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