Bad Religion - "American Jesus"
from Recipe of Hate (1993)

In "American Jesus," Bad Religion are singing about bad Christianity. Unfortunately their perception of the faithful and their stinging commentary have a ring of truth.

Lyrics:
I don't need to be a global citizen,
'Cuz I'm blessed by nationality.
I'm member of a growing populace,
We enforce our popularity.
There are things that seem to pull us under and,
There are things that drag us down.
But there's a power and a vital presence,
It's lurking all around.
We've got the American Jesus,
See him on the interstate.
We've got the American Jesus,
He helped build the President's estate.
I feel sorry for the Earth's population,
'Cuz so few live in the U.S.A.
At least the foreigners can copy our morality,
They can visit but they cannot stay.
Only precious few can garner our prosperity,
It makes us walk with renewed confidence.
We got a place to go when we die,
And the architect resides right here.
We've got the American Jesus,
Bolstering national faith.
We've got the American Jesus,
Overwhelming millions every day.
He's the farmer's barren fields,
The force the army wields,
Expressions on the faces of the starving millions,
The power of the man,
He's the fuel that drives the clan,
He's the motive and the conscience of the murderer,
He's the preacher on T.V. ,
The false sincerity,
The form letter that's written by the big computers,
The nuclear bombs,
The kids with no moms,
And I'm fearful that he's inside me...
We've got the American Jesus
See him on the interstate
We've got the American Jesus
Exercising his authority
We've got the American Jesus
Bolstering national faith
We've got the American Jesus
Overwhelming millions every day
One nation, under God...

Is the American Jesus that they sing of the same as Jesus, the Christ? Fortunately he is not; unfortunately most who share in the opinions of this song probably think that the two are the same.

So how is this "American Jesus" described? The song talks about power and vital presence in our government of invoking the name of Jesus. A Jesus who has ties to our president. The songs sarcastically mentions American morality which we export to be modeled by the rest of the world. The song labels Jesus as the architect resides right here. The lyrics speak of a national faith and thus allude to any military action as Holy War. The American Jesus is spoken of as being overwhelming.

One of the key chunks of this song is where the lyric goes, "He's the fuel that drives the clan, He's the motive and the conscience of the murderer, He's the preacher on T.V. , The false sincerity, The form letter that's written by the big computers, The nuclear bombs, The kids with no moms, And I'm fearful that he's inside me." Here is the picture that's being painted as to how Christians are pardied. It's rather sad really that someone would fear having Christ inside them. And why?

Everyonce and a while I'll scan through the 7 or 8 "Christian" stations on the satellite dish. If I were to base my perceptions of Christians and Christianity solely on these programs, presidential speaches and the news media's presentation of faith in America. I might write a song like this one as well.

Joy Division - "Wilderness"
from Unknown Pleasures (1979)

One cannot listen to Joy Division without getting some sense of the spiritual fight that was taking place in the life of Ian Curtis.

Rock critic Richard Byrne writes, "The reason for the long-lived importance of Joy Division can be found in Neil Morrow's prescient quote, linking the band with the dual forces of punk (spit) and a bleak, existential spirituality (the face of God)." In another place he discusses the nature of Curtis' lyrics, "The reason for the long-lived importance of Joy Division can be found in Neil Morrow's prescient quote, linking the band with the dual forces of punk (spit) and a bleak, existential spirituality (the face of God)." And one last quote worth looking at before we review the song at hand, "But deeper, beneath the extreme images and the bitter biography, there is something scarier in both (Sylvia) Plath and (Ian) Curtis' work the utter helplessness of humanity in the face of a universe in which a God oblivious to human suffering and doubt demands worship. The courage of Curtis' words to catalogue the suffering and confront is creator is precisely that 'spit in the face of God.'"

Lyric:
I travelled far and wide through many different times,
What did you see there?
I saw the saints with their toys,
What did you see there?
I saw all knowledge destroyed.
I travelled far and wide through many different times.
I travelled far and wide through prisons of the cross,
What did you see there?
The power and glory of sin,
What did you see there?
The blood of Christ on their skins,
I travelled far and wide thorugh many different times.
I travelled far and wide and unknown martyrs died,
What did you see there?
I saw the one sided trials,
What did you see there?
I saw the tears as they cried,
They had tears in their eyes,
Tears in their eyes,
Tears in their eyes,
Tears in their eye.

A dark poet was Ian Curtis. Singing of Nazi Atrocities and asking that hard question of God, "Why did you allow this to happen?"

Saints with their toys. (Nazi's with machine guns.)
Prisons of the cross. (Death camps.)
Christ on their skins. (The branded numbers tattooed in the skin of the holocaust victims.)
One sided trials. (For those who suffered, died and were buried in the concentration camps.)

Curtis seeks understanding, but fails to find it. In another song he sings, "God in his wisdom take me by the hand. God in his wisdom help me understand." Curtis seeks understanding but find none. Sadly Ian Curtis took his own life in 1980 at the age of 23.

Depeche Mode - "Personal Jesus"
from Violator (1990)

I was working in college radio when a 12" vinyl single came in with a blank white label and a white sleeve and no other markings. The song was a sparse arrangement of acoustic guitar and voice singing "Personal Jesus." The rumor was that it was Depeche Mode, but we waited for confirmation along with the fully produced single that followed.

What is it about this song about a "personal Jesus" that would draw both Johnny Cash and Marlyn Manson to cover it.

Your own personal jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares

Your own personal jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone whos there

Feeling unknown
And youre all alone
Flesh and bone
By the telephone

Lift up the receiver
I'll make you a believer

Take second best
Put me to the test
Things on your chest
You need to confess
I will deliver
You know Im a forgiver

Reach out and touch faith

The line "reach out and touch faith" makes me think of Davinci's Sistine ceiling where Adam's hand is outstretched - straining to touch that of God.

What does "personal Jesus" mean?

First, certainly the good Christian answer is "a personal relationship with Christ." But in the context of the song is it?

Second, one could say that in this era of personalization of everything (which was beginning when this song came out in 1990) we as global citizens of this day long to have religion personalized as well. We want our own "personal Jesus" customized to our own needs and preconceived notions. In other words, we don't want a Jesus who is going to tell us what to do.

The third reason I'll throw out would be that "personal Jesus" in this song represents whatever it is that we put faith in. Possibly also worship. Possibly a person - an idol, a lover, a friend. The kind of person who rescues you when you are downtrodden; lends their ear; comforts you.

This seems most plausible when one examines the text.

XTC - "Dear God"
found on Skylarking (1986)

When XTC released "Dear God" in 1986 it wrankled more than a few feathers. I remember the cassette version I had of Skylarking did not have the song on it, however the CD version, which I picked up later on did have it. It's an interesting word play. The song is written to God, and yet the person writing is skeptical about God's existence. Here are the full lyrics for review:

Dear God,
Hope you got the letter, and I pray you can make it better down here.
I dont 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 dont get enough to eat from God,
I cant 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 cant make opinions meet, about God.
I cant 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,
Dont know if you noticed, but your name is on a lot of quotes in this book.
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 aint and so do you...dear God.
I cant believe in...I dont believe in...

I wont 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 its the same the whole world round.
The hurt I see helps to compound.
That the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Is just somebody's unholy hoax.
And if you're up there you'll perceive
that my hearts here upon my sleeve.
If theres one thing I dont believe in...its you.

Dear God.

While some would label these lyrics blasphemous, I think the concerns it addresses of abandonment, skepticism and a cynical approach to God, Christianity and religion in general is worth taking note of. Ironically, the tone of this song in and of itself is remniscent of Psalm 74, which states:

O God,
Why do you cast us off forever?
Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
Remember your congregation.

And later...

How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?
Is the enemy to revile your name forver?
Why do you hold back your hand?

Or...

Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame?
Le the poor and needy praise your name.
Rise up, O God, plead your cause.

The writer of the Psalms is basically saying:

"Dear God,
Have you forgotten about us humans.
Why do you allow all this bad stuff to take place?
Aren't you aware of what's going on down here?
Your enemies are cursing you and your people?
And we too are beginning to doubt, as we become more downtrodden."

Measuring the Psalm next to the song there are many similarities. The questioning of God's existence isn't something new. It's something we all seek an answer to. Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding have written other songs questioning God's existence. The irony in this song, of course, is that they are addressing God and doubting his existence at the same time.

Tom Waits - "Jesus Gonna Be Here"
from Bone Machine (1992)

If I remember the story correctly, Tom Waits had been traveling through Mississippi and had heard some of the porch singers clamoring out Gospel songs from their porches and inspiring him to write the following:

Well, Jesus will be here
Be here soon
he's gonna cover us up with leaves
With a blanket from the moon
With a promise and a vow
And a lullaby for my brow
Jesus gonna be here
Be here soon

Well I'm just gonna wait here
I don't have to shout
I have no reason and
I have no doubt
I'm gonna get myself
Unfurled from this mortal coiled up world
Because Jesus gonna be here
Be here soon

I got to keep my eyes open
So I can see my Lord
I'm gonna watch the horizon
For a brand new Ford

I can hear him rolling on down the lane
I said Hollywood be thy name
Jesus gonna be
Gonna be here soon

Well I've been faithful
And I've been so good
Except for drinking
But he new that I would
I'm gonna leave this place better
Than the way I found it was
And Jesus gonna be here
Be here soon

It starts out sounding very authentic then as the song goes on more to Waits' personality get's interjected with lines like "unfurled from this mortal coiled up world" or "Hollywood be thy name." This song moves from spiritual - Jesus is going to be here someday soon; to a jab on those placing their faith elsewhere - in their Ford or in Hollywood; to Tom wondering about his own life - except for a bit of drinking I've been faithful Lord.

Check out You Tube for a live rendition of this song.

Game Theory - "Like a Girl Jesus"
Big Shot Chronicles (1986)

"Brightness as pure as December sunshine
And like a girl Jesus she makes it mine
Without a doubt, puts herself down on the line
And like a girl Jesus she's undefined
Life without end, she ignores linear time
And like a girl Jesus she's doing fine."

Scott Miller (Game Theory, Loud Family) introduces us to the "girl Jesus" in this lilting connector song from the Game Theory release "Big Shot Chronicles." Why use Jesus here? Is this girl a savior? Saving the author from self abuse? Men sometimes seek salvation in a woman. As if companionship and sex can save. Men come back to women seeking forgiveness. Forgiveness, salvation, comfort, healing - are all things people may seek from a mate; also something they seek in religion...in Jesus (the Christ). Where there's a differenc is that the savior of the song is "undefined." The "man Jesus" - Jesus the Christ - I'd argue is very well-defined in the Bible. Also, unlike the girl Jesus who "makes it mine" - the "man Jesus" makes us His.

Soundgarden - "Jesus Christ Pose"
from "Badmotorfinger" (1991)

The Jesus Christ pose that Chris Cornell refers to in this song is about anyone who is puffed up on fame, faith, ego - enough that they want to play God (thus donning the "Jesus Christ post." According to the band, the song was not meant to be anti-Christian, rather they were aiming it at some key celebrities who were abusing their status and the use of Christian symbology in the media and advertising. There's also the crucifix image which in 1991 one was just coming into vogue, but now we see around the necks of so many movie stars, rappers and the like. The video was actually pulled from MTV because its own use (and/or abuse) of the cross. [Aside: This is interesting in light of the recent hubbub on Madonna's use of the crucifix in her performance. However she is blatently attacking the Catholic faith in light of her new embrace of Kabbala.] Back to the Soundgarden song, the lyrics speak to the effect of:

And you stare at me in your jesus christ pose.
Arms held out like you've been carrying a load.
And you swear to me you dont want to be my slave.
But youre staring at me like I need to be saved.

The question here is saved by what?

Blind Boys of Alabama - "Jesus"
from "I'm a Soldier in the Army of the Lord" (2004)

I was going through the CD bins at the local library and saw a Blind Boys release with the song "Jesus" on it. I was hoping this would be their rendition of Lou Reed's song - it is not. However, I do think the chorus is interesting as it makes a statement of a savior found - as opposed to Lou Reed's searching for a savior. The chorus goes:

Jesus - He's got what I want.
He's got what I need.
Only Jesus can satisfy me.

The language of the Blind Boys is Black Gospel. They speak in broad terms how they were, "living in a world of sin" when "Jesus came and took me in" and now they don't need anything else but "Jesus."

I'd recommend the Blind Boys CD with Ben Harper, "There Will Be A Light" (2004) as a CD worthy of some praise.

Velvet Underground - "Jesus"
from "The Velvet Underground" (1969)

Lou Reed and Mo Tucker make an understated cry for a savior in the song "Jesus" which appears the self titled VU (Velvet Underground) disc. The lyric is simple:

Jesus, Jesus, help me find my proper place;
Jesus, Jesus help me find my proper place;
Help me in my weakness 'cos Im falling out of grace;
Jesus, Jesus

I wonder whether Lou Reed was seeking something at this time in his life. A few years later in his song "Busload of Faith" he expresses a loss of faith in God, man and everything esle. Interestingly enough he recently performed/recorded this same song "Jesus" with the Blind Boys of Alabama. So Lou, I'm wondering where is your faith today? It is a beautiful and simple refrain which I'd highly recommend checking out. The entire CD really is a master work worth paying attention to lyrically and musically in light of today's postmodern cultural ideal.