Sometimes when I listen to the radio I can’t help but think some songs are about God on some level. Not sure if the songs are completely secular but here it goes:
"I’m not too shy to show I love you, I got no regrets.
I love you much, too much to hide you, this love ain’t finished yet.
This love ain’t finished yet…
So baby whenever you’re ready…
When you’re ready come and get it
This love will be the death of me
But I know I’ll die happily
I’ll know, I’ll know, I’ll know
Because you love me so…"
*- Selena Gomez, Come & Get It *
“Don’t you ever say I just walked away
I will always want you”
- Miley Cyrus, Wrecking Ball
“Let me show you a few things
Show you a few things about love”
*- Justin Timberlake, Suite and Tie *
(Not so much this one when I’m listening to it but the lyrics alone sound good with a crucifix)
It’s all about the intention. I daresay these celebrities, when singing these songs, had no intention whatsoever towards God, but if you sing the song yourself with a mind and heart ordered in prayer, it could certainly be a good prayer for you.
I, personally, would find those songs far too lacking in majesty. If I to sing to God, I’ll probably do it with some kind of liturgical music, not a pop song that has been somewhat removed from its roots.
I agree w/ the 3 posters above me - the intent of those three examples were probably not about God.
That’s not saying that the OP can’t co-opt those songs to give them some personal meaning about God.
The one secular song that many times brings me to tears is Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel. I don’t know what his intent was but it’s a very spiritual song for me.
I agree with the OP. I have been perhaps unconsciously attributing the meaning of many popular songs to God.
I think music and art in general are a subjective matter, in the sense that few songs can objectively trigger an emotion without my own help. In fact, most of the songs in today’s media, are really open to interpretation, or the writers are mostly guided by rhymes or rhythm.
Even if the writer had any message, unless very explicit (sex in the lyrics, etc), once the song is released the writer has no authority over me the listener. I have learnt this with David Lynch getting upset when people demand his interpretations for his movies after released. Other thing to consider about pop music is that often the singers are not the writers and the music was not even originally aimed at them. So, sometimes is not correct to think that just because the singer is Rihanna it should be about her violent ex-boyfriend.
That being said, when it concerns movie, songs, art I have turned into an active listener, and sometimes the music will be about God for me. ‘Come and get it’ is one of them.
I agree with the above, I don’t think those songs have anything to do with God. The only kinda secular song I can think that is about God is testify to love (and I am not fully sure if the origin of that song is secular). There is a Spanish speaking artist called jaci Velasquez who did write a secular song about God called how to heal a wound though.
I also don’t think that the songs were intentionally written about God. But if the Theology of the Body is considered, the longing for that something is often there.
Cornerstone Media encourages young people to find God in secular love songs. They call it Psalm 151.
I can do this with a lot of songs but my songs are In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel or Cuts You Up by Peter Murphy. For awhile it seemed like every song I liked was about the Holy Spirit (and a little on the Charismatic side) and the conversion I was experiencing.
I always thought Kansas’ song “Dust in the Wind” was an ideal song for Ash Wednesday. While the song does not mention God at all – or even a resurrection or an afterlife – the entire song can be summed up as “Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return.”
Debbie Boone always stated that her version of “You Light Up My Life” was a love song to God, a sentiment that apparently bugged the composer, who meant it as a secular song.
“Won’t you look down upon me, Jesus, You’ve got to help me make a stand.
You’ve just got to see me through another day.
My body’s aching and my time is at hand and I won’t make it any other way.
Oh, I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain…”
I was expecting the adjective “secular” would imply that these songs were not written for or about God. But nevertheless I think many secular songs (country, rock, pop, rap, etc.) are actually written for God without the writers and artists knowing it! A yearning for love, even sexual intimacy, can only be fulfilled by the God Who is Love. So love songs, break up songs, challenges, sacrifices, etc. can point to the King of Kings, the God of all. Our love for others stems from love for and from God.
So yeah, many of the hit songs sound great and can be used express love for our True Spouse.
With that in mind:
"I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you baby
I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you baby, baby
The highway won’t hold you tonight
The highway don’t know you’re alive
The highway don’t care if you’re all alone
But I do, I do.
The highway won’t dry your tears
The highway don’t need you here
The highway don’t care if you’re coming home
But I do, I do."
Tim McGraw featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, Highway Don’t Care
“Did you write the book of love, and do you believe in God above. If the bible tells you so.”"
“And the three men I admire most- the Father, son and Holy ghost…”
-Don Mclean American pie
I know a guy how loved the Beatles so much (as I do as well) that he insisted that “The ballad of John and Yoko” was a christian song because of the line
“Christ you know it aint easy. you know how hard it can be. the way things are going they’re gonna crucify me”
I hated to tell him the John Lennon was quasi atheist.
That reminds me of an Ash Wednesday Mass we had in high school where the school’s health teacher/guitar playing music director sang Dust in the Wind while we all went up for ashes.
"So leave it behind 'cause we have a night to get away (away, away)
So come on and fly with me as we make our great escape (escape, escape)
[Chorus:]
So, baby, don’t worry
You are my only
You won’t be lonely
Even if the sky is falling down
You’ll be my only
No need to worry
Baby, are you down? [x5]
Down, down
Baby, are you down? [x5]
Down, down
Even if the sky is falling down
…I’m fighting for this girl on the battlefield of love"
I’ve said on more than one occassion - if I didn’t believe in God, I’d believe in the Beatles.
For a long time when I listened to Imagine, I’d ignore certain lines and justify them in my head. I’m old enough now to say that while much of what Lennon did was great and/or brilliant, he missed the mark. I don’t go out of my way to listen to that song and many times (though not always) if it’s on the radio, I’ll turn the station.
Same with Harrison’s Sweet Lord song. I’d sing over the lines Hare Chrisna with different titles for Jesus. Now I’ve got no problem listening to that song and letting Harrison sing his lyrics. I can appreciate the song and the lyrics and it doesn’t trouble me. I can respect that he was moved to write that song for his sweet lord.
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