Spiritual popular songs from secular bands

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Hallelujah by Lennard Cohen. I think this qualifies even though it has a different intent and meaning in the Jewish culture. It sounds meditative to me. I like hearing all the different styles that come out of all the people I have heard sing this song.
 
CTBcin said:
I’ve always thought that “Let it Be” was prayerful, especially in reference to “Mother Mary.” I don’t know if the Marian imagery was intended by the Beatles, but I’ve always associated that song with the Blessed Mother.
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You’re free to do that, however (as has been discussed on here before) Paul has said the song is about his late mother who was a Catholic named Mary.
 
I could make a list about 500-1000 songs long here but I’ll just put a few

James Taylor, “Fire and Rain”
Peter Gabriel, “Solsbury Hill”
Black Sabbath, “Heaven and Hell” and “After Forever”
Dio, “Holy Diver”
Norman Greenbaum, “Spirit in the Sky”
 
Persevere by Gang of Youths. Fair warning lots of swearing but a moving sincere song.

These guys are worth checking out in general. I saw them open for Foo Fighters, and I thought they were just as good as Foo Fighters.
 
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While Leonard Cohen was an Orthodox Jew, he was also for a time a Buddhist monk and was very interested in Jesus. He just about covered all the bases.
 
Cut One, “Evil Got a Hold”
Bruce Cockburn, “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”

And Dead South’s awesome live rendition of “This little light of mine”.
 
edward_george1 said:
Show Me How to Live by Audioslave.
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I’m a big Chris Cornell Fan. I found a good article from right after his death. Hopefully, people can remember the many positive things about him.

www.americamagazine.org

The Prayers of Chris Cornell

So many of Cornell’s songs are filled with Christological and sacramental imagery.
www.americamagazine.org www.americamagazine.org
But there is another voice of Chris Cornell, a voice that sang a haunting rendition of Schubert’s “Ave Maria” for a Christmas compilation album; a soulful, almost gospel-like voice that commended to heaven his friend Andy Wood, who died from drugs; a voice that sent out prayers for guidance and peace to his Creator (and whomever else would listen) in songs like “Show Me How to Live” and “Like a Stone” with his second band, Audioslave. So many of Cornell’s songs are filled with Christological and sacramental imagery, even as he groped for peace in the darkness of depression and frustration. His voice was that of many seekers. One hopes he will continue to be a consolation to them, even now that he is gone.
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U2 has many great songs from their early catalog that are religious in nature. They had considered themselves a Christian influenced band until they “evolved”. Some of my favorites are Gloria (Gloria in te domine, Gloria exultate), Red Light, Surrender, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, 40… Many more too.
Lenny Kravitz is another that was unexpected. Are You Gonna Go My Way is about that voice of God working in us.

Good topic. Thanks for starting it.
 
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“Honour Your Mother and Father” by Desmond Decker and the Aces, and “Rivers of Babylon” by the Melodians.
 
One of Dream Theater’s members is a devout Catholic I think his name is John Patrucci
 
U2’s Forty

Higher Love by Steve Winwood

Spirit In The Sky by every band who covered it.
 
The Mary being referenced in the Let It Be song is Paul’s mother Mary McCartney. She died when Paul was 14. It was a profound loss for him.

She appeared to him in a dream when the Beatles were starting to have conflict within the band. In the dream she told him to let it be.
 
dbranch said:
One of Dream Theater’s members is a devout Catholic I think his name is John Patrucci
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Unless I’m mistaken, I’m pretty sure Petrucci, Myung, and Mangini are all some variant of Christian, and at least the first two seem devout. Portnoy has also gone through Alcoholics Anonymous and incorporated the more spiritual aspects of it into the Twelve Step Suite. On the flip side, though, LaBrie was raised Catholic and has since seemed to walk away from religion. I know Rudess is Jewish, but I don’t know if he’s religious, and I don’t know much of anything about Moore.

Whatever, the case, Dream Theater’s lyrics do tend to delve a bit into the spiritual beliefs (or interests) of the band members, more often as a positive than negative.
 
Yes. I learned that recently, I think with his recent interview with James Corden.

On a side note, I had an Italian friend who thought the song was, “Lady Bea”. Which changes the meaning a little.
 
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