Guest afireinside Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I thought I would start this thread for the simple purpose of allowing people to air their spiritual and religious interpretations of mainstream or secular songs. Some secular songs have a deeper understanding of religious matters than explicitly Christian songs, sometimes there is a dual meaning and sometimes they are completely misinterpreted to speak of God/religion when they are using religious symbolism as metaphor for something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorPoet Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I remember hearing a preacher use the Alanis Morissette song "Ironic" to in an effort to explain "god's mysterious ways". Basically, he went through all the examples portrayed in the lyrics of that song and elaborated how they could be interpreted to show god's power while working behind the scenes. The worst example, the part about the old man winning the lottery and then dying the next day: Maybe this man had a grandson who had succumbed to the temptation of gambling. When the old man died, the young man inherited some of the money and was able to pay off his gambling debts. He recognized this as a blessing from the lord and became "saved" after realizing how god had intervened to help him turn his life around. Yeah, good for him. God had to kill his grandfather to help this guy that got himself into trouble. The preacher also thought that the person afraid to fly, when he finally got the guts to get on a plane, and that plane ended up crashing and thought "isn't this nice", was not being sarcastic. He explained it as the person realizing that a fiery death was coming for him, but he would soon be home with his savior after the plane had crashed. It's a bit embarrassing that I used to buy into this kind of crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeThinkerNZ Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Excellent idea for a thread, high five to afireinside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest afireinside Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I always thought up until a few years ago that "Let It Be" by The Beatles was a religious song because it spoke of Mother Mary, I think Mary was referring to McCartneys mother not the Virgin Mary. I think "Ironic" May have been stretching it a bit WP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violetbutterfly Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I know this isn't a mainstream song (I swear there are a ton that I just can't think of) but my local radio station has been playing the song Unbelievers by Vampire Weekend the past few days. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_qKmTLbEPc ETA: So I'm not really familiar with them as a band, but looking at some of their other songs it seems they are a bit cynical of religion. Hmmm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorPoet Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I always thought up until a few years ago that "Let It Be" by The Beatles was a religious song because it spoke of Mother Mary, I think Mary was referring to McCartneys mother not the Virgin Mary. I think "Ironic" May have been stretching it a bit WP It absolutely was stretching it. Those were not my thoughts, just the ridiculous thoughts that I had presented to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pratt Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 my favorite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violetbutterfly Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I've never heard the Deck of Cards before. We can't forget Spirit in the Sky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest afireinside Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I always thought up until a few years ago that "Let It Be" by The Beatles was a religious song because it spoke of Mother Mary, I think Mary was referring to McCartneys mother not the Virgin Mary. I think "Ironic" May have been stretching it a bit WP It absolutely was stretching it. Those were not my thoughts, just the ridiculous thoughts that I had presented to me. Yeah I realise that haha. Funny how Christians can stretch anything to fit their sermons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest afireinside Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 "Sober" by Tool There's a shadow just behind me, Shrouding every step I take, Making every promise empty, Pointing every finger at me. Waiting like a stalking butler Who upon the finger rests. Murder now the path of "must we" Just because the son has come. Jesus, won't you fucking whistle Something but the past is done? Jesus, won't you fucking whistle Something but the past is done? Why can't we not be sober? I just want to start this over. Why can't we drink forever. I just want to start this over. I am just a worthless liar. I am just an imbecile. I will only complicate you. Trust in me and fall as well. I will find a center in you. I will chew it up and leave, I will work to elevate you Just enough to bring you down. Mother Mary won't you whisper Something but the past is done. Mother Mary won't you whisper Something but the past is done. Why can't we not be sober? Just want to start this over. Why can't we sleep forever. I just want to start this over. I am just a worthless liar. I am just an imbecile. I will only complicate you. Trust in me and fall as well. I will find a center in you. I will chew it up and leave, Trust me Why can't we not be sober? Just want to start things over. Why can't we sleep forever. I just want to start this over. I want what I want Not sure about this song but I always assumed being sober is not buying into religion. "Prayer" by Disturbed Another dream that will never come true Just to compliment your sorrow Another life that I've taken from you A gift to add on to your pain and suffering Another truth you can never believe Has crippled you completely All the cries you're beginning to hear Trapped in your mind and the sound is deafening Let me enlighten you This is the way I pray Living just isn't hard enough Burn me alive inside Living my life's not hard enough Take everything away Another nightmare about to come true Will manifest tomorrow Another love that I've taken from you Lost in time on the edge of suffering Another taste of the evil I breed Will level you completely Bring to life everything that you fear Live in the dark and the world is threatening Let me enlighten you This is the way I pray Living just isn't hard enough Burn me alive inside Living my life's not hard enough Take everything away Return to me Return to me Return to me Turn to me Leave me no one Turn to me Return to me Return to me Turn to me Cast aside Return to me Return to me Return to me Turn to me Leave me no one Turn to me Return to me Return to me You've made me turn away Living just isn't hard enough Burn me alive inside Living my life's not hard enough They take everything from you Living just isn't hard enough Burn me alive, inside Living my life's not hard enough Take everything away From what I understand this song is about asking God why life is hard and bad shit happens to us that he allows and after all that hardship and suffering we get sentenced to Hell. A lot of people believe it's a song about Job and his suffering too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francesco Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 We can't forget Spirit in the Sky. When a non-christian song have a better christian theme than contemporary christian song, you know you have a quality issue lol anyway http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/spiritsk.htm that's england orthodox website, they condemn this song in any possible way some that is absurb: "in this song jesus is not the son of god but only friend" what about the traditional hymn "what a friend in jesus"? what about john 15:15? I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violetbutterfly Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Tori Amos has religious themes running all throughout her songs. I used to love her in the 90s. Not only the obvious ones like "God," "Crucify" and "Mrs. Jesus" but there are all kinds of references to sin, masturbation, prayer, Jesus and her religious upbringing (her dad was a pastor). Her song "Icicle" is about masturbating in her bedroom while the rest of the family is downstairs "singing prayers." And IIRC, Marilyn Manson has his share of things to say about religion as well. And one of my personal favorites, "Hell" by Squirrel Nut Zippers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pratt Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 don't forget to turn turn turn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violetbutterfly Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Regarding Tori Amos, her song "In the Springtime of His Voodoo" actually has the lyrics "Honey, we're Recovering Christians." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violetbutterfly Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 We can't forget Spirit in the Sky. When a non-christian song have a better christian theme than contemporary christian song, you know you have a quality issue lol anyway http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/spiritsk.htm that's england orthodox website, they condemn this song in any possible way Thank you for that. I don't think my eyes could have rolled any further back into my head. I'm so glad I'm done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest afireinside Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 don't forget to turn turn turn Oh yeah, I like that song! King Solomon's best lyrics IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violetbutterfly Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Regarding the Byrds...I was at a funeral a few weeks ago and the pastor was reading that passage, and he had sort of a sing-songy voice, and I was trying really hard to keep it together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubtingNate Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Even as a nonbeliever, I am still a pretty big U2 fan, and I think Bono is one of the more well spoken believers out there. I heard of a praise band that did their own take on 'still haven't found what I'm looking for,' changing to lyrics to something like 'I have found what I'm looking for,' which is wrong on so many levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator buffettphan Posted April 16, 2014 Super Moderator Share Posted April 16, 2014 I remember being told that all love songs are ultimately about gawd, because GOD IS LOVE, ya know. (Except when he's murdering, raping, pillaging and sending his children to hell for all eternity .) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violetbutterfly Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Are we just taking the more subtle lyrics? Because otherwise we can't leave out Stairway to Heaven (you know, by those devil worshipping Led Zeppelin fellows) and the ever obvious ones like Hells Bells and Highway to Hell. Oh, and some personal faves by Wilco: Jesus, etc. and Theologians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest afireinside Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Are we just taking the more subtle lyrics? Because otherwise we can't leave out Stairway to Heaven (you know, by those devil worshipping Led Zeppelin fellows) and the ever obvious ones like Hells Bells and Highway to Hell. Oh, and some personal faves by Wilco: Jesus, etc. and Theologians. Any lyrics that aren't by a gospel/Christian artist-subtle or obvious. AC/DC did that other song, was it "let there be rock" where Bon Scott was at the pulpit dressed as a minister. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midniterider Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I thought I would start this thread for the simple purpose of allowing people to air their spiritual and religious interpretations of mainstream or secular songs. Some secular songs have a deeper understanding of religious matters than explicitly Christian songs, sometimes there is a dual meaning and sometimes they are completely misinterpreted to speak of God/religion when they are using religious symbolism as metaphor for something else. Deeper religious meanings in lyrics sell out concerts and sell records...well, mp3s. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtify Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I really don't listen to this song very often, but the lyrics are good. It's a classic by The Temptations, but I thought I'd post the Love and Rockets version (from 1985, and it really shows). Btw, great thread, afireinside. Ball of Confusion: People movin' out People movin' in Why, because of the color of their skin Run, run, run, but you sho' can't hide An eye for an eye A tooth for a tooth Vote for me, and I'll set you free Rap on brother, rap on Well, the only person talkin' 'Bout love thy brother is the preacher And it seems, Nobody is interested in learnin' But the teacher Segregation, determination, demonstration, Integration, aggravation, Humiliation, obligation to our nation Ball of Confusion That's what the world is today The sale of pills are at an all time high Young folks walk around with Their heads in the sky Cities aflame in the summer time And, the beat goes on Air pollution, revolution, gun control, Sound of soul Shootin' rockets to the moon Kids growin' up too soon Politicians say more taxes will Solve everything And the band played on So round 'n' round 'n' round we go Where the world's headed, nobody knows Just a Ball of Confusion Oh yea, that's what the wold is today Fear in the air, tension everywhere Unemployment rising fast, The Beatles' new record's a gas And the only safe place to live is On an indian reservation And the band played on Eve of destruction, tax deduction City inspectors, bill collectors Mod clothes in demand, Population out of hand Suicide, too many bills, hippies movin' To the hills People all over the world, are shoutin' End the war And the band played on. Copyright 1970 Jobete Music Company, Inc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest afireinside Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I thought I would start this thread for the simple purpose of allowing people to air their spiritual and religious interpretations of mainstream or secular songs. Some secular songs have a deeper understanding of religious matters than explicitly Christian songs, sometimes there is a dual meaning and sometimes they are completely misinterpreted to speak of God/religion when they are using religious symbolism as metaphor for something else. Deeper religious meanings in lyrics sell out concerts and sell records...well, mp3s. :-) Do you think the symbolism of religious imagery or themes is attractive to non-religious people or just a bid to appeal to the religious minded fans? Is it the fact a lot of the time the artist themselves comes from a religious upbringing that they find it easy to use religion as a way of making song content without actually believing it personally? I'm thinking the likes of Lemmy from Motörhead who came from a strict religious background, his father was a minister yet he writes a lot of songs that are anti-religious but with strong Christian lyrical content. There's plenty of others like him. Katy Perry slips in the odd angel/Heaven/believe reference in her lyrics which doesn't surprise me when she is an ex-fundamental Christian herself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtify Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I remember when the song Show Me What I'm Looking For, by Carolina Liar came out in 2009. I was struggling to hold on to my relationship with jesus, but I wasn't hearing anything back. The lyrics really summed up what it felt like: Wait, I'm wrong Should have done better than this Please, I'll be strong I'm finding it hard to resist So show me what I'm looking for Save me, I'm lost Oh, Lord, I've been waiting for you I'll pay any cost Save me from being confused Show me what I'm looking for Show me what I'm looking for, oh, Lord Don't let go I've wanted this far too long Mistakes become regrets I've learned to love abuse Please show me what I'm looking for Save me, I'm lost Oh, Lord, I've been waiting for you I'll pay any cost Save me from being confused Show me what I'm looking for Show me what I'm looking for, oh, lord Show me what I'm looking for Show me what I'm looking for Show me what I'm looking for Save me, I'm lost Oh, Lord, I've been waiting for you I'll pay any cost Just save me from being confused Wait, I'm wrong I can't do better than this I'll pay any cost Save me from being confused Show me what I'm looking for Show me what I'm looking for Show me what I'm looking for Show me what I'm looking for, oh, Lord Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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