11 Secular Songs from 2019 That Reference Jesus or God | Playlist 🎧

11 Secular Songs from 2019 That Reference Jesus or God features songs by Blake Shelton, Kanye West, Roddy Ricch, Taylor Swift & Thomas Rhett.

“Every knee shall bow / Every tongue confess / Jesus is Lord / Jesus is Lord.” Yes, Kanye West proclaimed his love for Jesus throughout the course of his surprising, 2019 album, JESUS IS KING.  Of course, the lyrics from “Jesus is Lord”, the closing song, are Biblical.  Compared to other artists on the playlist at hand, 11 SECULAR SONGS FROM 2019 THAT REFERENCE JESUS OR GOD, West seems to at least have his heart – rather his ‘soul’ – in the right place.

Although both Jesus and God are referenced throughout the songs comprising 11 SECULAR SONGS FROM 2019 THAT REFERENCE JESUS OR GOD, that doesn’t make this the playlist to present to the clergy – FACTS.  Don’t lean on these 11 songs to save you – you’ll be sadly disappointed.  Salvation aside though, this list is pretty sweet, featuring songs by Blake Shelton (“God’s Country” and “Jesus Got a Tight Grip”), Kanye West (“Follow God” primarily), Roddy Ricch (“God’s Eyes), Taylor Swift (“False God”), and Thomas Rhett (“Look What God Gave Her”). Without further ado, let this secular Jesus-/God-loving playlist commence!

1. Taylor Swift, “False God”

Lover • Republic • 2019

Arguably, Taylor Swift released the best pop album of her career with Lover.  Sure, 1989 (2014) was her most important pop album, and another key milestone in her illustrious career, but Lover is arguably the more polished album.  A couple of singles released in advance of Lover made skeptics question the potential quality of the album (“ME!” and “You Need to Calm Down” specifically), but it ended up being a B-O-P overall.  Perfectly fitting this secular, Jesus/God referencing playlist is the unlucky 13^th track from the album, “False God.”

“False God” stands out on Lover for numerous reasons.  These reasons include playful, rhythmic melodic lines sung respectably by Swift, as well as unique production by pop’s “it” producer, Jack Antonoff – he certainly blew up post-Fun, didn’t he?  Some of the elements of the production that shine include the beat/groove, synths and keyboards, and the harmonized saxophone lines, definitely a retro cue.  Beyond the melody, production, and vocals, the other big selling point is, as you might’ve guessed, the religious allusions that appear throughout.  The chorus is a prime example:

“But we might just get away with it
Religion’s in your lips
Even if it’s a false god
We’d still worship
We might just get away with it
The altar is my hips
Even if it’s a false god
We still worship this love
We still worship this love
We still worship this love.”

2. Justin Moore, “Jesus and Jack Daniels”

Late Nights and Longnecks • Big Machine Label Group, LLC • 2019

“Jesus and Jack Daniels” arrives as a standout from Late Nights and Longnecks, the fifth studio album by Arkansas country singer Justin Moore.  While Late Nights and Longnecks isn’t the most accomplished album by Moore (Kinda Don’t Care was stronger in my humble opinion, but I don’t wanna say too much lest Moore decides to “kick my ass”), “Jesus and Jack Daniels” has a case for the crowning achievement of the LP. Intriguingly, the record represents two contrasting perspectives, both of which often occur simultaneously in country music.

According to Justin Moore, “Mama loved Jesus, Daddy loved Jack Daniels / … Between the two of ‘em, wasn’t nothing they couldn’t handle.” So, we have ‘The Most High’ and beer – sounds about right. Throughout the song, Moore lovingly paints a picture of their differing philosophies – “His taste for Lynchburg and her grace from John 3:16.”

3. Blake Shelton, “God’s Country”

Fully Loaded: God’s Country • Ten Point Productions / Warner • 2019

“The devil went down to Georgia, but he didn’t stick around / This is God’s country.” Veteran country musician Blake Shelton returned with a superb, moving, and powerful hit with “God’s Country”, which appears on his compilation, Fully Loaded: God’s Country. “God’s Country,” set in a minor key, has a darker, more enigmatic quality compared to many songs that Shelton has released in the past, not to mention the country music that dominates the radio these days.  Perhaps what truly makes “God’s Country” stand out is that it hearkens back to the outlaw sound of old.

Even with vintage vibes tapped, “God’s Country” still sounds fresh, and even incorporates some modern cues within its production to give it that extra oomph.  Where the ‘bread is buttered’ is the songwriting, which features underrated California country singer/songwriter Devin Dawson as a co-writer.  The crowning achievement lyrically comes on the big-time chorus, where Blake Shelton is turned-up and locked-in to the nth degree.  Shelton deserves ample credit for one of the grittiest performances I’ve personally heard from him.  He perfectly captures the pride he and the citizens have for the United States, as well as the awesomeness of who ultimately created it. Notably, “God’s Country” was selected as one of the 51 Best Songs of 2019: Year in Review.  It also appeared on the playlist, 15 ‘G’ Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason.

4. Alec Benjamin, “Jesus in LA”

Jesus in LA – Single • Alec Benjamin • 2019

“And that is when I knew that it was time to go home / And that is when I realized that I was alone…” Jesus and Los Angeles – two things that don’t seem to go together.  Obviously, that’s not a true statement, but not the first city one associates with ‘The Most High.’  Honestly, the Alec Benjamin song “Jesus in LA” isn’t really about The Son of God, but ultimately, about a ‘Christ illusion’ of sorts.  The illusion for the Narrated for You pop singer/songwriter was finding happiness and success in L.A., which can be paralleled with Jesus.  Ultimately, Los Angeles was not his saving grace.  Surprising because it’s incredibly hard to imagine Benjamin was dropped by a major label, particularly with his distinct, boyish voice.  “Jesus in LA” is another gem for him.

Throughout the course of “Jesus in LA,” Alec Benjamin does a stellar job incorporating religious imagery, beginning with the opening line of the first verse (“Well, I shook hands with the devil / Down on the south side…”).  The most interesting lyrics definitely hail on the pre-chorus and chorus sections.  On the pre-chorus, Benjamin sings:

“I’ve been looking for my savior
Looking for my truth
I even asked my shrink
He brought me down to his level
Said, ‘Son, you’re not special
You won’t find him where you think.’”

Essentially, success didn’t happen for Benjamin in Los Angeles, a place where so many go to become a ‘star,’ and few make it.  He continues on the chorus, from the perspective of the shrink:

“‘You won’t find him down on Sunset
Or at a party in the hills
At the bottom of the bottle
Or when you’re tripping on some pills
When they sold you the dream, you were just 16
Packed a bag and ran away
And it’s a crying shame you came all this way
‘Cause you won’t find Jesus in LA.”

Alec Benjamin came to realize he didn’t need L.A. to be his savior – he already had everything he needed with his family and within himself. “Jesus in LA” previously appeared on the playlist, 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in July 2019.

5. Kanye West, “Follow God”

JESUS IS KING • Getting Out Our Dreams, II / Def Jam • 2019

“Follow God,” which appears on the critically mixed, 2019 Kanye West album, JESUS IS KING, seems to recall a previous West record, “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1” (The Life of Pablo, 2016).  The intro is the first indication of this (“Father, I stretch / Stretch my hands to you”). Whole Truth is sampled, with the song, “Can You Lose by Following God” fueling the fire of “Follow God.”

Brief (sub two minutes in duration), West only serves up one verse of song, plus and outro.  His flow is a selling point here, riding the sample respectably.  Throughout the course of the record, he revisits arguments with his dad, where he seemed to be tussling with sin and faith itself (“Screamin’ at my dad and he told me, ‘It ain’t Christ-like’”). Of course, JESUS IS KING isn’t shy on Jesus- and God-referencing songs.  In addition to the aforementioned “Jesus is Lord” and the song at hand, West serves up “On God” and “God Is”.

6. JPEGMAFIA, “Jesus Forgive Me, I Am a Thot”

All My Heroes are Cornballs • EQT Recordings • 2019

“Huh, sucka, I’m prominent, I was anonymous / I been in front of you every time…” “Jesus Forgive Me, I Am a Thot” – what a song title! Any song title that manages to incorporate one of hip-hop’s favorite slang words, thot, piques interest.  “Jesus Forgive Me, I Am a Thot” arrives courtesy of underrated alternative rapper and producer JPEGMAFIA (Barrington DeVaughn Hendricks).  The colorful record appears on Hendricks’ 2019 critically-acclaimed studio album, All My Heroes are Cornballs.

Starting with the noisy intro, “Jesus Forgive Me, I Am a Thot” makes the listener wonder WTF is going on.  Things settle in more on the first verse, but JPEGMAFIA throws a lot of different things at the listener within the rapping and singing itself.  That includes vocal inflections, shouting, coupled with vocal effects.  More interesting is how JPEGMAFIA manages to reference religion, sex (“Show me where the prophets go / Show me how to keep my pussy closed”), and the state of his career (“Pray I end up like Charlize Theron”). Ultimately, “Jesus Forgive Me, I Am a Thot” is quite a reflective number, including pop cultural references to Britney Spears (“Britney, this is a sign / Pray you grow healthy and hit your prime”) and David Byrne (“Speaking in tongues like David Byrne”). He even closes the song out with ‘praise’: “Praise the motherfuckin’ lord.” Jesus Forgive Me, I Am a Thot” previously appeared on 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in August 2019 and 13 Songs That Explore the Power of Forgiveness.

7. Marilyn Manson, “God’s Gonna Cut You Down”

God’s Gonna Cut You Down – Single • Marilyn Manson / Loma Vista • 2019

“Go tell that long tongue liar / Go and tell that midnight rider / Tell the rambler, the gamble, the back biter / Tell ‘em that God’s gonna cut ‘em down.” “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” is a traditional song that has been covered by numerous musicians.  Famously, Johnny Cash recorded a version of the song that was released posthumously as the second track on his 2006 album, American V: A Hundred Highways.  The cut is quite chilling in Cash’s hands.  Now, imagine “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” in the hands of Marilyn Manson – wow!

Manson released his take on “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” in October 2019.  There are similarities in the arrangement to the Johnny Cash version, maintaining the same chilling sensibility.  Even so, the Tyler Bates production sounds more contemporary, even with its retro sensibilities.  The guitar lines are particularly eerie, with some ‘in your face’ distortion playing a role later in the song as well. This is worlds apart from what we’re accustomed to hearing from Marilyn Manson characteristically.  That said, he remains true to himself – eerie AF.  At times he pulls back, while at others, he is more assertive.  Consistently, he sounds hellish and quite anti-religious to say the least!

All in all, Marilyn Manson delivers nothing short of a unique, twisted take on “God’s Gonna Cut You Down.”  Bates’ production shines, particular the contrasts to the Cash version, while Manson is, well, Manson! While the success of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” isn’t an endorsement of MM turning to country/folk music, it is quite intriguing to say the least.

8. Zack Fox & Kenny Beats, “Jesus is the One (I Got Depression)”

Jesus is the One (I Got Depression) – Single • D.O.T.S. / Zac Fox, LLC / EMPIRE • 2019

“Bitch, you better praise God or I’ma shoot, and that’s on God / I ain’t playin’ ‘bout my Lord and Savior… / If you ain’t a Christian, I’ma stab you in the face…” Wow… Let’s just cut right to the chase.  “Jesus is the One (I Got Depression)” is certainly the least likely record on this list to give you soul saving salvation – if that’s what you seek, of course.  “Jesus is the One” is a collaboration between multi-talented entertainer Zack Fox and music producer Kenny Beats.  Running south of two minutes in duration, Zack and Kenny keep things brief, but the content is certainly, um, intriguing if also blasphemous.

As the opening lyrics (aforementioned) suggest, Zack Fox is not taking the Jesus thing seriously, and based on this song, neither should you.  The bars he spits are a blend of hilarious, outlandish, and of course, utter blasphemy.  He coldly spits, “R.I.P. Betty White / She ain’t dead but for when she die ‘cause I know it’s comin’ up…” Wow! There’s also the self-indulgent, “I take the condom off and drunk my nut, it’s delicious,” which is definitely TMI.  But of course, there’s more insaneness over Kenny Beats’ banging production work.  “I dip my balls into some thousand island dressin’ / ‘Cause I got depression.” Really Zack, really? And he closes with a bang – well reference to a sexual act: “I put my dick in a bag of Doritos / And made this nigga bitch suck the dust off the tip.” Again, if you are seeking soul-saving salvation, “Jesus is the One (I Got Depression)” won’t save you – just saying!

9. Roddy Ricch, “Gods Eyes”

Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial • Atlantic • 2019

21-year old Roddy Ricch had a breakout year in 2019. He had a hit with Mustard on the single, “Ballin’”, which appeared on the album, Perfect Ten.  More notably, the Compton, California rapper’s debut studio album, Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial, debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200. Given the Jesus-, God-loving sentiment of this particular playlist, it’s the perfect place forum for the song, “God’s Eyes.” It appears as the seventh track on Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial and features solid production work courtesy of Sonic.

“God’s Eyes” is a brief number that clocks in under two-minutes-and twenty seconds in duration, it’s a reflective record about coming up and overcoming.  Is there anything particularly religious about “God’s Eyes?” No, unless money is likened with religion or relationship with God, etc.  Even Roddy Ricch’s references to Genesis isn’t Biblical – “Back in Genesis I was O.T. with the coco…”  Nonetheless, Ricch makes some relevant points on this secular joint.  He kicks off his bars with bang: “He thought the money make you happy, it don’t make you different / I start to see that shit myself when I got a couple million.”  The chorus is a definite selling point:

“These streets by my side, you don’t want war with us
I felt so stuck in my life I had to pour me a cup
If I hurt your feelings, I’m sorry, I don’t apologize
My penthouse got a bird’s view through God’s eyes…”

10. Blake Shelton, “Jesus Got a Tight Grip”

Fully Loaded: God’s Country • Ten Point Productions / Warner • 2019

Blake Shelton is the sole artist to make a second appearance on 11 Secular Songs from 2019 That Reference Jesus or God.  Yes, the magnificent “God’s Country” would’ve sufficed, but Shelton has another godly number on his greatest hits compilation, Fully Loaded: God’s Country.  That other gem references God’s son, Jesus – “Jesus Got a Tight Grip.”

On “Jesus Got a Tight Grip,” Blake Shelton appears to be tight with Jesus, even though he’s one totally flawed, imperfect individual.  “Well I ain’t never been an angel / I ain’t never been called a saint,” he sings on the first verse, later adding, “But good thing I had a good raisin’ / For all the Hell I’ve raised since then.”  Essentially, Shelton has lived life to the fullest, with all its vices – “Now I’ve been a little more cold beer / Than holy water, it’s true” – yet he had a strong, morally sound, religious upbringing. On this lively, gospel-tinged country number, Shelton commands vocally, particularly on the centerpiece, the chorus.

“‘Cause Jesus got a tight grip on my soul
And He ain’t letting go, He ain’t letting go
The Devil reaches out but He can’t grab hold
‘Cause Jesus bot a tight grip on my soul…”

11. Thomas Rhett, “Look What God Gave Her”

Center Point Road • Big Machine • 2019

“Look What God Gave Her”, an advance single from the Grammy-nominated Best Country Album, Center Point Road, blends contemporary country and modern pop. The result is a very sleekly produced record. As always, Thomas Rhett delivers beautiful vocals that are ultimately well-produced.

On the relatively quick-paced “Look What God Gave Her,” Rhett manages to keep things brief, south of three minutes in duration. The chorus is memorable, with some ‘swagger’ about it – rhythmically, embracing a ‘hip-hop identity,’ while remaining idiomatic of country.

“Look what God gave her, how perfect He made her
She walks in the room, it’s like He answered my prayers
The way that she moves, how could anybody blame her?
I know she’s got haters, but it ain’t her fault, nah
Look what God gave her.”

Rhett serves up some excellent ad-libs towards the end without ever over-singing or growing overindulgent.  The question is, what exactly did God give her that Rhett is so thankful for? Well… just think about that one for a minute… it’s not particular religious either…

11 Secular Songs from 2019 That Reference Jesus or God [📷 : Alec Benjamin,  Atlantic, Big Machine, Brent Faulkner, Def Jam, D.O.T.S., EMPIRE, EQT Recordings, Getting Out Our Dreams, II, Loma Vista, Marilyn Manson, The Musical Hype, Pixabay, Republic, Ten Point Productions, Warner, Zac Fox, LLC]