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Not-quite-gospel songs
Being a sort of non-traditional believer, I'm looking for more songs like the three I list at the bottom. Songs that could almost be sung in church, if not for that glimmer of doubt or of longing for worldly things.
1. Billy Joe Shaver- "If I Give My Soul": One of the saddest songs I've heard, where Billy Joe ponders asking the Lord to bring back his wife and son whom he let slip away through alcoholism and a cantankerous lifestyle. Ultimately though, it is inconclusive. In the course of the song he never actually asks God for forgiveness, just thinks about doing so.
2. Al Green- "Belle": I seriously believe that most pastors would much rather have "Kick Out the Jams" played in their church than the original recording of this soul classic. Green, already a Reverend by the time this song, the title track from what would be his last secular album for 25 years, was released, explores the conflict of the physical and spiritual. Namely of wanting to have sex with a woman, yet not being inclined to waver in his duty to uphold God's word. And I'm guessing that when Anita Bryant first heard Green sing the line "it's you that I want, but it's Him that I need" on the radio back in '77 she damn near had a heart attack.
3. John Mellencamp- "A Ride Back Home": From one of his newer releases, this is possibly Mellencamp's best tune. He begins by asking Jesus for "a ride back home" and goes on to explain that most of the strength he had when he was younger has left him along with "promise" he was showing. By the end of the very depressing number (No Depression indeed), he has admitted that "When I'm out here walkin' alone/I feel like takin' my life but I won't," but continues to hold out hope for Jesus to come and rescue him from his misery.
Any other similar numbers I should know about?
1. Billy Joe Shaver- "If I Give My Soul": One of the saddest songs I've heard, where Billy Joe ponders asking the Lord to bring back his wife and son whom he let slip away through alcoholism and a cantankerous lifestyle. Ultimately though, it is inconclusive. In the course of the song he never actually asks God for forgiveness, just thinks about doing so.
2. Al Green- "Belle": I seriously believe that most pastors would much rather have "Kick Out the Jams" played in their church than the original recording of this soul classic. Green, already a Reverend by the time this song, the title track from what would be his last secular album for 25 years, was released, explores the conflict of the physical and spiritual. Namely of wanting to have sex with a woman, yet not being inclined to waver in his duty to uphold God's word. And I'm guessing that when Anita Bryant first heard Green sing the line "it's you that I want, but it's Him that I need" on the radio back in '77 she damn near had a heart attack.
3. John Mellencamp- "A Ride Back Home": From one of his newer releases, this is possibly Mellencamp's best tune. He begins by asking Jesus for "a ride back home" and goes on to explain that most of the strength he had when he was younger has left him along with "promise" he was showing. By the end of the very depressing number (No Depression indeed), he has admitted that "When I'm out here walkin' alone/I feel like takin' my life but I won't," but continues to hold out hope for Jesus to come and rescue him from his misery.
Any other similar numbers I should know about?
Views: 94
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by chris sweeney on
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Kristofferson's "Why Me?" comes to mind.
Tracy Chapman's "All That You Have Is Your Soul"
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Permalink Reply by Jack on -
First song I thought of was Live Forever by Billy Joe Shaver. We have a 7 year old boy and when I hear this song, a prayer, really, it makes me think of his future and hits me square in the gut every time.
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Permalink Reply by Craig Young on -
One of my faves of the year, Herbie Hancock - "Space Captain" from the album The Imagine Project (feat. Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks)
Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama - "I Shall Not Walk Alone" from the album Higher Ground
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The Byrds (Louvins) "The Christian Life"
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Permalink Reply by Dustin Ogdin on -
Me & God - Avett Bros. (may still be a little too based in traditional belief to hit what you're looking for.)
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Permalink Reply by Adam Sheets on -
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm familiar with most of these tunes and will definitely include them in the playlist I'm compiling.
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Permalink Reply by nljfs on -
I've only heard Jim Byrnes doing "What are they doing in Heaven today" -- I think that several of the songs on his "House of Refuge" album would be in line with what you are looking for. "Of Whom Shall I be Afraid" on that album is wonderful. "Just a Pilgrim" from his "Fresh Horses" album too. Check out his My Walking Stick, there might be a song or two that fits on that one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuppGuMei48 -- "Of Whom Shall I be Afraid" It has a long intro, since it was filmed at a festival.
"Just a Pilgrim" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-CCXC96VM4
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Brown on -
1. Most of Buddy Miller's "Universal United House of Prayer"
2. Anything by the late Mark Heard (who wrote the first song on Buddy Miller's album)
3. Bruce Cockburn's "All the Diamonds in the World", "Rumours of Glory", "Strange Waters", "Down Here Tonight" and a whole bunch of others.
4. Victoria Williams' "Psalm" at the end of her great album "Loose"
5. Several songs on the Neville Brothers "Brother's Keeper"
6. Several songs on Murry Hammond's (Old '97s) solo album "I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I'm on My Way" (which also includes "What Are they Doing in Heaven Today")
7. "I Will Follow" by U2
8. "How Can I Keep from Singing" - Pete Seeger
9. "Transit" by Richard Shindell
10. "Bread and Wine" by Eric Taylor
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Permalink Reply by Adam Sheets on
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And another Pete Seeger number called "Quite Early Morning."
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Permalink Reply by David Stone on
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I made a cd a couple of years ago and called it Not Quite Gospel. Some of the songs I put on it were Neko Case- John Saw That Number, Joseph Arthur- Dear Lord, Holmes Brothers version of (What's so funny 'bout) peace, love, and understanding?, Mary Gauthier- Mercy Now, Ernest Payne- Curse of Hamm, Josh Rouse- Sparrows over Birmingham and Jim Lauderdale- That's Why We're Here
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