a list obligatory.

Spirit in the Sky:

Songs about Religion

Since we spent the last two weeks already talking about the supernatural, I figured the would be the logical next step. Plus, I'm lazy. Come on in for my top ten songs about a man in the sky, and a full 400-song Spotify playlist.

Regardless of your particular belief system, there is probably a song that explains it. There is also probably a song directly opposing it. If you are anything like me, music and religion seem forever intertwined. I grew up singing songs about God every Sunday. My first concert was on a church trip. When I finally fell from grace, it was a song that broke the camel's back. Religion has informed every major musical influence I can think of. There are entire books written about the religious themes in Bob Dylan's songs. The Beatles opened the West up to an entire world (or at least hemisphere) of music after their pilgrimage to India seeking a higher spirituality. Nick Cave and Tom Waits regularly cite Southern spirituals as jumping points for their work. I don't think I even need to mention the impact of Gospel on all-time favorites like Al Green, Aretha Franklin, and the Staple Singers. 

The relationship is not always as sunny however. Many times throughout history, artists deemed unfit by the church of the land have had to face hardships to get their music heard. While in modern America this usually only serves to boost sales for the probably unknown artist, happy to grab whatever attention they could, there are still many parts of the world where musicians do not share that freedom. Nations like Iran and Sudan have outlawed the use of Western-style music, by punishment of death. In these places the music of artists like Kourosh Yaghmaei serves as an ardent argument against the rule of theocracy. Even with the little real effect they have here, the images of church leaders burning or crushing music brings forward all to startling images of the past.

So, this week I'll be taking a look at songs about spirituality, for the good and bad. Listed below are my top ten songs about religion, but don't forget to check out the massive 400-song playlist on Spotify. Let's get in on with God!

10. "God (Take 1)" - Ian Hunter  from All American Alien Boy, 1976.

9. "Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down" - Uncle Tupelo from March 16-20, 1992, 1992.

8. "Pressing On" - John Doe from I'm Not There: Soundtrack, 2007.

7. "The Church of the Holy Spook" - Shane MacGowan & the Popes from The Snake, 1994.

6. "Mercedes Benz" - Janis Joplin from Pearl, 1970.

5. "Christ Jesus" - Deer Tick from War Elephant, 2007.

4. "Jesus, Etc." - Wilco from Kicking Television, 2005.

3. "With God On Our Side" - Bob Dylan from Bootleg Series Vol. 6 - Live 1964, 2004.

2. "Dear God" - XTC from Dear God (EP), 1987.

1. "Hallelujah" - John Cale from Fragments of a Rainy Season, 1992.

Make sure and check out the full list on Spotify and let me know what's on your personal list in the comments section. That's all for this week, thanks for taking a look-see.

No synthesizers whatsoever were used during the writing of this column.

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