KnifeMissile

A friend of mine is a born-again christian and I thought it would be nice to make her a mix-CD of songs about God.

Now, I'm not trying to offend her but I'm not walking in egg shells, either. This is a reasonable person and I just thought it would be a nice gesture and interesting thing to give her a collection of songs about God (preferably good ones, artistically speaking).
Now, what constitutes a song about God is up to you. Is Madonna's (ironic name) Like a Prayer a song about God? Close enough for me...
Anyway, this is what I personally have, so far. If you can add to this list, I would really appreciate it! At the very least, I think it would be interesting...

Definite:

• Dishwalla - Counting Blue Cars (tell me all your thoughts on God)
• XTC - Dear God
• Joan Osborne - What if God Were One of Us
• U2 - The Wanderer (with Johnny Cash)

Possible:

• Concrete Blonde - Help Me!
• Concrete Blonde - Wendy
• Madonna - Like a Prayer
• Belinda Carlisle - Heaven is a Place on Earth
• Smash Test Dummies - God Shuffled His Feet
• Andre Lloyd Webber - Jesus Christ Superstar (okay, he doesn't sing it, but...)
• Band Aid - Do They Know it's Christmas
• Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil
• Jewel - Who Will Save Your Soul

Not really serious but you never know:

• NIN - Closer to God
• Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen
• KMFDM - Godlike
• Front 242 - Welcome to Paradise
• Sting - All This Time
• MC Hammer - Pray

Okay, so the last list reveals just how desperate I am for ideas.
Have you got any? Thanks!


Edit: Just added some more songs that I had forgotten...

Stare At The Sun

Evanescence Tourniquet (A very very good song)

To start, i'll look for more..

Arbiestsheft04

Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the Sky

perripken

I said God damn, God damn the pusher man!
Steppenwolf "The pusher"

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rockzilla

You could throw Andre 3000's "God" in there. It's not a song, it's just Andre praying to find a "sweet bitch, someone with a big ol' ass".

Oh yeah, and apparently, God is a lady.

sherpahigh

You could check out "Dear God" by XTC

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Craven Morehead

Presence of the Lord by Blind Faith

Mojo_PeiPei

Closer to God would not be a good idea imho...

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KnifeMissile

Yeah, Mojo_PeiPei, I know why you'd think that but don't worry. Not only is it in my "not really serious but you never know" category but this is a goth girl I'm talking about and forever will be (by her own admission), regardless of her religion. So the goth/industrial songs aren't totally out of place. Still, I'd rather introduce her to nicer songs. My "definite" list is the kind of thing I'd rather give her...

Thanks to everyone who've entered suggestions. They sound pretty good! I'm hoping to fill a CD, so keep them coming if you can!
Thanks again...

Mojo_PeiPei

Great Gig in the Sky!

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To win a war you must serve no master but your ambition.

CinnamonGirl

Jars of Clay, "Flood." And...hmmm...the Doobie Brothers, "Jesus Is Just Alright." Maybe "Show Me the Way" by Styx or "Shine" by Collective Soul...

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"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

Gortexfogg

Bob Dylan's albums "Slow Train Coming", "Saved" and "Shot of Love" pretty much all mention God. And in a really rocking way too.

monkeydriven

Godless - Dandy Warhols
God - Tori Amos

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anleja

There is a Kingdom - Nick Cave

present_future

Simon and Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson
"Coo coo kutchoo Mrs. Robinson, Jesus loves you more than you could know..."

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Hal Incandenza

The Flaming Lips used to write tons of songs about God and Jesus, including the awesome "Shine on Sweet Jesus," "God Walks among Us Now" and "God's a Wheeler Dealer," both available on The Day They Shot a Hole in the Jesus Egg, which is so worth owning it's not even funny.

Others:

"O My God," the Police
"I Know That You Love Me," the Smoking Popes
"Teenage Superstar," "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam," and "Sex Sux (Amen)," the Vaselines

All I can think of off the top of my head....wait, forgot "Temple of the Lord" by the Saints, whose name alone kind of suggests something....

SecretMethod70

"Dear God" - Boyz II Men (one of my all time favorite songs btw)

"We Dedicate" - All-4-One

I know plenty of others but these 2 are what I thought of off-hand and they're also probably my 2 favorite.

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Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

anleja

"Rejoice and Be Happy" and "Jesus Walking on the Water" are two Violent Femmes songs about God/Jesus.

Also, Tricky does a version of XTC's "Dear God" on his newest album.

DownwardSpiral

If you're making this for a Christian woman as you said, would not be wise to put NIN's 'Closer' on there, listen to if yourself and you'll see what I mean.

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MSD

NIN's Closer is the song. Closer to God is a remix.

BoCo

If you're serious then none of those are God songs. Most Christian music I've heard is crap, by the way. Most people who listen to it think it's great because they've never heard anything else, but I grew up on Led Zep and The Doors so I know what's good.

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merkerguitars

Any Collective Soul....or Supertones are good too

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CS733t

Well you realize that there is a complete Genre of Christian music right? They get very little recognition in the secular world of music.

You can't give someone a CD of "feelgood" or "sounds_christian" music and call it Christian.

Some of my FAVORITE Christian bands:

Third Day
Anberlin
Big Dismal
Newsboys
Jennifer Knapp
Jars of Clay
Lifehouse
Jeremy Camp

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So tired now of paying my dues
I start out strong but then I always lose
It's half the distance before you leave me behind
It's such a waste of time

KnifeMissile

Well, like I've said before, she's a goth girl and nothing in my "not really serious but you never know" list is anything she hasn't heard and enjoyed before...

I know Closer is the original NIN song but Closer to God is much better, in my opinion. Hence, I mentioned it instead...

I didn't want to resort to gospel songs or christian rock 'cause... I wanted the music to be enjoyable. Yeah, I don't have much experience with christian rock but I can't help but think it must suck. Having said that, I am definitely including a Jars of Clay (why did they call themselves that?) song because... well, it's actually a good song! So, perhaps I'm being too prejudiced...

Actually, I've collected a non-trivial number of songs now, perhaps I should post an update?

CS733t

Jars of Clay....because Isaiah 64:8 says:

Yet, O LORD , you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.

The "fact" that Christian music sucks is a myth...perpetuated by non-believers or people who haven't listened to the good stuff. There is no lack of talent.

I bet most of you dont even realize that Switchfoot and POD are christian bands...yet they are popular. Switchfoot's 2nd album Learning to Breathe is one of my favorites.

__________________
So tired now of paying my dues
I start out strong but then I always lose
It's half the distance before you leave me behind
It's such a waste of time

Lebell

"Jesus is Just Alright" - Doobie Brothers
"Spirit in the Sky" - the Kumars

Almost anything by Amy Grant.


I know a lot more (I've done A LOT of church music) but I don't think you would be interested.

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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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World's King

Anything by The Rev. Horton Heat.


ARE YOU A SINNER?

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heavy is the head that wears the crown

lucidity

Breathe-Raise your hands to heaven (80s song, great)

Evanescene-Bring me back to life (controversy on this one, christian community is amazed at how the lyrics can fit to a christian theme, band of course denies it)

REM-Losing my religion

U2 has quite a few biblical references in a lot of their songs. Bono has done some work with christian rock venues like 'Creation', etc. There is even a website dedicated to all their biblical references.

Someone mentioned Tori Amos. She also mentions God & religion often in her songs. She was raised by a preacher. Although, I don't think her song "God" would be appropriate, just like "Closer" wouldn't be either.

May I suggest going to a Christian bulletin board & asking opinions? like www.belief.net or something.

Sounds like a nice thing to do for your friend, good luck.

__________________
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Destrox

1.. maybe 2 songs..

I try to not relate my self with that music.

Occasionally you get a song that mentions god in it tho.

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You bore me.... next.

KnifeMissile

Thank you so much to all who've responded. Here's what I have, so far. A mixture of what people have suggested both here and on usenet, where I asked the same question...

Good Contenders: (in no particular order)

• Jars of Clay - Flood
• Tori Amos - God
• Collective Soul - Shine
• Genesis - Jesus, He Knows Me
• The Police - Oh My God
• Dishwalla - Counting Blue Cars
• Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the Sky
• Band Aid - Do They Know it's Christmas?
• XTC - Dear God
• Joan Osborne - What If God was One of Us
• U2 - The Wanderer
• Concrete Blonde - Help Me!
• Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil
• Jewel - Who Will Save Your Soul?
• Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah
• REM - Losing My Religion
• George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

I'm still undecided with Boyz II Men - Dear God, because while it's a nice song about what we own to Him, it's not exactly to my taste. Then again, what's important is what she likes, not what I like. So, would she enjoy it? I don't know...
I'm also undecided with Andew Lloyed Weber - Jesus Christ Superstar. It's a nice song and all but I'm not sure if it fits in tone, musically, with the rest of the songs. What do you think?
It just occured to me that I could also include INXS - Devil Inside...

Again, I thank everyone who've entered suggestions. I listened to a sample of most of the suggestions offered. If I didn't, it was probably because I couldn't find one, like Nick Cave - There is a Kingdom. This isn't etched in stone, nor is it a Valentine's gift or anything, so more (or better) suggestions are welcome! Comments are, too...

Oh, and thanks, lucidity.