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“10 Songs Where the Ten Commandments Were Broken” compiles songs where musicians broke one or more of the Ten Commandments.  Featured artists include Alicia Keys, Green Day, and Kendrick Lamar.

Popular music isn’t known for its morality.  Given that truism, it’s no surprise that musicians break the famous Ten Commandments ‘left and right.’ It seems, judging by the music that’s available that they simply didn’t read or adhere to Exodus 20: 3 – 17, the passage of The Bible that discusses the Ten Commandments. This playlist is NOT a preachy sermon in the least.  It’s simply a fun list of songs where artists broke a specific commandment or several commandments.  Artists featured on 10 Songs Where the Ten Commandments Were Broken include Alicia Keys, Green Day, and Kendrick Lamar among others.

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³ You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)

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1. Green Day, “Jesus of Suburbia”

American Idiot • Reprise • 2004

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“I’m the son of rage and love

The Jesus of Suburbia

From the bible of “none of the above.”

Despite its ample religious references, Green Day aren’t praising God on “Jesus of Suburbia.” Clearly, this Jesus of Suburbia has no part of the Holy Trinity. With Billie Joe Armstrong asserting he’s “From the bible of ‘none of the above’,” the Jesus of Suburbia is a false god, not the God. Continue to sift through the lyrics of the conceptual rock song and it’s definitely NOT biblical! Over its course and many parts, it’s clear that the protagonist is rebellious and could care less about moral and spiritual authority – he is on his own path and controls his own destiny.

“Everyone is so full of shit

Born and raised by hypocrites

Hearts recycled but never saved

From the cradle to the grave.”

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⁴ You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…  (Exodus 20:4-5)

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2. Kendrick Lamar, “GOD.”

DAMN.• Interscope • 2017

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Damn, DAMN. is one hell of a deep album by rapper extraordinaire Kendrick Lamar.  Sigh, and the previous statement certainly wasn’t very Christian in the least. Neither is the song “GOD.,” the penultimate record from DAMN. Here, Kendrick Lamar addresses the overconfident notion of god status. God status is clearly different from being God-fearing, let alone properly Christ-like. The chorus is the ultimate flex-fest, with celestial, triumphant production work to match:

“This what God feel like, huh, yeah

Laughin’ to the bank like, ‘A-ha!’, huh, yeah

Flex on swole like, ‘A-ha!’, huh, yeah

You feel some type of way, then a-ha!

Huh, yeah (a-ha-ha, a-ha-ha).”

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⁷ “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

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 3. Dirty Heads, “God Damn Liar”

SWIM TEAM • Five Seven Music • 2017

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There’s absolutely no Godly way to spin it, not that Dirty Heads are trying to. “God Damn Liar” has nothing to do God – NOTHING.  While the production work is heavenly with its fantastic reggae cues, the lyrics and performances by Dirty J and Duddy B are savage.  Profane, unapologetic, and most certainly “misuses the name of the Lord your God.” Between the pre-chorus and the chorus, the word god damn is uttered nine times!

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⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God… ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.

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4. Maroon 5, “Sunday Morning”

Songs About Jane • A&M • 2002

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“Sunday morning, rain is falling

Steal some covers, share some skin…”

Few will deny that “Sunday Morning” ranks among the best Maroon 5 songs.  That said, the 2002 gem isn’t quite in line with The Ten Commandments.  While Adam Levine and his girlfriend rest on Sunday, they don’t exactly “keep the Sabbath holy.”

“…Come and rest your bones with me

Driving slow on Sunday morning

And I never want to leave.”

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¹² “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

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5. Alicia Keys, “Kill Your Mama”

HERE • RCA • 2016

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“Kill Your Mama” represents a stark contrast for Grammy-winning R&B musician Alicia Keys.  This incredibly raw record, accompanied by guitar, lacks the classiness and finesse of her past records.  Clearly this was the intent, but ultimately, this Emeli Sandé co-write feels somewhat undercooked.  But the record also lacks finesse in a bigger, more spiritual way.  The commandment states to “honor your father and your mother,” not kill them! Furthermore, it’s a double whammy, as Exodus 20:13 reads, “You shall not murder.”

“Is there any savin’ us
We’ve become so dangerous
Is there any changing us
Even for the sake of love
How you gonna kill your mama
When only mama is gonna love you to the grave.”

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¹³ “You shall not murder.

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6. Billie Holiday, “Gloomy Sunday”

The Centennial Collection • Columbia • 2015

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“Gloomy Sunday” is a radiant gem that has been covered by numerous musicians, including the late, great Billie Holiday.  It’s also chilling and haunting, thanks to its morbid content. The song’s protagonist exhibits suicidal thoughts:

“My heart and I have decided to end it all

Soon there’ll be candles and prayers that are sad.”

More disturbing is the fact “Gloomy Sunday” has earned the reputation as the Hungarian suicide song. God said to rest on the Sabbath Day as well as to keep it holy.  He definitely didn’t encourage suicide (self-murder).

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¹⁴ “You shall not commit adultery.

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7. Jay-Z, “4:44”

4:44 • Roc Nation • 2017

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“4:44,” the title track from Jay-Z’s 2017 album, was conceived at 4:44 A.M. and clocks in at 4:44 in length. While the production and overall sound are radiant, the message is truly ear-catching.  Jay-Z apologizes to Beyoncé for his infidelity– starting from the opening tip.  Give the rapper credit for admitting to being adulterous, and towards the stunning Beyoncé of all people.  At least God forgives.

“Look, I apologize, often womanize
Took for my child to be born, see through a woman’s eyes
Took for these natural twins to believe in miracles
Took me too long for this song, I don’t deserve you.”

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¹⁵ “You shall not steal.

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8. Ty Dolla Sign, “Stealing”

Campaign • Atlantic • 2016

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“Stealing” commences with Ty Dolla $ign singing in gritty, somewhat crude fashion (“yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah…”) – predictable.  Ty may not be stealing material things, but he does “steal all these b**ches’ hearts.” Still, if we read the commandment literally, HE SHOULDN’T BE DOING THAT! He even addresses his parents about his criminal behavior.  “Momma please don’t judge me cause I’m a criminal” and “Daddy please believe me, ‘cause you know I be a criminal.

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¹⁶ “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

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9. Eminem, “Framed”

Revival • Aftermath / Shady • 2017

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The ninth commandment gets a bit tricky, depending upon how you read into it. The King James Version of the scripture words the potential offense as “bear false witness against.” The first word that likely comes to mind when interpreting that phrase is lying. But, lying is likely an oversimplification.  Perhaps this commandment should be viewed more in terms of defamation or perjury.  That’s sort of what happens on the Eminem record “Framed”, at least from his perspective.  That said, he might be guilty of breaking the sixth commandment (“You shall not murder”). Ultimately, he claims he’s been framed for murder, rapping on the third verse:

“But it never occurred to me I could describe a murder scene

In a verse and be charged with first degree

‘Cause it just happened to match up perfectly

With the massacre or the Burger King burglary

No, officer, you see

I was framed…”

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¹⁷ “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

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10. G-Eazy, “I Mean It”

Ft. Remo

These Things Happen • G-Eazy • 2014

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Stealing isn’t cool – that’s what God said in his tenth commandment.  Apparent, G-Eazy missed the memo – many times in fact.  “I Mean It” marked the start of the girlfriend-stealing from G-Eazy. Essentially, the cocky playboy is poppin’ so hard he can have any girl he wants, whether she’s taken (“his neighbor’s”) or not.

“You really think she stay true? I doubt it

Cause I’m f**king your girlfriend, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

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