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PRAISE THIS: Top Ten Songs About Jesus

Yes, he loves you. This I know. But churching and gospel singers and hymnals do not own the market on songs of the Christian leader. In fact, many rock and rollers and blues musicians have found that Bible-thumping keeps pretty good time.

So in order to keep my place in line, I offer this Holy Top Ten List.

10. "No Telephone in Heaven" by The Carter Family

Disillusionment came early in music as The Carter Family discovers that God doesn't have everything in heaven, as is commonly preached in the hills. This sweet song from the First Family of Music documents the trials of a young child who longs to speak with their departed mother, only to find she's gone somewhere not even Verizon can reach you.

9. "Jesus Built My Hotrod" by Ministry

This song has it all. Driving speed metal beat, lyrics belted by the son of Dallas' Mr. Peppermint, and spoken word offerings written by the greatest writerin the Southern Gothic pantheon. The song, released in 1991, offers a point of view on Jesus' career previous to being a prophet.

8. "Are You Drinking With Me Jesus?" by Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon

So many times I have walked the beach only to find one set of footprints in the sand. And we've got Jesus alongside us, bragging about how he's always with us. That makes me skeptical and, when I point it out, Jesus (always with an answer for everything...) reminds me that we'd been getting wasted and he's riding on my shoulders. Jesus can party too.

7. "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam" by Nirvana

Sure, you can freak out and rip off my head and remind me that the song was originally written by the Vaselines, but that wouldn't be very Christian of you, would it? Sure, the Scottish alternative group offered the song in response to the children's song "I'll be a Sunbeam," but neither version caused so much as a ripple until Kurt Cobain's classic and memorable MTV Unplugged performance which introduced the world to awesome covers of many standards.

6. "Jesus Walking on the Water" by The Violent Femmes

One of the greatest late-eighties/early-nineties bands details the doubt and glory of Jesus' own greatest hits of miracles. Further proof that Christian deities have a better sense of humor than most others.

5. "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode and Johnny Cash

You know you're cool when Johnny Cash covers you. This song Bible-thumps to a hypnotic, sexy beat and launched Depeche Mode from underground, new wave status to arena rockers. Once Violator hit the charts, buoyed by "Personal Jesus," the Euro-synth quartet's fame launched quicker than if negotiated by the devil. And Johnny Cash's version is made all the more poignant due to the proximity of his own death and mortality. Rocking song with or without keyboards.

4. "Y'all Motherfuckers Need Jesus" by The Goddamn Gallows

This firebreathing Rust Belt band mixes Americana and punk and delivers a whopping sermon on what most folk appear to be missing. And they tell it like it is.

3. "I'm Gonna Build me a Heaven of my Own" by Lightnin Hopkins

My favorite recording artist of all time describes the blueprints of his own afterlife and apparently there are no boys allowed. Only women. The velvet-throated bluesman from Crockett, Texas definitely has style.

2. "God" by John Lennon

Funny how John Lennon, in one song, manages to bring every totem and ideal in society down with the power of his glass-scratched voice and not a single one of his denouncements rip at my soul until he screams "I don't believe in Beatles." Funny that's the line in which I feel he's gone too far.

1. "Jesus Christ" by Slim Cessna's Auto Club

There is no online video of "Jesus Christ," but I can't let that stop me from giving you a dose of Slim Cessna and Jay Munly's on-stage, musical proselytizing. So I linked "Children of the Lord" from their Cipheralbum, but please, do yourself a favor and buy "Jesus Christ" on iTunes or however the kids are listening to music these days.

If it were a Top Eleven, I would have put Kitty Wells' "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels," but if we were allowed extra innings, God wouldn't have cut the Gospel According to Bartholomew.

Did I miss any? Praise the song in the comments below! Or come visit at http://reverenderyk.blogspot.com

Comment by Jack on October 16, 2012 at 11:26am

Comment by Rev. Eryk Pruitt on October 16, 2012 at 11:55am: Oh you are so totally my best friend for posting that. SO AWESOME!!! I just bought it on iTunes so I can listen to it everyday.

Comment by TenLayers on October 16, 2012 at 12:05pm: What about "Jesus, the Missing Years" by John Prine. Love that song

Comment by Kyla Fairchild on October 18, 2012 at 2:25pm: Great list, can't say I'm in the fold, but glad to see that Ministry (the band that is) made it on the ND site!

Here's one of my favorites. Joe Ely doing a cover of Terry Allen's Gimme A Ride To Heaven Boy:

Comment by L A Johnson on October 19, 2012 at 1:42am: John Mellencamp 'When Jesus Left Birmingham'

Comment by Jim Moulton on October 19, 2012 at 2:15am

Comment by Marcel on October 19, 2012 at 4:26am: Hayes Carll - She Left Me For Jesus

Kinky Friedman - They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore

Jim Lauderdale - I Met Jesus In A Bar

George Jones - Taggin' Along With Jesus. The Sacred Shakers (with Eilen Jewell) also do a great version of this song.

And ofcourse : ZZ Top - Jesus Just Left Chicago. Although that might be about the same guy... 'cause Takin' Care of Business is his name....

Comment by Billy Morrison on October 19, 2012 at 4:37am: Ry Cooder Jesus on the Mainline

Comment by Rev. Eryk Pruitt on October 19, 2012 at 8:13am: Man, the Sacred Shakers could totally take over this list quite easily... awesome project.

Comment by Dwight Schrutte on October 19, 2012 at 8:46am: Have to admit - love the topic - not wild about most of your choices -

Some of my list has already been mentioned

Hayes Carll - She Left Me For Jesus

Kinky Friedman - They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore

Ry Cooder Jesus on the Mainline

Gimme A Ride To Heaven Boy:

The Blind boys of Alabama doing Amazing Grace to the tune of House of the rising sun

also covering the rolling stones just wanna see his face

The Byrds - Jesus is Just Alright

Jesus Etc. Wilco

My rides here - Warren Zevon

Jesus And The Liquor Leeroy Stagger

Jesus by Amos Lee

Jesus Gave Love Away for Free by Manassas

Gawd Above, Jericho, I Only Pray At Night, Satan and St. Paul all by John Fullbright

Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore, Everybody, pretty good - all by John Prine

Is There Room on the Cross for Me - Scott Miller

Heavenly Houseboat Blues Townes Van Zandt

Church, God Will, Lyle Lovett

God Only Knows - Beach Boys and Lyles cover of it!

Save Me jesus - Bobby Charles

The Christian Life, Byrds

Talkin' About Jesus Delaney and Bonnie

every grain of sand, Highway 61 revisted gotta serve sombody, With God on our side Dylan

Old Crow Medicine Show – God’s Got It

Uncle Tupelo – Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down

Buddy Miller - Theres a Higher Power, THIS OLD WORLD

The list goes on and on and Im sure Ill remember a bunch more as soon I hit add comment