If Jesus were a Rock Star

This is a series that explores the music Jesus might have written and sung had he been a modern-day musician.  At the bottom of this page is a list with links to the songs I (and anyone else who wishes to be included) have chosen so far. I have limited the list to secular, i.e. non-religious, music.

It is suggested that you listen to the songs, noting any particular phrases that seem to jump out at you and paying attention to any emotions that are evoked. Then reflect on what, if any, eternal truths are evident, and why it has been suggested Jesus would have been happy to sing this song.  Some are obvious, some are a bit more obscure and a few may shock. If you have any ‘aha’ moments in this process, we’d love to hear about them.  Just email Rev. Bob at bobuc2@juno.com.

Rev. Bob’s comments on each song will appear at the bottom of the page of the following song on the list.

Not among the songs Jesus would have sung, but appropriate to this page is the song, “Jesus was a Rock Star”.

Our first offering in Jesus’ repertoire is Gerry Rafferty’s The Ark, which you can hear on YouTube by clicking on this link. 

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To read the lyrics for songs and hear a rendition, click on the links below…

1) “The Ark” by Gerry Rafferty

2) “Have a Little Faith in Me” by John Hiatt

3) “In Every Grain of Sand” by Bob Dylan,
sung by Liz Wright

4) “Jubilee” by Mary Chapin-Carpenter

5) “Riverbed” by Judy Blank

6) “The Hour that the Ship Comes In” by Bob Dylan
sung by Peter, Paul and Mary

7) “All You Zombies” by The Hooters

8) “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley

9) “The Times They are A-Changin'” by Bob Dylan

10) “Starman” by David Bowie

11) “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day” by Bruce Springsteen

12) “Come the Day” by The Seekers

13) “Am I True to Myself” by Lobo

14) “Where is the love” by The Black-Eyed Peas

15) “Get Together” by The Youngbloods

16) “Speak to the Sky” by Rick Springfield

17) “The Light of a Clear Blue Morning” by Dolly Parton
18) “I Saw the Light” by Hank Williams, sung by Josh Turner

19) “How Can I Keep from Singing” by Enya

20) “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen sung by Jeff Buckley

21) “Less of Me” by Glen Campbell

22) “A Reason for It All” by Eric Bogle

23) “You Can’t Be a Beacon” sung by Donna Fargo

24) “Let It Be” by The Beatles

25) “Windfall” by Rick Nelson

26) “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash

27) “One Day at a Time” sung by Merle Haggard

28) “All You Need is Love” by The Beatles

29) “The Only Way Out” sung by Cliff Richard

30) “You’ll Never Walk Alone”sung by Gerry and the Pacemakers

31) “Love is Everywhere” by John Denver

32) “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” sung by Joan Baez
33) “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel

34) “Try a Little Kindness” sung by Glen Campbell

35) “Standing on the Inside” by Neil Sedaka

36) “Imagine” by John Lennon

37) “You’re the Voice” sung by John Farnham

38) “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” sung by The Hollies

39) “Sailing” sung by Rod Stewart

40) “Some Days are Diamonds” sung by John Denver

41) “That’s Freedom” sung by John Farnham

42) “I Love” sung by Cliff Richard

43) “Very Last Day” by Peter, Paul and Mary

44) “Universal Soldier” by Buffy Saint-Marie

45) “End of the Line” by The Travelling Wilburys

46) “What the World Needs Now is Love” by Burt Bacharach

47) “If I Had a Hammer” sung by Peter, Paul and Mary

48) “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel

49) “You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King

50) “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” by Jackie DeShannon

51) “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan

52) “Day is Done” by Peter, Paul & Mary

53) “We Stand Together” sung by Diana Ross

54) “Sing a Song of Freedom” sung by Cliff Richard

55) “I Believe” sung by Perry Como

56) “I Believe in You” sung by Don Williams

57) “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by Pete Seeger sung by The Byrds

58) “Well, Well, Well” by Peter, Paul and Mary

59) “Talkin’ to the Buddha” by Gandalf Murphy
& the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

60) “Spiritual Fantasy” by Steppenwolf

61) “Through the Never” by Metallica

62) “Already Gone” sung by The Eagles

63) “Stones in the Road” by Mary Chapin Carpenter

64) “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz

65) “You Gotta Serve Somebody” by Bob Dylan

66) “River of Dreams” by Billy Joel

67) “Without Love” by Cole Porter sung by Ray Charles

68) “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell

69) “Blue Sky” by the Allman Brothers Band

70) “Heart of Gold” by Neil Young

71) “I Got a Name” by Jim Croce

72) “Impermanent Things” by Peter Himmelman

73) “Little Wonders” by Rob Thomas

74) “Spirits in the Material World” by The Police

75) “Crackerbox Palace by George Harrison

76) “Such is Love” by Peter, Paul and Mary

77) “Down to the River to Pray”
sung by Allison Krauss & Union Station

78) “Three Wooden Crosses” by Randy Travis

79) “Long Black Train” by Josh Turner

80) “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood

81) “Ever Since the World Began” by Survivor

82) “More to Life” by Stacie Orrico

83) “Pacing the Cage” by Bruce Cockburn

84) “Man in the Mirror” sung by Michael Jackson

85) “Chained to the Rhythm” by Katy Perry

86) “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day

87) “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

88) “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons

89) “Someday” sung by Jackie Evancho

90)  “Love Can Build a Bridge” by The Judds

91) “You’ve Got to Stand for Something” by Aaron Tippin

92) “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas

93) “Unanswered Prayers” by Garth Brooks

94) “I Hope You Dance” sung by Lee Ann Womack

95) “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles

96) “The Fool on the Hill” by The Beatles

97) “Same Love” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

98) “Daughters” by John Mayer

99) “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M.

100) “Live Like You Were Dyin'” sung by Tim McGraw

You will note the list is heavy with songs from the 60s and 70s, not only because these were the years of Rev. Bob’s adolescence and early adulthood, but because these chaotic years spawned more than the usual number of prophetic songs and songs about building a better society.  Music from the 80s onward tended to be more focussed on the individual – the ‘me’ generation – and so the pickings for Jesus got slimmer. This is not to say there were no appropriate songs from which to choose, but Rev. Bob is not as familiar with the music of later generations.  Thanks to Susie Seale for helping in this regard.  If younger visitors to this site wish to help me out,  we  would be most grateful.  Send suggestions to bobuc2@juno.com

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