With the release of Sufjan Stevens seventh studio album, Carrie & Lowell, all eyes are on depictions of Christian belief in popular music. Stevens has made quite the name for himself by being a critical force within the ever-fickle indie-music scene, who doesnt shy away from inserting his religion into music.
Stevens doesnt hide his beliefs when it comes to the lyrics he writes, David Roark wrote in The Atlantic, Yet the gist of Stevens work transcends religious and spiritual subjects to tackle broader themes.
But Stevens isnt the only mainstream artist to weave Christianity into his music. In honor of Easter, here are seven other mainstream pop songs that are about Jesus.
U2 'Until the End of the World'
U2 hasnt shied away from exploring Christianity in its music. References to kingdom come and even Yahweh abound in their chart-topping albums. But the fourth song on their game-changing album, Achtung Baby, is a little more cryptic and clever. The song, titled Until the End of the World, tells the story of the Last Supper from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus.
Lyrics: We ate the food, we drank the wine/ Everybody having a good time/ Except you/ You were talking about the end of the world.
Lenny Kravits 'Are You Gonna Go My Way'
According to Kravitz, the self-titled song from his massively successful 1993 album, Are You Gonna Go My Way, is about his desire to follow Jesus. The song is told from the perspective of Jesus describing his life and mission, asking if you gonna go my way.
Lyrics: I was born long ago/ I am the chosen I'm the one/ I have come to save the day/ And I won't leave until I'm done.
Michelle Williams 'Say Yes'
In 2014, Michelle Williams reunited with her Destinys Child band mates Beyonce and Kelly Rowland to record the gospel song, Say Yes, an overt song of Christian praise. The song was generally considered a successful fusion of contemporary pop and gospel.
Lyrics: I'm not worried bout a thing/ Cause I know You are guiding me/ Where You lead me, lord, I will go/ I have no fear cause I know who's in control.
Bob Dylan 'When He Returns'
In the 1970s, the already legendary Bob Dylan converted to evangelical Christianity, a switch that had a major impact on his music. In 1979, he released his first born again album, Slow Train Coming. The ninth song on the album, When He Returns, describes the glory and terror of the Second Coming of Jesus.
Lyrics: Truth is an arrow and the gate is narrow that it passes through/ He unreleased His power at an unknown hour that no one knew.
Johnny Cash 'When the Man Comes Around'
The Man in Black was known almost as much for his pious sinner persona as for his music. He focused much of his career reaching out to the downtrodden, recorded numerous hymns and even recorded a reading of the Bible. One of his more famous late-career songs is the title track of his final album, When the Man Comes Around. The song uses apocalyptic imagery to describe the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Lyrics: Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers/ One hundred million angels singing/ Multitudes are marching to the big kettledrum/ Voices calling and voices crying/ Some are born and some are dying/ It's Alpha and Omega's kingdom come.
Sufjan Stevens 'To Be Alone With You'
As stated above, Sufjan Stevens is widely known to be open about his Christian beliefs. But a major hallmark of his songwriting is the mystery of his lyrics, so many of his fans might be surprised to know that To Be Alone With You from his album Seven Swans is about the sacrifice of Jesus and a yearning to connect with the Christian Savior.
Lyrics: You gave your body to the lonely/ They took your clothes/ You gave up a wife and a family/ You gave your goals
Ben Harper 'I Want to be Ready'
Popular guitarist and singer/songwriter Ben Harper released The Will to Live, his third studio album, in 1997 to critical acclaim. The sixth song on the album, I Want to be Ready, is a rather overt ode to the suffering and passion of Jesus of Nazareth.
Lyrics: Nailed across/ from hand to hand/ for the sin/ of woman and man/ all upon his earth/ is all within his plan/ and I know this shall be/ my journey home.
Stevens doesnt hide his beliefs when it comes to the lyrics he writes, David Roark wrote in The Atlantic, Yet the gist of Stevens work transcends religious and spiritual subjects to tackle broader themes.
But Stevens isnt the only mainstream artist to weave Christianity into his music. In honor of Easter, here are seven other mainstream pop songs that are about Jesus.
U2 'Until the End of the World'
U2 hasnt shied away from exploring Christianity in its music. References to kingdom come and even Yahweh abound in their chart-topping albums. But the fourth song on their game-changing album, Achtung Baby, is a little more cryptic and clever. The song, titled Until the End of the World, tells the story of the Last Supper from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus.
Lyrics: We ate the food, we drank the wine/ Everybody having a good time/ Except you/ You were talking about the end of the world.
Lenny Kravits 'Are You Gonna Go My Way'
According to Kravitz, the self-titled song from his massively successful 1993 album, Are You Gonna Go My Way, is about his desire to follow Jesus. The song is told from the perspective of Jesus describing his life and mission, asking if you gonna go my way.
Lyrics: I was born long ago/ I am the chosen I'm the one/ I have come to save the day/ And I won't leave until I'm done.
Michelle Williams 'Say Yes'
In 2014, Michelle Williams reunited with her Destinys Child band mates Beyonce and Kelly Rowland to record the gospel song, Say Yes, an overt song of Christian praise. The song was generally considered a successful fusion of contemporary pop and gospel.
Lyrics: I'm not worried bout a thing/ Cause I know You are guiding me/ Where You lead me, lord, I will go/ I have no fear cause I know who's in control.
Bob Dylan 'When He Returns'
In the 1970s, the already legendary Bob Dylan converted to evangelical Christianity, a switch that had a major impact on his music. In 1979, he released his first born again album, Slow Train Coming. The ninth song on the album, When He Returns, describes the glory and terror of the Second Coming of Jesus.
Lyrics: Truth is an arrow and the gate is narrow that it passes through/ He unreleased His power at an unknown hour that no one knew.
Johnny Cash 'When the Man Comes Around'
The Man in Black was known almost as much for his pious sinner persona as for his music. He focused much of his career reaching out to the downtrodden, recorded numerous hymns and even recorded a reading of the Bible. One of his more famous late-career songs is the title track of his final album, When the Man Comes Around. The song uses apocalyptic imagery to describe the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Lyrics: Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers/ One hundred million angels singing/ Multitudes are marching to the big kettledrum/ Voices calling and voices crying/ Some are born and some are dying/ It's Alpha and Omega's kingdom come.
Sufjan Stevens 'To Be Alone With You'
As stated above, Sufjan Stevens is widely known to be open about his Christian beliefs. But a major hallmark of his songwriting is the mystery of his lyrics, so many of his fans might be surprised to know that To Be Alone With You from his album Seven Swans is about the sacrifice of Jesus and a yearning to connect with the Christian Savior.
Lyrics: You gave your body to the lonely/ They took your clothes/ You gave up a wife and a family/ You gave your goals
Ben Harper 'I Want to be Ready'
Popular guitarist and singer/songwriter Ben Harper released The Will to Live, his third studio album, in 1997 to critical acclaim. The sixth song on the album, I Want to be Ready, is a rather overt ode to the suffering and passion of Jesus of Nazareth.
Lyrics: Nailed across/ from hand to hand/ for the sin/ of woman and man/ all upon his earth/ is all within his plan/ and I know this shall be/ my journey home.