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Songs That Deal With Religion

Started by Jassman, July 06, 2006, 04:19:35 PM

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Jassman

I thought it would be fun to post some song lyrics that deal with religion. I'll leave the obvious "Imagine" to someone else. Here are some lyrics that I really enjoy:

Eulogy by Tool
He had alot to say.
He had alot of nothing to say.
We'll miss him.
We'll miss him.
We're gonna miss him.

So long.
We wish you well.
You told us how you weren't afraid to die.
Well then, so long.
Don't cry.
Or feel too down.
Not all martyrs see divinity.
But at least you tried.

Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice that was strong and loud.
We'll miss him.

Ranting and pointing his finger
At everything but his heart.
We'll miss him.

No way to recall
What it was that you had said to me,
Like I care at all.

But it was so loud.
You sure could yell.
You took a stand on every little thing
And so loud.

Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice so strong and loud and I
Swallowed his facade cuz I'm so
Eager to identify with
Someone above the ground,
Someone who seemed to feel the same,
Someone prepared to lead the way, with
Someone who would die for me.

Will you? Will you now?
Would you die for me?
Don't you fuckin lie.
Don't you step out of line.
Don't you fuckin lie.

You've claimed all this time that you would die for me.
Why then are you so surprised to hear your own eulogy?

You had alot to say.
You had alot of nothing to say.
You had alot to say.
You had alot of nothing to say.

Come down.
Get off your fuckin cross.
We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

To ascend you must die.
You must be crucified
For your sins and your lies.
Goodbye...


Judith by A Perfect Circle

You're such an inspiration
For the ways that I will never ever choose to be
Oh so many ways for me to show you
How your savior has abandoned you

(Fuck your God)
Your Lord and your Christ
(He did this)
Took all you had and
(Left you this way)
Still you pray, never stray, never
(Taste of the fruit)
Never thought to question why

It's not like you killed someone
It's not like you drove a hateful spear into his side
Praise the one who left you broken down and paralyzed
He did it all for you...

He did it all for you...

Oh so many ways
For me to show you
How your dogma has abandoned you

(Pray)
To your Christ, to your God
(Never taste of the fruit)
Never stray, never break, never
(Choke on a lie)
Even though he's the one who
(Did this to you)
You never thought to question why

It's not like you killed someone
It's not like you drove a spiteful spear into his side
Talk to Jesus Christ as if he knows the reasons why
He did it all for you...

He did it all for you...

He did it all for you...


This one deals with religious extremists:

Spiritual Healing by Death

Always blocking the doors to your mind
Escaping the reality that surrounds you
Using faith as an excuse to kill
A sick way of life is now revealed

All the prayers in the world can't help you now
A killer a take of life is what you are

Preach the good word
Speak no more, prepare to burn
A justified torture?
From this may others learn
The life you took a holy death, a grave mistake
No changing your mind, your life you should pay

Practice what you preach
Your loved one is now deceased
Knowledge is at our hands
Never to understand

Spiritual healing

Blinded by the twisted ways you live
Kill for religion, will the Lord forgive?
Idiocy has stricken you mind
A real-life hell you will find


Here's a very sarcastic and condescending view of a Christian:

Opiate by Tool
Choices always were a problem for you.
What you need is someone strong to guide you.

Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow,
what you need is someone strong to use you...
like me,
like me.

If you want to get your soul to heaven,
trust in me now don't you judge or question.
You are broken now,
but faith can heal you.
Just do everything I tell you to do.

Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow.
Let me lay my holy hand upon you.

My God's will
becomes me.
When he speaks,
he speaks through me.
He has needs
like I do.
We both want
to rape you.
Jesus Christ, why don't you come save my life.
Open my eyes and blind me with your light
and your lies.


Here's one for Court and a few others. I really hope Texas isn't actually as bad as I've heard.

Leaving Jesusland by NoFX
We call the heartland not very smart land, IQ's are very low but threat levels are high
They got a mandate, they don't want man-dates, they got so many hates and people to despise

In the dust bowl, cerebral black hole, the average weight is well over 200 pounds
I hate to generalize, but have you seen the thighs, most haven't seen their genitalia in a while

Maybe that's why they're so scared of us
We've concerns other than fear and hunger pangs

Queers, transgends, and lesbians, vegans and vegetarians
All you brownish red and yellow ones come and join us on the coast

No longer svelte, they gotta punch new holes in the Bible belt
They've blown out the fire under the melting pot, the red blood of America is starting to clot
No compromise, no sight through others' eyes, they're just flies spreading pieces of shit
You gotta emigrate, stop living in hate, what makes this country great is dwelling on either side

They don't want visitors in Jesusland
They want life canned and bland in the fatherland

We want people with college degrees, drug use experience and STD's
People with open-minded philosophies, come hug California trees
Cultural revolution now, neo-conservatives run outta town
We're gonna burn Orange County down,
And then we're off to Riverside, Bakersfield and Fresno too, then we're coming after you

The fear stricken, born again Christian, they got a vision a homogenized state
Textbook decline, intelligent design
They got Bill Nye on the list to execrate

They don't want visitors in Jesusland
They want life canned and bland in the fatherland

Punk Rockers and emo kids, people doing things the church forbids
Buddhists, agnostics, and atheists we're moving out of jesusland
Art students and thespians, excluding country, all the musicians
We want all hookers and comedians, nihilists are welcome too

No longer svelte, they gotta punch new holes in the Bible belt
[size=75]"You ever notice how people who believe in creationism look really unevolved?" -Bill Hicks[/size]

[size=75]I'm drowning in the fear of gods. The more I see the less I want. I was not raised

Whitney

#1
XTC
"Dear God"

Dear God, hope you got the letter and
I pray you can make it better down here
I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer
But all the people that you made in your image
See them starving on their feet
'Cause they don't get enough to eat from God
I can't believe in you

Dear God, sorry to disturb you but
I feel that I should be heard loud and clear
We all need a big reduction in amount of tears
And all the people that you made in your image
See them fighting in the street
'Cause they can't make opinions meet about God
I can't believe in you

Did you make disease and the diamond blue?
Did you make mankind after we made you?
And the devil too!

Dear God, don't know if you noticed but
Your name is on a lot of quotes in this book
And us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look
And all the people that you made in your image
Still believing that junk is true
Well I know it ain't, and so do you, dear God
I can't believe in
I don't believe in

I won't believe in heaven and hell
No saints, no sinners, no devil as well
No pearly gates, no thorny crown
You're always letting us humans down
The wars you bring, the babes you drown
Those lost at sea and never found
And it's the same the whole world 'round
The hurt I see helps to compound
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Is just somebody's unholy hoax
And if you're up there you'd perceive
That my heart's here upon my sleeve
If there's one thing I don't believe in
It's you
Dear God.

I found a whole list of other song when searching for the full lyrics to this one:
http://atheistempire.com/entertainment/music_lyrics.php

MommaSquid

#2
Imagine
John Lennon

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us
and the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

TwistOfCain

#3
"Sects" by Anthrax

Acting like Mo Jo's
Acting like body bagger's
Let the bells ring
Rejoice and sing

CHORUS
Jim Jones, where did you come from
Jim Jones, Was it for fun
Jim Jones, That's your name
Jim Jones, Style of death

This sects the promised land
Are you ready to all meet God?
Bart's Killers Holding hands
Do not fight the odds
Try to make 'em sick drink up
Be merry and be dead

CHORUS

Murder
The Zero Hero

Some of them might get sex
together with that boring joke
Mercenaries disciples
with bibles and rifles
In the temple of people
To The Book of People
No Poster hanging high

and I do, but I don't ask why
And I do, But I don't ask why
why ah ha,ha,ha,ha
oh lord you Die
Not about to see your light
But if you wanna find Hell with me
I can show you what it's like.
-Danzig, Mother

"I AM THOTH! AND I WILL NOT BE HUMBLED -- BY MAN OR GOD!"
-Thoth-Amon, The Book of Thoth

McQ

#4
Boy, could I come up with a ton of lyrics. The late 60s and early 70s are full of songs dealing with religion. Here's a classic. "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum (crank up the fuzzbox effect for the guitar!)

When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best

Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
Gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best

Never been a sinner I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with
The spirit in the sky
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best
Elvis didn't do no drugs!
--Penn Jillette

Whitney

#5
Quote from: "McQ"Boy, could I come up with a ton of lyrics. The late 60s and early 70s are full of songs dealing with religion. Here's a classic. "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum (crank up the fuzzbox effect for the guitar!)

We use to sing that song back when I was in the contemporary choir at church....didn't know where it came from until now.  The couple who helped organized it could be best described as hippie-cowboys (cowpeople? lol).  They were kinda weird...so was their son who had a crush on me :monk:

Decent song though, and I guess we couldn't expect them to choose songs such as Imagine...not very churchy.

MikeyV

#6
Here's one I used to listen to. I saw this concert...it was pretty cool. The lead singer at the time (1983) was Ian Gillan, of Deep Purple fame. I took a friend who's parents were hardcore Jehova's Witnesses. He came home wearing a concert shirt with the Black Sabbath logo, and a flock of demons flying on it, Hilarity ensued!  :evil:  

[align=center]Black Sabbath - Disturbing the Priest

Let's try getting to the sky, hang on or you're going to die
Sour life can turn sweet, it's laying at your feet
Sweet child with an innocent smile watches closely all the while
Don't be fooled when he cries, keep looking at the eyes

Good life is contradiction because of the crucifixion
If you're ready and have the need, I will take your soul and plant my seed

You just gotta listen to the night at the ending of the day
You just gotta listen to the night as safety slips away
Moving out of sight are the things you need to see to feel
And as they slip away becoming so unreal unreal
You just gotta listen to the night as you're going up the stairs
You just gotta listen to the night and don't forget to say your prayers
And as you lose control to the eyes in dark disguise
And icy fingers send electric lies

We're disturbing the priest, won't you please come to our feast
Do we mind disturbing the priest, not at all, not at all, not in the least
Ahhhh, Do we mind disturbing the priest
Aahhhh, not at all, not at all, not in the least

The force of the devil is the darkness the priest has to face
The force of the night will destroy him but will not disgrace
To get into his mind and to his soul you gotta set alight
The flames of doubt so deep inside inside
The devil and the priest can't exist if one goes away
It's just like the battle of the sun and the moon and night and day
The force of the devil, that's we're all told to fear
Watch out for religion when he gets too near too near

We're disturbing the priest, won't you please come to our feast
Do we mind disturbing the priest, not at all, not at all, not in the least

Good life is contradiction because of the crucifixion
If you're ready and have the need, I will take your soul and plant my seed

Aahhhh, ahhhh, ah ha ha ha haaa!

Let's try getting to the sky, hang on or you're going to die
Sour life can turn sweet, it's laying at your feet
Sweet child with an innocent smile watches closely all the while
Don't be fooled when he cries, keep looking at the eyes
Oh, disturbing the priest![/align]
Life in Lubbock, Texas taught me two things. One is that God loves
you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the
most awful, dirty thing on the face of the earth and you should save
it for someone you love.
   
   -- Butch Hancock.

MikeyV

#7
Here's another one I like from the grandaddy of death metal, Slayer (1988).

[align=center]Read Between The Lies

Evangelist you claim God speaks through you,
Your restless mouth full of lies gains popularity.
You care not for the old that suffer,
When empty pockets cry from hunger.

Penniless from their generosity,
Sharing their money to quench your greed.
Searching for the answer to their prayers
They cry their last wish of need.
Save me.

His spirit lives and breathes in me.
The almighty transformed to your screen.
The meanings lost in its translation,
No holy words, describe his deception.

You say you'll help us find the lord,
Tell me preacher how do you know
A simple quest for a visible savior,
To lead us through our final prayer.
Save me.

Send your donations,
Contribute to the cause.
Luxuries,
Your righteous reward?

Praise the lord, praise god,
Is what you wish to sell.
There is no heaven without a hell.

In your mind's eye could you truly believe,
That by giving you can save your soul,
Could you be so naive!
You heal the sick,[you] raise the dead,
You blind the congregation
With the things you say.

Religious blackmail a deceit of trust,
That death will come and all will be lost.

Can you hear the serpents call,
Look deep in those deceiving eyes.
Ignore the writing on the wall,
You should read between the lies.

When doubt subsides his honesty,
An inquiry, is it blasphemy?
Impure the soul, that's made to suffer,
No sermons left to hide or cover,
An empty promise, lie unfulfilled,
To steal a dream or get it killed.
They claim your trip to heavens nearby,
You may believe it but satan wouldn't lie.[/align]
Life in Lubbock, Texas taught me two things. One is that God loves
you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the
most awful, dirty thing on the face of the earth and you should save
it for someone you love.
   
   -- Butch Hancock.

Jassman

#8
Slayer is thrash/speed metal. Still, that doesn't change the fact that Slayer rules. Black Sabbath, Slayer..... you're on a roll!
[size=75]"You ever notice how people who believe in creationism look really unevolved?" -Bill Hicks[/size]

[size=75]I'm drowning in the fear of gods. The more I see the less I want. I was not raised

TwistOfCain

#9
You can argue that Slayer had a pretty big effect on death metal, though.

Here's "Snakes of Christ" by Danzig:

Time to run, yea
Time to hide
Holy war in the land of fire
Never tempt the
Wrath of gods
Gonna dance in the death of life
Take the hand
Enter the world
Just remember you will surely die
Never sell
Evil for lies
Gonna give to you the kiss of life

Serpents of the lord
Crawling
To the will of god
Serpents of your lord
Crawling
All evil

Serpent Jesus
Snake of Christ
Nailed to a cross
Of a holy design
Blood to water
Water to wine
Whip the soul 'til a mother cries
Bring it down, baby
Pierce the side
Start the legend with a funeral rite
Serpent Jesus
Snake of Christ
Gonna build you
A world of lies

(Serpents of the lord) Serpents of the lord
Crawling
To the will of god
(Serpents of the lord) Serpents of your lord
Crawling
All evil

Oh yea
Oh yea
Oh yea
Crawling

Serpent Jesus
Snake of Christ
Nailed to a cross
Of a holy design
Blood to water
Water to wine
Whip the soul 'til a mother cries
Bring it down, baby
Pierce the side
Start the legend with a funeral rite
Serpent Jesus
Snake of Christ
Gonna build you
World of lies

(Serpents of the lord) Serpents of the lord
Crawling
To the will of god
(Serpents of the lord) Serpents of the lord
Crawling
All evil, yea
Yea
Not about to see your light
But if you wanna find Hell with me
I can show you what it's like.
-Danzig, Mother

"I AM THOTH! AND I WILL NOT BE HUMBLED -- BY MAN OR GOD!"
-Thoth-Amon, The Book of Thoth

MikeyV

#10
Quote from: "Jassman"Slayer is thrash/speed metal. Still, that doesn't change the fact that Slayer rules. Black Sabbath, Slayer..... you're on a roll!

Well, although it is true that Slayer is Thrash/Speed, in the early 80's there was no such animal as Death metal. We had many bands that started pushing the envelope as we emerged from the Punk era. The Punk/Rock fusion became Thrash/Speed. Early pioneers of Thrash/Speed, such as Metal Church (commonly attributed with starting the Thrash/Speed/Power metal genre), Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax started pushing the speed envelope.

Slayer was a new sound entirely. Barely intelligible, growly lyrics (although higher pitched than modern Death), courtesy of Tom Araya, with the dark lyrics, helped spawn two entirely new genres - Death Metal and Black Metal.

Much like you wouldn't have Metallica without Elvis and the Beatles, you wouldn't have Emperor, Mayhem and Dimmu Borgir on the Black side, and Morbid Angel, Napalm Death, Deicide, and Entombed on the Death side.

Sorry, I didn't mean to get off on a tangent. It was fun dredging up old memories. I was also very into the scene. Arizona had a thriving Thrash/Speed/Power/Black/Death Metal scene in the 80's. I went to high school with all of the members of the Dogz, who later became Flotsam and Jetsam. Jason Newsted left Flotsam after Cliff Burton from Metallica died, and now Eric "AK" Knudtsen, Flotsam's lead singer, lays tile with another of my friends right now.

I also went to school with the members of Sacred Reich. Phil Rind, Wiley Arnett and I used to get stoned in the bathroom at school :P

Thanks for letting me walk down memory lane :)
Life in Lubbock, Texas taught me two things. One is that God loves
you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the
most awful, dirty thing on the face of the earth and you should save
it for someone you love.
   
   -- Butch Hancock.

Jassman

#11
Quote from: "MikeyV"Slayer was a new sound entirely. Barely intelligible, growly lyrics (although higher pitched than modern Death), courtesy of Tom Araya, with the dark lyrics, helped spawn two entirely new genres - Death Metal and Black Metal.

While definitely a strong influence, I would say that death metal actually branched off from thrash metal with Death's Scream Bloody Gore album (1987). Slayer had everything in place but the death metal vocals. That's really the only thing that distinguishes Slayer from death metal.

Quote from: "MikeyV"I also went to school with the members of Sacred Reich. Phil Rind, Wiley Arnett and I used to get stoned in the bathroom at school Smile I was partying with Greg Hall, the drummer, when Kerry King from Slayer stopped by. I was going to do the artwork for the first album cover, but I was already obligated to a cover for another local band called Troll. Bad choice, as a friend of mine ,Paul Stottler, had a paying gig doing the covers, and Troll never even released a demo Razz

Haha that's awesome... I don't mean to be derailing the thread so much. Maybe we need a metal thread?
[size=75]"You ever notice how people who believe in creationism look really unevolved?" -Bill Hicks[/size]

[size=75]I'm drowning in the fear of gods. The more I see the less I want. I was not raised

MikeyV

#12
Quote from: "Jassman"Haha that's awesome... I don't mean to be derailing the thread so much. Maybe we need a metal thread?

Agreed, I moved it here.  It's in the Laid Back Lounge under the title Origo Metallum.
Life in Lubbock, Texas taught me two things. One is that God loves
you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the
most awful, dirty thing on the face of the earth and you should save
it for someone you love.
   
   -- Butch Hancock.

MommaSquid

#13
Back to songs dealing with religion.  These two might be a stretch, but I believe they're about philosophy and religion.  

Hoobastank
Same Direction


Whenever I step outside, somebody claims to see the light.
It seems to me that all of us have lost our patience.
'Cause everyone thinks they're right, and nobody thinks that there just might
be more than one road to our final destination.

But I'm not ever going to know if I'm right or wrong
'cause we're all going in the same direction.
And I'm not sure which way to go because all along
we've been going in the same direction.

I'm tired of playing games, of looking for someone else to blame
for all the holes in answers that are clearly showing,
for something to fill the space. Was all of the time I spent a waste,
'Cause so many choices point the same way I was going?

But I'm not ever going to know if I'm right or wrong
'cause we're all going in the same direction.
And I'm not sure which way to go because all along
we've been going in the same direction.

Going in the same direction--

Same direction-- (Same direction)

So why does there only have to be one correct philosophy?
I don't want to go and follow you just to end up like one of them.
And why are you always telling me what you want me to believe?
I'd like to think that I can go my own way and meet you in the end.
Go my own way and meet you in the end.

I'm not ever going to know... if I'm right or wrong
'cause we're all going in the same direction.
And I'm not sure which way to go because all along
we've been going in the same direction

Going in the same direction

Going in the same direction--

Same direction-- (Same direction)


Hoobastank
Out of Control


I've done everything as you say
I've followed your rules without question
I thought it would help me see things clearly
But instead of helping me to see
I look around and it's like I'm blinded

I'm spinning out of control
Out of control
I'm spinning out of control
Out of control

(Go) Where should I go?
(Do) What should I do?
I don't understand what you want from me
Cause I don't know
If I can trust you
I don't understand what you want from me

I feel like I'm spinning out of control
Try to focus but everything's twisted
And all along I thought you would be there
(Thought you would be there)
To let me know I'm not alone
But in fact that's exactly what I was

I'm spinning out of control
Out of control
I'm spinning out of control
Out of control

(Go)Where should I go?
(Do)What should I do?
I don't understand what you want from me
Cause I don't know
If I can trust you
Or all of the things you've said to me

I may never know the answer
To this endless mystery

(Go)Where should I go?
(Do)What should I do?
I don't understand what you want from me

This endless mystery
This endless mystery

I'm spinning out of control
Out of control
(repeat)

Where should I go?
What should I do?
I don't understand what you want from me
Cause I don't know
If I can trust you
Or all the things you've said to me

And I may never know the answer
To this endless mystery

Where should I go?
What should I do?
I don't understand what you want from me

I'm spinning out of control
Out of control
I'm spinning out of control
Out of control

MikeyV

#14
To steal a line from Dr. Frankenfurter..."Here's one from the vaults"

[align=center]Religious Vomit - Dead Kennedys

All religions make me wanna throw up
All religions make me sick
All religions make me wanna throw up
All religions suck
They all claim that they have the truth
That'll set you free
Just give 'em all your money and they'll set you free
Free for a fee

They all claim that they have the Answer
When they don't even know the Question
They're just a bunch of liars
They just want your money
They just want your consciousness

All religions suck
All religions make me wanna throw up
All religions suck
All religions make me wanna BLEAH

They really make me sick
They really make me sick
They really make me sick
They really make me sick
They really make me sick
They really make me ILL[/align]
Life in Lubbock, Texas taught me two things. One is that God loves
you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the
most awful, dirty thing on the face of the earth and you should save
it for someone you love.
   
   -- Butch Hancock.