Top However Many Songs Where a Deity Makes a Cameo Appearance.

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1. "Temptation," Prince. (God or other deity appears to Prince and tells him that he's gotta want 'it' for the right reasons. Prince argues that he does. God replies, 'You don't. Now die.' This makes God sound like a rockist.)

2. "American Pie," Don McLean. (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost catch last train for coast.

Any others all up in this hoo-hah?

― Matt C., Friday, 13 December 2002 06:34 (twenty-three years ago)

The intro to "Wasteland" on the Mission's GOD'S OWN MEDICINE, wherein Wayne postulates: "I still believe in God, but God no longer believes in Me," before a torrent of frantically strummed twelve-string guitars sweep in. Always felt Wayne should've followed up that histrionic exclamation with "that CUNT!"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 December 2002 06:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Tribute - Tenacious D.

there must be a better one..

― Wyndham Earl, Friday, 13 December 2002 06:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Simillar to the line from the Mish above, in "Knock'em Down" by Fireater, Tod [A] laments:

"I don't believe in god cause he don't believe in me, And he never returns any of my calls!"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 December 2002 06:52 (twenty-three years ago)

oops. FireWater.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 December 2002 06:52 (twenty-three years ago)

"Fire," The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. (God of Hellfire announcing self.)

"Jesus Shootin' Heroin," the Flaming Lips. (Jesus, shootin' heroin.) What is it with guys named Wayne and God?

"Venus," the Shocking Blue, Bananarama, others. (Venus, on a mountaintop, then trolling for dudes.)

― Matt C., Friday, 13 December 2002 06:54 (twenty-three years ago)

"I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours, but I think that God has a sick sense of humour, and when I die, I expect to find him laughing." - Depeche Mode, "Blasphemous Rumours"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 December 2002 06:54 (twenty-three years ago)

"Jesus Chrysler Drives a Dodge" by the Screaming Blue Messiahs, if that counts.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 December 2002 06:55 (twenty-three years ago)

"god's comic," elvis costello

"the god machine," david bowie

― Tad (llamasfur), Friday, 13 December 2002 06:57 (twenty-three years ago)

That Eternals track on the Crydamoure compilation: "Wrath Of Zeus" is a disko banger when Zeus proclaims something of the effect that you will have do dance for all time or some such thing is totally radical. You are trapped. Thomas Bangalter is special.

― Winslow (winslow), Friday, 13 December 2002 06:58 (twenty-three years ago)

"I Saw Jesus at McDonald's at Midnight"
Mojo Nixon/Skid Roper
"He scratched his chin/he hadn't shaved in a while"

― weatheringdaleson (weatheringdaleson), Friday, 13 December 2002 07:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Cupid," Sam Cooke. (Cherubic god of love, being implored to impale object of narrator's desire.)

― Matt C., Friday, 13 December 2002 07:05 (twenty-three years ago)

R. Kelly -- "I Believe I Can Fly (Remix)" or whatever its called from the unreleased loveland includes a 4 minute conversation with god. So did his TP-2.com tho I forget the song there.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 13 December 2002 07:16 (twenty-three years ago)

"jesus thinks you're a jerk," frank zappa (no "appearances" by the Almighty, but FZ admits that JC will think that he's a jerk if he doesn't convince people that televangelists are all a bunch of sacriligeous crooks)

― Tad (llamasfur), Friday, 13 December 2002 07:23 (twenty-three years ago)

that Chills one where they all say goodnight to each other and someone says "goodnight, world!" Then this booming voice replies "GOODNIGHT, CHILLS!"

― Poppy (poppy), Friday, 13 December 2002 08:59 (twenty-three years ago)

I've yet to listen to any song that invokes God to make Cameo appear in front of me.... the Big Guy is a Big Phooey, I say! I don't got no time for theological romance.

― donut bitch (donut), Friday, 13 December 2002 09:30 (twenty-three years ago)

"Jesus built my hotrod" - Ministry

― Siegbran (eofor), Friday, 13 December 2002 09:54 (twenty-three years ago)

"baby wants to ride" jamie principal.
(a) god appears to jamie and asks him to "tell my people the truth, tell them the revelation of my second coming, help them understand, relate" before adding "now ride me baby".

― michael wells (michael w.), Friday, 13 December 2002 11:47 (twenty-three years ago)

"And the lord said ...

'Don't ask me, I've no idea.
All I know is how to hide and disappear' "

― phil jones (interstar), Friday, 13 December 2002 11:53 (twenty-three years ago)

"The photographs of God I bought have almost faded away" JAMC S s snakedriver!

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 13 December 2002 12:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Gods Away On Business" Tom Waits

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 13 December 2002 12:02 (twenty-three years ago)

"Hello, hello, hello, this is the Lord God, can you hear?
Hellfire and damnation's what I've got for you down there
On earth I have ambassadors; archbishops, vicars, pope
We'll blind you with morality, you'd best abandon any hope,
We're telling you you'd better pray cos you were born in sin
Right from the start we'll build a cell and then we'll lock you in
We sit in holy judgement condemning those that stray
We offer our forgiveness, but first we'll make you pay"

Big A Little A - Crass

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 13 December 2002 12:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Maybe we should start another thread for this (but I can't be arsed.) Best example of a song stopping so the singer can talk to a deity (rather than the other way round): 'Turn Blue'

"Jesus, this is Iggy...."

― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 13 December 2002 13:01 (twenty-three years ago)

I once met [God],
It really surprised me,
He put me in a bath tub,
Made me squeeky clean,
Really clean.

He said hi. I said hi,
I was still clean.

I thought I had seen everything,
He wasn't white and fluffy,
He just had side burns,
He just had side burns,
And a quiff,
He said hi.
I said hi. I was still clean,
I was squeeky clean.
I was surprised.
Just as you would be.

Einar's bit from "Deus" by the Sugarcubes.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Friday, 13 December 2002 13:58 (twenty-three years ago)

"So I have myself to God
There was a pregnant pause before he said "OK"
Now I spend my days turning tables round in Marks and Spencer
They don't seem to mind".

Stuart Murdoch developing Jerusalem Fever in "The State I Am In"

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 13 December 2002 14:01 (twenty-three years ago)

"God said to Abraham, kill me a son" (can't remember artist, Minnesotan folk singer of some minor repute) (they end up on an interstate)

Every third Robert Johnson song contains a special appearance by Satan. Not sure if Satan counts as a "deity," but as thread-starter I get to say "Yes, he does." (So bring on the death-metal!) Anyway, Robert Johnson is an even more powerful deity than any of the ones mentioned so far.

― Matt C., Friday, 13 December 2002 15:24 (twenty-three years ago)

"Songs the Lord Taught Us" Cramps album

"Young people of today, don't like the devil's jokes,
they do not comprehend irony, they all were standard folks.
Satan has told me privately, that I must stop this trend.
to punish non-free thinkers, Satan has come again"
-Country Teasers, Satan is Real Again

"some days I get down on my knees
look to the sky with praying hands
thank my grampa for leaving me some money
I thank God for making me a man"
-Country Teasers, Thankyou God for making me an angel

"Jesus built my hot rod" Ministry/Gibby Haynes
(as I was trying to find lyrics for this, I found this great post on a christian rock site:
"Once again, I agree...Creed is not a Christian band. They remind me of another rock band from the 90s called "Ministry". I was introduced to a song called "Jesus Built My Hot Rod" - I did not like it. The name sounded noble, but the music was blasphemous. Some groups use Christian sounding names to lure kids into buying their CDs...there is a new group called Sunz of Man. If they were Christian, why does their CD have a parental advisory label? This should give parents and older listeners like me cause for concern."

― Paula G., Friday, 13 December 2002 16:04 (twenty-three years ago)

"When Jesus Christ Superstar was crucified/the Disposals were still making noise" . Redd Kross, "Janus, Jeanie and George Harrison".

― Arthur (Arthur), Friday, 13 December 2002 16:45 (twenty-three years ago)

hm... since temporarily taking leave of the ILM world in the mornin', i'd expected to find in the evenin' many a mention of Nick Cave's and/or Birthday Party's God-addressing laments'n'blasphemies!

and at least a token nod towards the "Life of Brian" OST

(let alone BoomBip & Doseone's "Me and People", that was mentioned on another thread lately)

― t\'\'t (t''t), Friday, 13 December 2002 17:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Jesus Came Driving Along -- Leather Nun

― christoff (christoff), Friday, 13 December 2002 19:29 (twenty-three years ago)

With all the guns going off who can say no to the guy
Who watch out, who's fucking nuts
'Cause Loki's playing tricks again
-- Rancid

― christoff (christoff), Friday, 13 December 2002 19:35 (twenty-three years ago)

More...

Julian Cope includes a bunch, specifically the entirety of Odin.

XTC's Dear God.

Now, i don't know if i'd say Todd Rundgren's Song of the Viking as references a diety, but why not?

--No songs, but how about the album Hey Zues! from X.

― christoff (christoff), Friday, 13 December 2002 19:47 (twenty-three years ago)

The X album is "Hey Zeus!" ... and if ever there was an utterance warranting a powerful lightning bold, this is it.

What was Exene thinking?

― Paula G., Friday, 13 December 2002 19:50 (twenty-three years ago)

By the way the godly weapon formerly called "a lightning bolt" has been re-named "lightning bold" to avoid copyright infringement on the successful rock duo of that name.

― Paula G., Friday, 13 December 2002 19:53 (twenty-three years ago)

I like the Crowded House one..

Hey, don't look now, but there goes God,
In his sexy pants, and his sausage dog,
And he can't stand, Beelzebub,
'Cause he looks so good in black, (in black)

― Kim (Kim), Friday, 13 December 2002 20:11 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh, God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe said, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God said, "No"--Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want, Abe, but
The next time you see me comin', you better run"
Well, Abe said, "Where d'you want this killin' done?"
God said, "Out on Highway 61"

― earlnash, Friday, 13 December 2002 20:53 (twenty-three years ago)

A few I thought were really obvious (and some not-so) but haven't been posted yet:

If the devil is 6 then God is 7, God is 7, God is 7, this monkey's gone to heaven - Pixies

God only knows what I'd be without you - Beach Boys

Are you a God man, are you now are you now? - T. Rex

Look out my window, what do I see, a crack in the sky and a hand reaching down to me - David Bowie

...and on the darker side of things:
Grim reaper of love, killing the living and living to kill - The Turtles

― Adam Bruneau, Saturday, 14 December 2002 17:12 (twenty-three years ago)

there's another R. Kelly song where he and God have a conversation. It's on tp-2.com and called "I Mean (I Don't Mean It)". God has a basso profundo voice, as should be expected.

R.: Father, can you help me?
God: What do you need from me?
R.: I broke up with my girl and I'm feelin' kinda lonely
God: I been watching you from Heaven, Kelly
You been so demanding
You need to read my word, son
And get some understanding
R.: But I been busy with my music
God: Stop making excuses
Recognize the love she gives
And try not to abuse it
R.: Is it too late to get her back?
God: Not as long as I'm a fact
R.: Well father, show me a sign
That will make her mine

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 14 December 2002 19:01 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm pretty sure that's Satan calling to me in "Come to Daddy."

― Curtis Stephens, Saturday, 14 December 2002 19:08 (twenty-three years ago)

The Devil Went Down To Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band

My favorite song in 3rd grade. Seriously.

― Colin Saunders (csaunders), Saturday, 14 December 2002 22:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Theres a Don Henley song ("Garden of Allah") where numerous beings are namechecked. (I think the song is a cover of either Zevon or Newman, but I'm not sure. Overall, the song is an attempt at a "thinking mans" version of "Sympathy for the Devil.")

― Lord Custos Omega (Lord Custos Omega), Sunday, 15 December 2002 01:56 (twenty-three years ago)

seven months pass...

Inkubus Sukkubus has a plethora of tracks ("Craft of the Wise", "Dark Mother", "Hecate Cerriwdyn", "Io Pan") that namecheck numerous Pagan deities. In fact, the song "Wytches Chant" has nothing but Pagan deities.
"...Isis Astarte Diana Hecate Demeter Kali Inanna..." is the lyrics to the entire song.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 11:06 (twenty-two years ago)

"Song of Isaac" -- Leonard Cohen

"Titties & Beer" -- Frank Zappa

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 12:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"Spanish Train" by Chris de Burgh (God and Satan play chess for someone's soul)

"Jesus Was Way Cool" by King Missile (Jesus, being way cool all over the place)

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

"Day I met God, I got so carried away
Day I met God, I got so carried away
Not with the vision, but the streaks in his hair
Not with religion, but the size of his knob"

Day I Met God - Adam & The Ants

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Dead Milkmen - "I Dream of Jesus," wherein the narrator's mom has Jesus trapped in a milk bottle and attracts a cult following.

― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 13:45 (twenty-two years ago)

"Titties & Beer"
Finally...a religion I can believe in!

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Dr. Madd Vibe's "Jah Jah on the Telephone", which just happens to TOTALLY OWN THIS SHEEYOT.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 14:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Sleater-Kinney, "Sympathy"

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

"Jesus Christ was an Only Child" - Modest Mouse
"Jesus Christ" - Big Star

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"Hey! Orpheus" - The Make Up
(Stretching it a bit, but he was a the child of a god and a muse)

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Snoop Dogg - Murder was the Case, wherein Snoop and Satan argue and bargain. There was a funny bit in a Spin feature story circa 1993 where Dre was keeping Daz Dillinger in the studio for hours trying to make him sound like Satan.

― Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

a few dozen John Prine sons, notably, "Jesus: The Missing Years"

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

er, SONGS

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 15:13 (twenty-two years ago)

1 in every 3 smashing pumpkins and NIN songs (maybe 1 in 2 for NIN)

― Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Holy crap, why hasn't anybody mentioned "God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)" by Randy Newman yet? Or, Newman's version of "Faust" which features James Taylor as the voice of God (and Newman as Satan).

― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 18:15 (twenty-two years ago)

crash test dummies "god shuffled his feet"

― Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

James Taylor??? That's why nobody's mentioned it.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 18:42 (twenty-two years ago)

a few dozen John Prine sons, notably, "Jesus: The Missing Years"
But with John Prine, every song is like one of his children.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 19:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Does Success Story by the Who count? it features a deep voiced diety named the Fairy Godmother and promises the songs author a shot a Carnegie Hall.

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 19:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought the line went,"I'm your fairy manager/You shall play the Carnegie Hall", which was a dig at Kit Lambert (who was gay).

― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

i remembered it wrong..thnks CM

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

"God of Thunder and Rock n' Roll" - Kiss
"Thor is like immortal" - The Fucking Champs
"Thor Arise" - Amon Amarth

― Cacaman Flores, Tuesday, 22 July 2003 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"Prayer to God" - shellac

― Cacaman Flores, Tuesday, 22 July 2003 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

(I looked at the title of this thread and immediately imagined God dropping in on the _Word Up!_ recording sessions.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

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