There are moments involving popular music that will remain with me for all time:
*Hearing “Born to be Wild” outside my summer school geometry class
*Hearing the world premiere of “Hey Jude” on the radio
*Hearing “Bad Moon Rising” and “Get Together” while playing flashlight tag on a hot summer evening
*The day the music really died … the day The Beatles broke up
*The day I heard … but couldn’t believe … that Bob Dylan had become a follower of Jesus … subsequently proved by his ground-breaking album “Slow Train Coming”
*The day I bought U2’s album “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” … and played it over … and over … and over
*Ditto for “Achtung Baby,” still U2’s edgiest – and best – album
Many Christians make a sharp division between secular and spiritual music.
To them, if it’s secular, it’s bad … and if it’s spiritual, it’s good.
But I think a song is good whether it’s secular or spiritual … and some “spiritual” songs are duds. (I won’t name any … they might be your favorites.)
I realize that some Christians may not like some of these songs … because an artist hasn’t led a completely clean life … or doesn’t have a clear Christian testimony … or doesn’t attend church regularly.
But I think the songs … and their lyrics … stand up under scrutiny … and it just so happens that secular artists (some of whom are believers, some of whom aren’t) first introduced these songs to us.
I’d like to share ten secular songs you can sing or hear sung in church … five in this article, and five in the next:
Number 10: “May the Road Rise” by Roger McGuinn
McGuinn was the lead guitar player in the Byrds … manipulating his Rickenbacker 12-string guitar to get that “chiming” sound that many of us love so much.
During Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue tour, McGuinn became a follower of Jesus. His mission in life is to preserve folk music, and to that end, he sings and records one folk song every month, which he gives away for free on his website. Many of the songs he produces are old spirituals like “Wayfaring Stranger” and “He’s Got the Whole Word in His Hands.”
“May the Road Rise” is based on an old Irish blessing. It’s written by both Roger McGuinn and his wife Camilla. The lyrics tell the story of a couple who enjoys nature, but upon further reflection, also describes a couple’s relationship.
The wife ends up singing this chorus to her husband:
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your land
May the rain fall soft upon your face
Until we meet again
And may God hold you in the palm of his hand
And here’s a live version:
Number 9: “When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God” by Van Morrison
Van the Man has embraced all kinds of styles in his half-century musical career: rock, pop, folk, jazz, gospel … and a lot of music that remains uncategorized.
He’s also embraced various spiritual paths as well … but at the time this song was released (1989) he seemed to be firmly in the Christian camp … so much so that Phil Keaggy – the great Christian guitarist and vocalist – covered it on his best album, “Crimson and Blue.”
Who writes lyrics like these?
You brought it to my attention that everything was made in God
Down through centuries of great writings and paintings
Everything lives in God
Seen through architecture of great cathedrals
Down through the history of time
Is and was in the beginning
And evermore shall ever be
Nobody sings or writes like Van. He’s one of the greatest of all time. If you only know him from “Brown-Eyed Girl” or “Moondance” or “Domino,” you’re missing out. For me, his best stuff started 22 years ago with “Avalon Sunset” and “Hymns to the Silence” (where Van does a cover of “Be Thou My Vision”) and my favorite Van record, “Magic Time” from 2005.
The chorus:
When will I ever learn
To live in God
When will I ever learn
He gives me everything
I need and more
When will I ever learn
Here’s a live version, although the video isn’t that clear:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19DPp290OEg
Number 8: “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan
Dylan wrote this song of blessing to one or more of his children … maybe Jakob. If you have a son … or a daughter even … you can’t help but shed a tear when Dylan sings:
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
And may you stay
Forever young
Bob isn’t everyone’s cup of tea … because of his singing … but in the opinion of people within the music industry, he’s the world’s greatest songwriter of the past half century. Check out this clip from the David Letterman Show back in the mid-90s:
Number 7: “Walk On” by U2 (Heroes version)
U2 opened the Grammy Awards in 2002 with this song … and then proceeded to win the Grammy for best record. Bono and The Edge wrote the song for pro-democracy Burmese prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest in Burma for years until recently released.
This version of the song was performed ten days after 9/11 and broadcast all over the world. Bono and the Boys could have chosen any song to sing … but they chose this one. The snippet of their song “Peace on Earth” at the beginning is awesome … as is the chorus that includes Bono’s shouts indicating his view of life after death.
While the song is definitely a political anthem (the album was banned in Burma), it also has spiritual overtones (as most of U2’s songs do), reminding us that:
You’re packing a suitcase
For a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed
To be seen
Not to sound morbid, but I want this song played at my memorial service someday, especially because of these lyrics:
All that you fashion, all that you make
All that you build, all that you break
All that you measure, all that you feel
All this you can leave behind
Here’s the Tribute to Heroes version:
Number 6: “Show Me the Way” by Styx
I never became a fan of the long-haired bands of the 70s or 80s … including Styx. But this song by them is incredibly well-written and sung.
When I first heard these lines over the radio in 1990, my eyes welled up with tears:
All the heroes and legends
I knew as a child
Have fallen to idols of clay
And I feel this empty place inside
So afraid, that I’ve lost my faith
Dennis DeYoung, the group’s lead singer, is a devout Catholic. He wrote this song for his son Matthew about the struggle to keep faith “in a world so filled with hatred.” The chorus:
Show me the way,
Show me the way,
Take me tonight to the river
And wash all my illusions away
And please show me the way
The song is probably the best “seeker prayer” I’ve ever heard. Dennis DeYoung has an incredibly powerful and expressive voice.
The song ends with this memorable line: “Every night, I say a prayer, in the hopes that there’s a heaven.”
Here’s a live version of the song, which I like better than the video:
There are many songs one could choose in this category. In fact, I made a huge list on iTunes that I whittled down to 10.
You undoubtedly have some nominees of your own.
Before I reveal my top 5 next time, which songs do you think work here?
Great observations… and I still vividly remember flashlight tag too!
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Tim, sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. Flashlight tag has to be one of the highlights of our younger years! Those were great summer evenings … I stopped by my old street several years ago and walked around the neighborhood. Some things had changed, many remained the same … but the distances didn’t seem as long as they did when I was a kid. Hope you’re doing well!
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I am not a big fan of country music, but I do love the song “Jesus Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood. I think like me a lot of women have been in that situation and can relate to the lyrics. I like songs about real life where people turn to the Lord.
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Yes, I agree … unfortunately, in the Christian music world, there are some pretty tight boundaries placed on artists lyrically. Once they get older and/or don’t have to worry about pleasing a record company, they can venture out more. Thanks for the suggestion, Ce Ce!
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My bother sang Styx “Show me the Way” at church. Wonderful song to go into a time to seek the Lord at the altar. Questions heaven but, then use that as a altar call for people to seek the truth. Love the song “Speechless” by Michael Jackson. Even if you are not a fan of Michael Jackson you should hear this song. Not like his other songs very spiritual and real song about seeking God. But don’t feel fake. Put personal issues aside and give this song a chance it is wonderful and different from Michael Jackson’s other songs. Billy Gilman’s song “One Voice” is a wonderful song to play in church. You could play Diana Ross’s “Reachout and Touch Somebody’s Hand. Its about loving your neighbor.
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Thank you, Natalie, for your song suggestions! I’m sure many people will enjoy reading about them.
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Recently read Andy Stanley’s Book – “Deep and Wide” How to create curches unchurched people love to attend. Went looking for some secular music as part of my new awareness of this hugely ignored need. Love your views on this and other posts. Very helpful as I struggle to shift my 33-year myopic Christian paradigm.
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Gregor,
It took me quite awhile to adapt my thinking to that of an unchurched person, but when I did, it changed the way I did everything in ministry. Those who change their thinking and can influence others have the potential to reach many people for Christ. There are so many wonderful songs out there that can be done in a church service … including some great songs by U2. God bless you as you endeavor to reach others for Christ.
Jim
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