11 Spiritual/Not-So Spiritual Jesus Songs | Playlist 🎧

1. Kanye West, “Jesus Lord”

Ft. Jay Electronica

💿 Donda • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2021

The song to beat on 💿 Donda, the 10^th studio album by 🎙 Kanye West is ✅ 🎵 “Jesus Lord” featuring 🎙 Jay Electronica.  It’s no secret that Donda, named after West’s late mother, had the messiest rollout of his career.  Ultimately, the 27-track, nearly two-hour-long LP has its fair share of rewarding moments, including the song at hand. “Jesus Lord” is nine-minutes-long – ambitious – but it’s well worth it.

The mellow production work is sensational, enlisting 🎛 MIKE DEAN, 🎛 Swizz Beatz, and 🎛 Gesaffelstein behind the boards.  Even though the sound is mellow – reverent and reflective – there’s hard-knocking beat that’s consistent throughout. West delivers a fine verse, reflecting on his life, particularly the loss of his mother: “Mama, you was the life of the party /… When you lost your life, it took the life out the party / That woman road with me like a Harley.”  This is a prime example where you sense the grief West has experienced.  Jay Electronica thrills on the second verse, featuring clever pop cultural and spiritual references.  Two more moments solidify the greatness of this song: West’s spiritual chorus, and the moving outro by 🎙 Larry Hoover Jr. in support of his incarcerated father, Larry Hoover Sr. Worth noting, a lengthier version, 🎵 “Jesus Lord, Pt. 2” concludes Donda, running an ambitious 11 ½ minutes! It adds three verses courtesy of🎙 The LOX (🎙 Sheek Louch, 🎙 Jadakiss, and 🎙 Styles P).

2. Lana Del Rey, “Tulsa Jesus Freak”

💿 Chemtrails Over the Country Club • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2021

🎵 “Tulsa Jesus Freak” serves as one of many highlights from 💿 Chemtrails Over the Country Club.  Chemtrails is the seventh album by 🏆 Grammy-nominated alternative pop singer/songwriter 🎙 Lana Del Rey. Once again, like in her previous work, spirituality plays a role, beginning with the opening line, “You should stay real close to Jesus.”

Sure, that’s sound advice from Del Rey, but we all know that Christianity itself isn’t what she’s likely getting at, even with J-E-S-U-S mentioned in the title.  Even with several words associated with religion, the ‘Jesus Freak’ seems to have some relationship with substance, which makes you wonder how he and Lana truly can manage to be “White-hot forever / And ever and ever, amen.”  “Tulsa Jesus Freak” is thought provoking. Contextually, the record continues a “white hot” start for Chemtrails Over the Country Club.

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3. The 1975, “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America”

💿 Notes on a Conditional Form • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2020

“I’m in love with Jesus Christ / He’s so nice.” Front man 🎙 Matthew Healy of The 1975 isn’t speaking about his religious beliefs as much as the character he portrays on 🎵 “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” from 💿 Notes on a Conditional Form.  Featuring uncredited vocals by 🎙 Phoebe Bridgers, “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” tackles faith and sexuality.

So, the opening lyric from “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless American” comes off incredibly spiritual – quite Christian.  However, the issue comes into play on the second verse, with Bridgers assisting: “I’m in love with a boy I know / But that’s a feeling I can never show.”  Why can’t he show it? Friction between being homosexual and Christian. Often, Sodom and Gomorrah are cited in the purported sin.  Of course, the phrase “Adam and Eve, Not Adam and Steve” predates those ‘sinful’ happenings in Sodom and Gomorrah. Bridges has her own moment where sexuality comes to the forefront:

“I’m in love with the girl next door
Her name’s Claire
Nice when she comes ‘round to call
Then masturbate the second she’s not there.”

The chorus is the centerpiece:

“Fortunately, I believe, lucky me
Searching for planes in the sea, and that’s irony
Soil just needs water to be, and a seed
So, if we can turn into a tree, can I be the leaves?”

Another Biblical allusion is faith like a mustard seed.  Arguably, Healy desires faith he doesn’t possess, while simultaneously, captures the plight of the gay Christian who is essentially a walking contradiction. Lots to unpack.

Also appears on 🔽:
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4. Carrie Underwood, “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus”

💿 My Savior • 🏷 Capitol Nashville • 📅 2021

🏆 Grammy winning country music superstar 🎙 Carrie Underwood released a Christian/Gospel album, 💿 My Savior, in 2021.  When you’ve had the success that Underwood has since being crowned the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, you can do whatever you want.  Underwood has released a few singles in advance of My Savior including the beloved hymn, 🎵 “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus”. 

While Carrie is singing long established hymns, she keeps it country, remaining true to self.  For example, on “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus,” a hymn I personally grew up with, she sings differently than, say, my congregation might.  This isn’t a black gospel rendition but rather a rendition that plays to Underwood’s strengths and artistry. She does a fine job preserving the sanctity of the tune, singing expressively and authentically.  The countrification factor may not appeal to all but if you are a country music fan and Underwood fan, this take should be right up your alley.  Notably, Underwood brings more heat as the record progresses, particularly towards the end.

5. Lil Boodang, “Jesus Don’t Like That I’m Gay but Satans Cool with It”

💿 The End of Everything [Single] • 🏷 DistroKid • 📅 2019

🎵 “Jesus Don’t Like That I’m Gay but Satans Cool with It.” My, my, my, what a song title! Interestingly, 🎙 Lil Boodang never actually utters the title in the song.  That said, the title speaks for itself, so… 🎛 OOGIE BOOGIE THANG produces this intriguing, gay-referencing track.

The opener on the three-song single 💿 The End of Everything, “Jesus Don’t Like That I’m Gay but Satans Cool with It” is hellish.  The intro, attributed to rapper $ C R E W, references 666, and threatens to “Call up the devil…bitch.” $ C R E W also performs the equally devilish outro.  As for the verse, Lil Boodang opens up about his emotions which are quite dark, disturbing, and morbid to say the least.

“Better off, I'm dead now, get it off my chest, now
Every step I take, another way to lay to rest, how
Bitter of me lately, I just wish he'd take me
Summer's always awful, winter is the one that breaks me.”

Also Appears On 🔽:
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6. Sia, “Jesus Wept”

💿 This is Acting (Deluxe) • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2016

“A blinding white light / And I heard a cry / And it was mine / Burning to survive.” Chilling pop ballad  🎵 “Jesus Wept” appears only on the deluxe version 💿 This is Acting, the 2016 album by 🎙 Sia (Sia Furler).  This is Acting, of course, is best known for gems like 🎵 “Bird Set Free”, 🎵 “Alive,” and 🎵 “Cheap Thrills”. Still, I truly wish more folks hadn’t overlooked the stunning, moving ballad at hand.

On the gorgeous, enigmatic, haunting, and powerful “Jesus Wept,” Sia references her recovery from substance abuse. Of course, when one of the most famous scriptures from the B-I-B-L-E happens to be the title, there’s a religious/spiritual angle too:

“How Jesus wept
He wept as he
Took twelve steps
And carried me
Oh, how he wept
For thee
Resurrection on me.”

While we don’t know the ins and outs of Furler’s faith, it’s clear she is thankful for her recovery, and makes a big-time Biblical allusion. As the embedded article from I Believe suggests, Jesus wept for three reasons: (1) The pain of his friends (2) their lack of faith (3) for his coming suffering.  In the case of this personal song, all three of those reasons seem applicable. The pain with which Jesus wept specific to Sia: her addiction.  The lack of faith is evident in the song (“God shaped hole leave me empty” and “Faith creeps slowly over me”). And of course, number three – well – that’s the big one.

Also appears on 🔽:
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🔗 🎧 Sia, “Jesus Wept”: Sunday Refresh 🙏 No. 8 (2021)

7. Conway the Machine, “Seen Everything but Jesus”

Ft. Freddie Gibbs

💿 From King to a GOD • 🏷 Griselda / Drumwork / EMPIRE • 📅 2020

“Yeah, yeah (I felt like singin’, nigga),” rapper 🎙 Conway the Machine asserts on the intro of 🎵 “Seen Everything but Jesus.” “Seen Everything but Jesus” appears on Conway’s 2020 album, 💿 From King to a GOD, and taps Grammy-nominated rapper 🎙 Freddie Gibbs for the assist.  What exactly is the ‘everything’ Conway has seen other than Jesus? Well, it encompasses “a lot of shit that I regret,” per that sang chorus.

On the verses of this underground sounding rap joint (produced by 🎛 Beat Butcha), Conway the Machine and Freddie Gibbs elaborate on those things seen – that hard knock life. Conway mentions victims of gun violence and matters of the street on the first verse. “I’m from a sturdy block, duckin’ the dirty cops / Made a fortune with aa fork and a dirty pot, I swear I did a lot.” As for Gibbs, on the second verse, he delivers gems like, “I scrape that Pyrex ‘til ain’t nothin’ left,” and “Young Kane spit the coldest shit, that COVID hit, it ain’t no test.” Not being blasphemous, but Jesus has little to do with this one.  It’s more about F-A-C-T-S.

8. Noah Cyrus, “I Got So High That I Saw Jesus”

💿 The End of Everything • 🏷 Records Label / Columbia • 📅 2020

“I got so high that I saw Jesus / He said, ‘It’s all gonna be okay / You just need me in your heart.’” That is intriguing for sure 🎙 Noah Cyrus.  The thing is, if that were to happen, as Cyrus asserts on 🎵 “I Got So High That I Saw Jesus,” isn’t there a possibility she’d be dead?  Or, does her high trigger a revelatory dream? Maybe I’m making more of this than I should but this highlight from 💿 The End of Everything is thought provoking.

Expectedly, the 🏆 Grammy nominee incorporates spiritual references alongside the highs she’s achieving from whatever substance she’s consuming.  “Yeah, they talk about the rivers running dry,” she sings on the first verse, continuing, “How pretty soon, there won’t be any water left to turn to wine.” It doesn’t stop with that Jesus miracle.  She throws Mary and Joseph into the mix on the second verse, as well as angels and artificial intelligence… okay…  Ultimately, this 🎼✍ PJ Harding co-write is an enjoyable record.  I heart the mature vocals, spiritual concept, and the songwriting from Cyrus.  Harding and 🎛 M-Phazes do a fine job behind the boards.

9. 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 reflective, 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.”

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10. Slayer, “Jesus Saves”

💿 Reign in Blood • 🏷 American Recordings • 📅 1986

“You go to the church; you kiss the cross / You will be saved at any cost / You have your own reality / Christianity…” 🎙 Slayer dropped an atheistic bullet back in 1986.  That bullet is 🎵 “Jesus Saves” (💿 Reign in Blood). 🎙 Tom Araya ain’t singing no hymn-tune. Clearly, the metal band aren’t ‘Jesus freaks’: “You think the world will end today / You praise the Lord, that’s all you say.”

“Altar of Sacrifice,” another atheistic song from the same album, plays truer to ‘Satanic’ vibes. Still, “Jesus Saves” mentions a “Satanic rise.”

“For 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 blasphemy.”

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11. Shirley Caesar, Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name”

💿 Her Very Best • 🏷 Word Entertainment / Curb • 📅 1987

“Jesus (Jesus) / Oh Jesus (Jesus) / Oh how I love / Calling your name.” Ah – simple yet moving, potent lyrics! 🎙 Shirley Caesar is one of the greatest gospel musicians of all time, PERIOD.  She’s recorded numerous gospel gems, ministering to many souls that needed to be fed.  A personal favorite Caesar classic is none other than 🎵 “Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name,” which appears as the second track on her 1987 album, 💿 Her Very Best.

“Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name” showcases Caesar at ‘her very best.’ She’s incredibly assertive, performing over a smooth but energetic contemporary gospel backdrop.  Even with those smooth 80s vibes supporting her, Shirley doesn’t hold back in the least.  She makes it known she’s praising ‘Him’ and she wants the whole world to hear.  Why is she so ‘bold’ in her faith? He – Jesus – has been so good, merciful, and never failed her. “When my troubles surround me / And I didn’t have to despair,” she sings on the first verse, continuing, “Lord, you told me / That you’ll be right there.”  Later, on the second verse, she recalls, “I remember the time / When I felt so all alone / When I needed you Jesus / All I had to do was call.” She makes it clear she’s ‘called him’ at all hours of the day, asserting, “When I got off my knees, Jesus / Everything was alright.” She characterizes him by numerous names, whether it’s Rose of Sharon, Lily of the Valley, or “my mountain mover.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🙏 Shirley Caesar, “Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name”: Sunday Refresh 🙏 No. 12 (2021)