories of sex and seduction and murder and false religions."
Read 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' Lyrics
the Pixies
Tim Hall, Redferns
13
'Dear God 2.0'
The Roots Feat. Monsters of Folk (2010)
The Roots aren't the first to wonder what kind of god would allow for terrorism, deadly natural disasters, crime and pollution. But few can do it with the blend of hip-hop and soul that the Roots deliver here. "I won't say it's questioning God," drummer Questlove told NPR last year. "I don't want to say that, you know, it's like an existentialist song or even an atheist song like, 'Do you even exist?' But, I mean, it's so hard sometimes to do right and to believe that you exist when all these things are happening in the world."
Read 'Dear God 2.0' Lyrics
the Roots
Kisby, Getty Images
12
'God Is Real'
India.Arie (2002)
Yes, bad things happen in the world, but what about natural beauty? Arie wonders just that. In response to doubters, the folky soul singer affirms her faith with this song, asking how the best things in nature could be created by anything but a higher power. "There is something that scared me about putting so much of my opinion about my spiritual views onto an album," she told NPR. "But I didn't want to be scared."
Read 'God Is Real' Lyrics
India.Arie
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
11
'I Say a Little Prayer'
Aretha Franklin (1967)
The daughter of a Baptist minister, Franklin grew up in the church and sang for her father's Detroit congregation as a child. This song, in which the narrator offers prayers to a loved one, was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick in 1967, but it's more known for Franklin's cover. Last year, Franklin credited many little prayers with helping her survive an undisclosed illness.
Read 'I Say a Little Prayer' Lyrics
Aretha Franklin
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
10
'Have a Talk With God'
Stevie Wonder (1976)
Much of the songs from Wonder's album 'Songs in the Key of Life' reflected his own history. This one reflected his deep spiritual beliefs, imploring others to connect with God as well. "I'm not a minister," he told Newsweek. "But I get the feeling that when I'm singing I'm just the vehicle."
Read 'Have a Talk with God' Lyrics
Stevie Wonder
RB, Redferns
09
'Letter to God'
Sheryl Crow (2005)
A Christian herself, Crow questions where others are taking religion in this song. Specifically, it refers to the rise in power of the religious right, which she thinks is leading the U.S. in the wrong direction. "And also that there's a judgmental attitude -- a very moralistic attitude in our country -- that's based on that sort of fanaticism," she told the Edmonton Sun.
Read 'Letter to God' Lyrics
Sheryl Crow
KMazur, WireImage
08
'Laughing With'
Regina Spektor (2009)
Indie songstress Regina Spektor draws a contrast between faith in God that kicks stronger in trying times of war, sickness and other "bad news" and non-laughing matters and the faith in God burdened by "magic" superstitions and "when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think they're 'bout to choke." Think of it as a quick-tempo theology lecture, set to a classically influenced piano pop.
Read 'Laughing With' Lyrics
Regina Spektor
Jim Dyson, Getty Images
07
'One of Us'
Joan Osborne (1995)
While some of the lyrics declare, "God is great, yeah, yeah, God is good," Christian pop stations across the country didn't think "great" when they heard the line, "What if God was one of us -- just a slob like one of us," so they refused to play it. Eric Bazillian, who wrote the song, has said it was meant to wonder what God would think if he were on the streets, seeing his creations.
Read 'One of Us' Lyrics
Joan Osborne
Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images
06
'Tears of God'
Los Lobos (1987)
Backed by rich, church-like organ sounds, this tune would fit right into a Sunday service. In it, the band advises listeners to seek God during hard times, singing, "The tears of God will show you the way -- the way to turn." "We're very religious people," Cesar Rosas told the LA Times. "We really believe in our Christianity. We're just Catholic folks."
Read 'Tears of God' Lyrics
Los Lobos
Ebet Roberts, Redferns
05
'Jesus Is Waiting'
Al Green (1973)
The song itself is like a religious experience, with Green starting out in prayer, then promoting Jesus as "the one that believes in love" -- all in that soulful, sexy Al Green kind of way. When Green released this, he was still on top of his game as a soul act. But after a distraught girlfriend committed suicide in front of him a year later, Green vowed to only sing gospel. He returned to secular tunes in 2003, but you can still hear the Rev. Al Green sing gospel at his church in Memphis every Sunday.
Read 'Jesus Is Waiting' Lyrics
Al Green
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
04
'Spirit in the Sky'
Norman Greenbaum (1969)
"You've got a friend in Jesus," Greenbaum famously sang in this hit song, intended to provide inspiration. Yet, there was a bit of confusion over one obvious fact that Greenbaum is Jewish. And the Jewish faith doesn't see Jesus as the savior. Alas, Greenbaum told the Jewish Advocate in 2001 that he had a higher calling when deciding to put Jesus in this tune. "Using Jesus in songs sold records," he said.
Read 'Spirit in the Sky' Lyrics
Norman Greenbaum
GAB Archive/Redferns
03
'Jesus is Just Alright'
The Doobie Brothers (1972)
Originally recorded by the Byrds in 1969, this cover features guitarist Pat Simmons preaching, "Jesus, he's my friend. He took me by the hand." Although the Doobies weren't overly religious themselves, believers would storm to the front of the audience whenever the band performed this live and throw scriptures onto the stage.
Read 'Jesus is Just Alright' Lyrics
the Doobie Brothers
Gijsbert Hanekroot, Getty Images
02
'Turn! Turn! Turn!'
The Byrds (1965)
The Byrds covered folk pioneer Pete Seeger, who had covered the Bible. Sort of. Borrowing liberally from the Book of Ecclesiastes, Seeger sang about beginnings and endings, noting that there is a time to laugh, a time to weep, a time to be born and a time to die. Then he closed the song with his own lyric: "a time for peace, I swear it's not too late." For the Byrds, this cover was clearly a time to reap -- it became their second No. 1 single.
Read 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' Lyrics
the Byrds
Gijsbert Hanekroot, Redferns
01
'Like a Prayer'
Madonna (1989)
It was fitting that a singer named Madonna would write a song with gospel themes. But many churchgoers refused to welcome Madge with open arms after the release of this song, which seemed to be about Madonna's Catholic upbringing with a metaphor about a kneeling sex act. The video, complete with burning crosses and stigmata, added fuel to the fire.
Read 'Like a Prayer' Lyrics
Madonna
Paul Natkin, WireImage
Sad Songs
  • Filed under: News, Exclusive, The Hit List
  • Email This

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum
41

43 Comments

Filter by:
Steve Gillette

Sorry, DP.

Wednesday at 2:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Steve Gillette

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord, Give Me Love, What is Life, Here Comes the Sun. & Waiting on You Alll w/ Billy Preston.

And "The Lord's Prayer" from the early 70's.

Wednesday at 2:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Steve Gillette

No George Harrison ? My Sweet Lord, Give Me Love, What is Life.

Or The Lord's Prayer from the 70's.

Wednesday at 2:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Jhe Nou

Fantastic blog! I happen to be a daily visitor to your site of this website. Just wanted to say I appreciate your blogs and am looking forward for more to come!
http://naturalcoloncleansingfacts.com/

July 28 2011 at 7:09 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Gabrielcameron Smith

I love music and its a great post.
http://musclexedgereview.com/

July 15 2011 at 6:09 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Careycook Smith

it is so interesting blog, i have read it , so amazing.
http://musclexedgesite.com/

July 12 2011 at 1:52 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
dianeg3415

Boney M - Rivers of Babylon?

May 21 2011 at 8:45 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
whpresley

I am an 80 year old English Methodist lay preacher. After reading this,
I see I must widen my horizons a little. God bless and guide them all.

May 21 2011 at 5:33 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
hirondelle23

.. and "Mary Had A Baby" by Mary Hopkin..

May 21 2011 at 3:35 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
hirondelle23

Try "In The Upper Room" by Mahalia Jackson - on YouTube.

May 21 2011 at 3:32 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Load more comments

Follow Us

  • Newsletter
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Sign Up for Spinner's Newsletter! Get free MP3s, play a selection of each week's new albums free, read features, win sweet music swag and more!

  • Contact Us
  • Send News Tips
  • Advertise with Us

SIGN UP FOR SPINNER'S NEWSLETTER

  • Get free MP3s, play a selection of each week's new albums free, read features, win sweet music swag and more!

  • Sign Up!

AOL Radio

Listen to AOL Radio Now
play arrow
Top Indie - Today's best indie rock and pop
play arrow
Indie Rock Mix - A mix of new and old indie rock
play arrow
New Indie First - The latest in indie music
Online Radio Guide

Listen to Full CDs

  • Jim James, 'Regions of Light and Sound of God'
  • Eels, 'Wonderful, Glorious Eels'
  • The Virginmarys, 'King of Conflict'
  • The Bronx, 'The Bronx IV'
  • Nico Vega, 'Fury Oh Fury'
  • Play More Albums Free

Most Popular

  • Willow Smith, 'Annie': Singer Walks Away From Movie Role ... But Why?
    Like

    1K

  • Mindy McCready Committed to Treatment Facility After Children Taken by Child Services -- Report
    Like

    128

  • Selena Gomez, Airport Fan Encounter: Star Makes Unexpected Move at LAX
    Like

    34

  • CBS Grammy Memo Forbids Bare Breasts, Buttocks, Nipples, Genitals, Etc.
    Like

    709

  • Marilyn Manson Collapses on Stage (VIDEO)
    Like

    231

  • Kate Upton Scores Her Second Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover!
    Like

    283

  • King Gordy Shot Five Times in Detroit
    Like

    95

  • The Abominable Snowman And More Fashion Fails This Week
    Like

    31

  • Lady Gaga Backstage Rider: Strawberry Jam, Special K and a 'Mannequin With Puffy Pink Pubic Hair'
    Like

    56

  • WATCH: Celebrities Falling. Ouch!
    Like

    1K

  • Donald Byrd Dead: Legendary Jazz Musician Dies at 80
    Like

    455

  • Artists Perplexed By Interest In Bush's Self-Portraits
    Like

    2K

  • Kenny Chesney 'Pirate Flag' Video Premiere
    Like

    14K

  • LOOK: ER Doctor's Sweet Letter To Family May Make You Cry
    Like

    2K

  • Beyonce, Super Bowl Outfit: Singer's Leather Look Slammed by PETA
    Like

    70

  • You Won't Believe What's In Their Basement
    Like

    109

  • Classroom Aide Had Sex With 14-Year-Old '40 Times': Cops
    Like

    1K

  • New Survey Discovers What Singles Care Most About Appearance
    Like

    322

  • Mars Rover Spots Metallic 'Robot Arm' Sticking Out Of A Rock
    Like

    10K

  • Manhunt For Ex-Cop Suspected Of Killing 3 Intensifies
    Like

    3K

  • 10 Jobs Where You're Most Likely To Hook Up With Co-Workers
    Like

    1K

  • Family Sues Disneyland Over Reportedly Racist Rabbit
    Like

    823

  • Actress Called 'Tractor-Sized' 'Hippo' In Scathing Movie Review
    Like

    3K

  • Bad Day At The Office For Beyonce?
    Like

    604

  • Young Woman Accused Of Witchcraft Burned Alive In Front Of Child
    Like

    10K

  • READ The Disturbing Manifesto Of At-Large Cop 'Killer'
    Like

    8K

  • 'Dog-Sized' Raccoons Reach New Heights
    Like

    396

  • Michelle Williams Breaks Super Bowl Silence
    Like

    676

  • The Ever-Changing Face Of Lil Kim
    Like

    622

  • Manhunt Underway For Alleged Cop Killer
    Like

    13K

  • Blizzard Barrels Towards New England
    Like

    2K

  • WATCH: Come On, Bill
    Like

    3K

Also on AOL

Quick Links

  • Slipknot Masks
  • Saddest Songs
  • Funny Music Videos
  • SXSW 2011

Also on AOL Music

  • Concert Tickets
  • Grammys 2012
  • Music Videos
  • New Music Releases

Blogs on AOL

  • Country Music
  • Hip Hop Music
  • Metal Music
  • Pop Music News

More on AOL

  • Best Lyrics
  • Best Metal Songs
  • Break Up Songs
  • Online Radio

More on AOL

  • Christmas Music
  • Classic Rock Songs
  • Best Songs of 2010
  • SHOUTcast

Help Links

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Trademarks
  • About Our Ads
  • Follow Spinner on Twitter
  • The Interface
  • Free MP3
  • Full CDs
  • RSS

Spinner.com © 2013 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.