TAXONOMY (SUMMARY)
PARAGON
Songs in which Jesus appears not as a human or a theological figure, but rather as a symbol of an abstract idea or character trait. He is usually invoked as the ultimate signifier of whatever is being signified.
Love, faithfulness (mama)
Power - especially in hip-hop: physical strength, romantic ability, wealth
The Game: Black Jesus
Uh, I got black cars, black broad, black Yeezys
Black in a backpack, breathe easy
Black presidential Rolls, black pieces
You know why? Cause I'm the young Black Jesus
Yeah, young Black Jesus
Lil B: Look Like JesusHoes on my dick cause I look like Jesus
Young Based God coming straight
With the heater niggas getting mad cause I
Dress like Jesus Christ
I'm that pretty bitch
I'mma fuck her all nightPropo Boyz: Jesus Christ:
I fuck plenty hoes like I'm Jesus Christ
Turn Sprite into Bo like I'm Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ
Prostitution is my life, bitch I'm Jesus Christ
…
Jesus Christ my swag, that's my fucking swagger
Walk in the club and I climb the ladder
Right up to heaven where my dad was born
I don't give a fuck I'm a unicorn
PERSON
Songs that treat Jesus exclusively as a human figure, shorn of any theological characteristics.
Personal encounters
Biblical retellings
Silly or simplistic
Offensive
Comparisons/Reincarnations: identity
PRESENCE
Songs that reveal a complex or compelling engagement with the questions of Jesus’s meaning and/or significance.
HEAVENLY SAVIOR
Source of forgiveness of sins
POSITIVE
Black Sabbath: After Forever
Have you ever thought about your soul can it be saved?
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead you just stay in your grave
Is God just a thought within your head or is he a part of you?
Is Christ just a name that you read in a book when you were in school?
When you think about death do you lose your breath or do you keep your cool?
Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope do you think he's a fool?
Well I have seen the truth, yes I've seen the light and I've changed my ways
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared at the end of our days
Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
That God is the only way to love
Is your mind so small that you have to fall
In with the pack wherever they run
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say they may as well worship the sun?
I think it was true it was people like you that crucified Christ
I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced
Will you be so sure when your day is near, say you don't believe?
You had the chance but you turned it down, now you can't retrieve
Perhaps you'll think before you say that God is dead and gone
Open your eyes, just realize that he's the one
The only one who can save you now from all this sin and hate
Or will you still jeer at all you hear, yes I think it's too late
CONFLICTED
Concrete Blonde: Jesus, please forgive me for the things I'm about to say
Oh, Jesus, please forgive me for the things I'm about to say
I killed you in my mind today
I cut you up, I watched you bleed
I killed you in my heart today
For everything you did to me
I murdered you a hundred times
I shot you dead and never cried
I killed you in my mind today
I laughed and watched you die
Screaming at me all on fire
Liar, liar, liar
I buried you with my desire
Liar, liar, liar
I buried you so far below
Liar, liar, liar
I hate to see you go
Oh, Jesus, please forgive me
Oh, Jesus, please forgive me
On my knees beside my bed
Liar, liar, liar
I'm sorry for the things I said
Liar, liar, liar
I've washed the sheets a million times
Liar, liar, liar
I'm paying for my crime
NEGATIVE
Catie Turner: God Must Hate Me
Do you ever see someone and think "Wow, God must hate me"
'Cause He spent so much time on them and for me, He got lazy
Got ample mental illness personality flaws
While their only flaw seems to be is that they have none at all
Do you ever see someone and think "Wow, God must hate me"I'll let 'em take accountability
For everything that's wrong with me
Can't hold myself responsible
So I blame the metaphysical
If Jesus died for all our sins
He left one behind, the body I'm in
Same hands that made the moon and the stars
Got carpal tunnel and forgot some partsI don't know what I believe
But it's easier to think
He made a mistake with meOld 97’s: Jesus Loves You
Jesus loves you more than I do
Just because He doesn't know you
Not like I doJesus says you'll get salvation
If you just keep on waitin'
And readin' the same book
Over and over againWell, you can talk to Him all night
But I'm right here
He makes wine from water
But I just bought you a beerYou say Jesus loves you
And I say what about me?
Maybe Jesus loves you
But where the hell is he?He's got the power and the glory
He's got a pretty kick-ass story
And what do I got?
I got the hots for youHe's got the whole world in His hands
I've got a Lone Star in cans
And I'm bringin' one over to you
And I'm sittin' down next to you
JUDGE
Personal
Cody JohnsonL Jesus Ain’t Watching
Traffic's all backed up
My brakes are all jacked up
Well, I wish I had a cold Bud Light in my hand
It's been a month worth of hard work packed down into one week
This country boy's had about all he can stand
Pass a billboard says that Jesus is watchin' you
I hope somebody turns his head
'Cause I know what I'm about to doI'm gonna turn this truck around tonight
Go find me a place with beer on ice
Get loose and get down with a rowdy crowd
I'm gonna find me a little sweet young thing
That talks with a little bit of Texas twang
Find me an old dance floor and spin her around
Well, I sure hope that Jesus ain't watchin' nowI've had it up to here
My paycheck's done cleared
Now I've got everything I need to go and have a good time
And when my day is done, you know I'm gonna go find me a little bit of fun
Get hang up somewhere with tequila, salt and lime
And I'm ready and good for at least a time or two
I've heard all the words about everything I'm not supposed to doTurn, I'm gonna turn this truck around tonight
Go find me a place with beer on ice
Get loose and get down with a rowdy crowd
I'm gonna find me a little sweet young thing
That talks with a little bit of Texas twang
And find me an old dance floor and spin her around
Well, I sure hope that Jesus ain't watchin' nowJ Cole: Chaining Day
Ice on this white Jesus seem a little unholy
The real strange thing about this iced out Rolly
It's the same shit a broke black nigga get gassed at
The same shit a rich white mo'fucka laugh at
Well laugh on white man, I ain't paid as you
But I bet your rims ain't the same age as you
And I ain't got no investment portfolio
But my black and white diamonds shinin' like a Oreo
I know back home where niggas sit today
He rock a chain and he always got some shit to say
Even back when I was broke I knew his shit was fake
He'd prolly sneeze too hard and his shit could break
But hey, you know the sayin', "Fake it 'til you make it"
Me, I did the opposite, made it then I faked it
And actin' like I gave a fuck, money I was savin' up
To buy a crib that's gated to that hundred racks, I gave it up
For what
(I need you to love me, love me)
Chaining day, oh my chaining day
(I need you to love me, love me)
My chaining day
My last piece, I swear, my guilt heavy as this piece I wear
They even iced out Jesus' hair
My last piece, I swear, they even iced out Jesus' hair
Lord
This is the last time
Told my accountant, it's the last time
I swear this is the last time
I know that I said that shit last time
But this the last time
Mama I swear this is the last time
So don't take my chains from me
This is the last time
Cause I chose this slavery
This is the last time
Don't take my chains from me
This is the last time
Cause I love this slavery
I need you to love me, love me, love me...
I said this is my last timeApocalyptic
Black Label Society: Doomsday Jesus
Souls that bleed have nowhere left to run
Blind the crucifix and shoot the gun
Generals speak, we leave a trail of dead
Keep on killing 'til there's nothing left
Doomsday Jesus, we need you nowWill Hoge: Jesus Came to Tennesse
Jesus came to Earth today smack dab into Tennessee
Knocked upon my front door said, "Hey Will, remember me?"
I said, "Oh Lord please forgive me, but I ain't real good with names, but your face looks real familiar. Wait a second, uh, is it James?"
And he said, "No, no, no"
He said, "It's Jesus, you know the son of God" and I didn't realise
I said, "Man, I'm sure sorry" and invited him inside
Offered him a sandwich cause he was looking awful thin
And then I went and got nervous and I said, "So Jesus, where you been?"
And he said "Heaven Will, I've been in heaven"
And then I saw him looking at a picture from my wedding day
Of my wife and me and our one year old son
I said, "I guess that's not OK?"
He said "The truth is all I care about is that you love and take care of your kids.
Remember I was born out of wedlock too, though some folks soon forget. They'd soon forget."
We just sat there talking, watching the TV news
I asked him "Fox or CNN?"
He said, "Will, I prefer the truth."
I said, "PBS, OK my friend" and we both had a laugh
But with the stories they kept showing he started looking pretty sad
It was all war and death and hatred, poverty and greed
He said "The rich folks and politicians are sure starting to get to me. What part of love your neighbor is so hard to understand?"
I said " Don't take it too hard Jesus, let's just take a drive my man. Take a drive my man"
Hopped into my old Ford and went out for a spin
Drove past a military funeral where we saw these angry men
With signs that said that "God hates fags", Jesus said "Let me out"
Walked up to them all calm and cool and I heard one man shout, "Get out of here, you goddamn hippy, I can't wait for you to die."
And Jesus said " I already did" and smiled and waved goodbye
Got in and said "Daddy doesn't hate nobody, that's an awful thing to say. Plus Daddy knows what he's doing. He's the one that made them gay."
—-Pulled up to the playground and Jesus said "Look-ey there."
All the kids were running 'round laughing, there was smiles everywhere.
The white, the black, the Chinese, the short, the fat, the tall.
Christians, Muslims, Jews and Atheists having themselves a ball.
Jesus smiled and said "Well, maybe there's hope for you folks yet. Learn a lesson from your children and try not to forget. And I'll call off this Doomsday, end of the world and I can go back home. It gets wild when I leave Daddy and John Lennon up there all alone."SOURCE OF TRUTH
Rejecting
False/failure (“Liar or Lunatic”)
Slayer: Jesus Saves
You go to the church, you kiss the cross
You will be saved at any cost
You have your own reality
Christianity
You spend your life just kissing ass
A trait that's grown as time has passed
You think the world will end today
You praise the Lord, that's all you sayJesus saves
Listen to you pray
You think you'll see the pearly gates when Death takes you awayFor all respect, you cannot lust
In an invisible man you place your trust
Indirect dependency
Eternal attempt at amnesty
He will decide who lives and dies
Depopulate, Satanic rise
You will be an accessory
Irreverence and blasphemyJesus saves
No need to pray, the gates of pearl have turned to gold
It seems you've lost your wayJesus saves
No words of praise, no promised land to take you to
There is no other wayEffect on individual
Underachievers: Gold Soul Theory
“You’s a fucking livin’ God, why you bowin’ down to Christ.
Nunslaughter: I Hate Christians
It is time to rise and think for yourself;
Be strong inside and don’t ask for help.
Effect on society
Bad Religion: American Jesus
I feel sorry for the earth's population
'Cause so few live in the USA
At least the foreigners can copy our morality
They can visit but they cannot stay
Only precious few can garner the prosperity
It makes us walk with renewed confidence
We've got a place to go when we die
And the architect resides right here
We've got the American Jesus
Fostering their shame on faith
We've got the American Jesus
Overwhelming millions every day
He's the farmers barren fields
The force the army wields
The expression in the faces of the starving millions
The power of the man he's the fuel that drives the clan
He's the motive and conscience of the murderer
He's the preacher on TV, the false sincerity
The form letter that's written by the big computers
The nuclear bombs and the kids with no moms
And I'm fearful that He's inside me
We've got the American Jesus
See Him on the interstate
We've got the American Jesus
Exercising His authorityGenesis: Jesus He Knows Me
Affirming
generally accepting
prophetic (Workshop 2: What if Jesus Came Back Like That?)
seeking/questioning (Workshop 4: If I Believe You)
WORLDLY SAVIOR
Social justice warrior
Woody Guthrie: Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ was a man who traveled through the land
A hard-working man and brave
He said to the rich, "Give your money to the poor,"
But they laid Jesus Christ in His graveCHORUS:
Jesus was a man, a carpenter by hand
His followers true and brave
One dirty little coward called Judas Iscariot
Has laid Jesus Christ in His GraveHe went to the preacher, He went to the sheriff
He told them all the same
"Sell all of your jewelry and give it to the poor,"
And they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.CHORUS
When Jesus come to town, all the working folks around
Believed what he did say
But the bankers and the preachers, they nailed Him on the cross,
And they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.CHORUS
And the people held their breath when they heard about his death
Everybody wondered why
It was the big landlord and the soldiers that they hired
To nail Jesus Christ in the skyCHORUS
This song was written in New York City
Of rich man, preacher, and slave
If Jesus was to preach what He preached in Galilee,
They would lay poor Jesus in His grave.Personal helper
Prayer songs: Workshop 3