Songs About Religion

[Pomai]

So far we've covered songs with themes about love (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=11960), food (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=12321&highlight=songs+food), color (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=12403), transportation, (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=13571) planets (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=13706), war (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=13829&highlight=songs), crime (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=13825) and numbers (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=13892).

All of those themes have some element of religion, being a part of our past, present and/or future. Whether you're agnostic, monotheistic, polytheistic, Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic, Jewish, or whatever your faith. There's a song that's been written in the name of life, death and spirituality, whether in the place of worship, or in pop culture...

• Tears in Heaven (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRsJlAJvOSM) - Eric Clapton
• Knocking on Heaven's Door (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcWTTs8QVRc) - Guns 'N Roses
• Angel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CbAjj80NIM) - Sarah McLachlan
• God Bless My Daddy (http://www.mele.com/hawaiianMP3s/231_01.mp3) - Dennis Pavao

[1stwahine]

I Can Only Imagine
http://www.andiesisle.com/icanonlyimagine.html

Auntie Lynn

[oceanpacific]

GOD ONLY KNOWS - Beachboys;
HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL - Tavares;
HALF HEAVEN, HALF HEARTCHE - Gene Pitney;
MY SWEET LORD - George Harrison;
HEAVEN - Rascals

Last year, I put out a compilation CD titled HEAVEN AND HELL with lots of songs about devils and angels.

[mel]

Here's a few....

The Lord's Prayer - Sister Janet Mead
One of Us - Joan Osborne
Alive! - Rebecca St. James
I Thank You - Rebecca St. James
America (National Day of Prayer Version) - Rebecca St. James
Wait For Me - Rebecca St. James
On the Third Day - Michael Olson
Heavenly Father - Kitaro
Losing My Religion - R.E.M.
Religion - Elton John
Dominque - The Singing Nun
Day By Day - Godspell
Jesus Take the Wheel - Carrie Underwood
Amazing Grace - Judy Collins, various others
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands - various
Battle Hymn of the Republic - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Carol of the Bells - various artists
Onward Christian Soldiers - various
Rock of Ages - various
God Bless America - Various Artists
God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood

I'm sure there a ton more if you include just about anything from the Contemporary Christian music genre not to mention traditional Christian music sung in Chruches, etc. And I can't even imagine what kind of music other religions have.... so taking this into account, I can see this evolving into a long topic.... I think.

[sinjin]

JOHN LENNON - Imagine

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

[oceanpacific]

HEAVENLY FATHER - Sandy Stewart (a "Hawaii-only" hit);
HEAVEN ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR - Paul Nicholas;
YOU'LL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN - Stylistics;
UNDERCOVER ANGEL - Alan O'Day;
ANGEL OF THE MORNING - Merilee Rush; Juice Newton;
EARTH ANGEL - Penguins;
MY SPECIAL ANGEL - Bobby Helms;
MY ANGEL BABY - Toby Beau

and so many other "angel" and "devil" songs .........................

[Pomai]

MY SWEET LORD - George HarrisonOK, I'll admit, I'm going to hell for NOT being a Beatles fan, but THAT'S the song I was looking for! I kept searching Google for the "hare krishna" song. lol! :o

• BODHISATTVA - Steely Dan
• (Don't Fear) the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
I'm not sure if this song is about Buddhism or religion, but anyways!...
• Karma Chameleon - Culture Club

[MatildaRose]

Ho'omana
More Love, More Power
both by Kawika Kahiapo

[Pomai]

I'm sure there a ton more if you include just about anything from the Contemporary Christian music genre not to mention traditional Christian music sung in Chruches, etc. And I can't even imagine what kind of music other religions have.... so taking this into account, I can see this evolving into a long topic.... I think.Those are good points. Which is why I'm trying to dig up those that are more from the mainstream and Billboard charts. There's also TONS of metal on the subject. Then of course you have all the Christmas music.. yay!

• Fly with Angels - Na Leo Pilimehana
• Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
• Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath
• Gods of War - Def Leppard
• Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden (also applies to the "numbers" thread)
• Highway to Hell - AC/DC (also applies to the "transportation" thread)
• Let There Be Rock - AC/DC (according the "Rock Bible" of Genesis) :cool:

[1stwahine]

If by Bread.

If a picture paints a thousand words,
Then why cant I paint you?
The words will never show the you Ive come to know.
If a face could launch a thousand ships,
Then where am I to go?
Theres no one home but you,
Youre all thats left me too.
And when my love for life is running dry,
You come and pour yourself on me.

If a man could be two places at one time,
Id be with you.
Tomorrow and today, beside you all the way.
If the world should stop revolving spinning slowly down to die,
Id spend the end with you.
And when the world was through,
Then one by one the stars would all go out,
Then you and I would simply fly away

[mel]

One of my favorites that was a big top 40 hit in 1970:


Everything is Beautiful (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xryMJD9TKZQ)* - by Ray Stevens
(partial lyrics below - complete lyrics here (http://www.my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/everything_beautiful.html))

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world;
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight;
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Refrain
Everything is beautiful in its' own way,
Like a starry summer night
or a snow covered winter's day.
Everybody's beautiful in their own way,
Under God's heaven, the world's gonna find a way.

There is none so blind as he who will not see.
We must not close our minds,
we must let our thoughts be free.
For every hour that passes by,
you know the world gets a little bit older.
It's time to realize that beauty lies
in the eyes of the beholder.



* YouTube video link.

Additional Songs

Kanaka Wai Wai - Hui O'Hana or Melveen Leed; others
Jesus Loves Me - traditional written by Anna B. Warner and David Rutherford McGuire; recordings- various artists
God Bless America Again - Loretta Lynn
Why Me - Kris Kristofferson


Border Song - Elton John
Jesus Is Just Alright With Me - Doobie Brothers
In God's Country - U2

[oceanpacific]

[QUOTE=Pomai;170909]OK, I'll admit, I'm going to hell for NOT being a Beatles fan, but THAT'S the song I was looking for! I kept searching Google for the "hare krishna" song. lol! :o

Side-note to MY SWEET LORD: Harrison was judged "guilty of unintended plagiarism" for using the music of HE'S SO FINE, a 1963 hit by the Chiffons. The clincher was a rendition of HE'S SO FINE by Jonathan King (EVERYONE'S GONE TO THE MOON) which was played in court. It overlaid the lyrics of HE'S SO FINE on the musical background of MY SWEET LORD.

[Pomai]

Side-note to MY SWEET LORD: Harrison was judged "guilty of unintended plagiarism" for using the music of HE'S SO FINE, a 1963 hit by the Chiffons. The clincher was a rendition of HE'S SO FINE by Jonathan King (EVERYONE'S GONE TO THE MOON) which was played in court. It overlaid the lyrics of HE'S SO FINE on the musical background of MY SWEET LORD.There's been a few hip hop songs out there that sound like they've plagiarized other music, unless they too "unintentially" wrote something that coincidentally sounded similar.. just not exact.... "different but da' same". lol

Places of worship...
• Church in an Old Hawaiian Town - Braddah Waltah
• The Temples of Syrinx - Rush (one of my favorite tunes by them!)
• Shangrila - Billy Idol

[lavagal]

"Like a Prayer" --Madonna
"Sister Christian" --Night Ranger
"Heaven" --Los Lonely Boys

[TATTRAT]

"Chant A Psalm All Day"=Steel Pulse

[tikiyaki]

OK, I'll admit, I'm going to hell for NOT being a Beatles fan...

Wrong. Hell won't even have you.Even Satan likes the Beatles.

[LovinLK]

Ke Alo O 'Iesu - Dennis Kamakahi
Heaven's Just a Sin Away - Kendalls
Man of Constant Sorrow - Ralph Stanley
Jesus Will Save Your Soul - Reno & Smiley
Little Mountain Church - Doyle Lawson
Prayer Bells of Heaven - Jimmy Martin
No Tears in Heaven - Buck Owens, Kenny Price, Grandpa Jones & Roy Clark
Jacob's Vision - Stanley Bros.
I'll Meet You in the Morning - Browns Ferry Four (& Grandpa Jones)
Sail on Toward Home - Doyle Lawson
Man from Galilee - Greencards
The Old Home Place - J.D. Crowe & the New South
Turn Your Radio On - Rose Maddox
White Dove - Osborne Bros.
On the Wings of a Dove - Ferlin Husky
A Beautiful Life - Chuckwagon Gang
Angel - Sara Storer
Take me in the Lifeboat - Flatt & Scruggs
I'll Fly Away - various artists
Little White Church - Jimmy Martin & Sunny Mountain Boys
Messiah - G. F. Handel
Angel Band - Stanley Bros.
Heaven's Bright Shore - Alison Krauss
I Saw the Light - Hank Williams (and others)
Ezekiel Saw the Wheel - Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Me & God - Josh Turner & Ralph Stanley
A Voice from on High - Ralph Stanley
House of Gold - Seldom Scene
Are You Washed in the Blood - Jim & Jesse
Swing Low Sweet Chariot - Jim & Jesse
O Death - Ralph Stanley
God's Not Dead - Johnson Mountain Boys
Family Reunion - Carl Story
Brighter Mansion Over There - Reno & Smiley
Unclouded Day - Various
The Fields Have Turned to Brown - Seldom Scene
Who Will Sing for Me - Jimmy Martin
The Weapon of Prayer - Louvin Bros.
Kumulipo - Makaha Sons (Hawaiian creation chant)

[oceanpacific]

There's been a few hip hop songs out there that sound like they've plagiarized other music, unless they too "unintentially" wrote something that coincidentally sounded similar.. just not exact.... "different but da' same". lol


M. C. Hammer freely admitted that his YOU CAN'T TOUCH THIS is a direct steal of SUPER-FREAK by Rick James.

SURFING USA by the Beach Boys used the music from Chuck Berry's SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN and is now attributed to Brian Wilson and Chuck Berry.

Other artists produced follow-up tunes to their hits that were so similar that the second recordings did not sell, keeping them in the "one-hit wonder" category:

Chantays: PIPELINE ................ BEYOND;
Pyramids: PENETRATION ......... PRESSURE;
James/Bobby Purify: I'M YOUR PUPPET ........... YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN

[Lalalinder]

Spirit in the Sky Norman Greenbaum

[Pomai]

Wrong. Hell won't even have you.Even Satan likes the Beatles.Guess I'm deemed to Purgatory (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43_8ejiKrFw) by Iron Maiden. Or I could be the Prodigal Son (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUsibOlkt-o), from the same album!

But ultimately, it's all For the Love of God (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NfZBvRvkIg) by Steve Vai. Also check out Cesar Huesca's rendition of For the Love of God (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWgbMY-s_2g). AWESOME!

[GeckoGeek]

Last Kiss - Wayne Cochran & the C.C. Riders or Pearl Jam
The Chapel of Love - Dixie Cups

[mel]

A few more....

Healing Hands - Elton John
The Lord Loves The One (That Loves The Lord) - George Harrison
The Light That Has Lighted The World - George Harrison
Praise the Lord - Poi Dog Pondering
God Bless America - Connie Francis
Yes, I Believe in God - Rebecca St. James
He Loves You - Seawind
The Devil is a Liar - Seawind
Angel of Mercy - Seawind
Hallelujah - Seawind
Hallelujah - Sweathog
The Hallelujah Chorus - from Handel's "The Messiah" (various recordings)
Silent Night - various artists
Hark the Herald Angels Sing - various artists
Joy to the World (Christmas carol) - various artists
Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
Do You Hear What I Hear - Whitney Houston; various other artists
O Come All Ye Faithful - various artists
O Holy Night - various artists
Angels We Have Heard on High - Manheim Steamroller
Away in a Manger - various artists
Teen Angel - Mark Dinning

[Pomai]

• Revelations (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClM5Hqktook) - Iron Maiden
• Holy Diver (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkysjcs5vFU) - Dio
• Sign of the Southern Cross (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY_Cfch-6BE) - Black Sabbath
• Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnsOAnojFVM) - Black Sabbath
• Black Sabbath (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BkhtJM8CqE) - Black Sabbath
• Cathedral (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbgXoit5Jvg) - Van Halen
• Race with Devil on Spanish Highway (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClbE6YEO6e0) - Al Di Meola
• Suite Sister Mary (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKnR9fBC4Tk) - Queensryche (one of their best-written compositions, right Tiki?!)

[akrauth]

I Ke Alo O Iesu
No Kristo
Ua Mau
Hawai'i 78
O 'Oe 'Io
Nu 'Oli
E Ala E (ka la i ka hikina)
E Na Punahele
'Ekolu Mea Nui
Eia Makou
Malama I Ka 'Aina
Shout to the Lord
I Call Him Lord
Kanaka Wai Wai
Eia No Makou Nei
Hawai'i Aloha

Any other songs in 'olelo you can think of that fit into this category? Sorry! I just love songs in 'olelo.

[akrauth]

BTW, the reason I included "I Call Him Lord" in that list is because Na Palapalai sang it.

[modpirate]

Jesus is Just All Right - the Doobie Brothers
East of Ginger Trees - Seals and Croft
Mysterious Ways - U2

[Leo Lakio]

East of Ginger Trees - Seals and Croft(s)You'll find a LOT of religious themes in the songs of these members of the Baha`i faith - "Hummingbird" was a big one.

[modpirate]

What if God Was One of Us - Joan Osborne
Forty Days - Jars of Clay