Catholic themes in popular music

[damian clarke]

I have listened to the music of Leonard Cohen for many years. The more Iisten the more I hear Catholic themes in his lyrics. I am particulalrly moved by the words to Hallelujah.
And even if it all goes wrong
I will stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my lips but
Hallelujah

I am also extremely moved by Tom Russel. He is a Catholic cowboy who altough he is upset about the Child abuse scandal writes some wonderful music

[damian clarke]

There are ghosts out in the rain tonight
High up in those ancient trees
Lord, I've given up without a fight
Another blind fool on his knees

And all the gods that I'd abandoned here
Begin to speak in simple tongues
Lord, suddenly I've come to know
There are no roads left to run

Now it's the hour of dogs a barking
That's what the old ones used to say
It's first light or it's sundown
Before the children cease their play

And when the mountains glow like mission wine
And turn gray like a Spanish roan
Ten thousand eyes will stop to worship
Then turn away and head on home

And she is reaching out her arms tonight
And, yes, my poverty is real
I pray roses shall rain down again
From Guadalupe on her hill

And who am I to doubt these mysteries
Cured in centuries of blood and candle smoke
I am the least of all your pilgrims here
But I am most in need of hope

She appeared to Juan Diego
And she left her image on his cape
Five hundred years of sorrow
Have not destroyed their deepest faith

But here I am your ragged disbeliever
Old doubting Thomas drowns in tears
As I've watched your church sink through the earth
Like a heart borne down through fear.

And she is reaching out her arms tonight
And, yes, my poverty is real
I pray roses shall rain down again
From Guadalupe on her hill

And who am I to doubt these mysteries?
Cured in centuries of blood and candle smoke
I am the least of all your pilgrims here
But I am most in need of hope

I am the least of all your pilgrims here
But I am most in need of hope

[willofgods]

Thank you, my friend. It's hard to find good Catholic music I can listen to in my different moods (Gregorian isn't always fitting to how I feel )

Evanescence is a very secular group, but a second ear to their lyrics makes me hear nothing but my relationship with Jesus. Hahaha, it's true that God can make straight lines out of curves.

[nickybr38]

It's funny how almost any song can be turned into a love song to God. You just have to wear your Catholic glasses when you look at them.

Some songs (Lady Gaga anyone?) just can't be saved. Hahaha.

[Matrix Refugee]

Originally Posted by nickybr38

Some songs (Lady Gaga anyone?) just can't be saved. Hahaha.

Don't know about that: I'm rather fond of the line "God makes no mistakes" in "Born That Way": I sometimes think the Holy Spirit likes to speak through things that people in the Church might not approve of.

Also: "Judas" is about Mary Magdalen being in love with Judas Iscariot, which, in light of Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" and the balderdash about one dynasty of the French monarchy being descended from Mary Magdalen and Jesus, makes one wonder who was MM's real babydaddy.

[Tenofovir]

My obligatory plug:

Gorecki's Third Symphony. Give it a try. This is some of the best Catholic/minimalist Classical music you'll find any age.

[nickybr38]

Originally Posted by Matrix Refugee

Don't know about that: I'm rather fond of the line "God makes no mistakes" in "Born That Way": I sometimes think the Holy Spirit likes to speak through things that people in the Church might not approve of.

Also: "Judas" is about Mary Magdalen being in love with Judas Iscariot, which, in light of Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" and the balderdash about one dynasty of the French monarchy being descended from Mary Magdalen and Jesus, makes one wonder who was MM's real babydaddy.

I'd be careful there. The line 'God makes no mistakes' also insinuates that those who are born gay are not sinning when they act on those desires.

The Holy Spirit likes to speak through unexpected people, however, the devil likes to twist the truth.

[kmaaj]

Originally Posted by Tenofovir

My obligatory plug:

Gorecki's Third Symphony. Give it a try. This is some of the best Catholic/minimalist Classical music you'll find any age.

And then watch "Fearless" with Jeff Bridges. The way that 1st movement was used in the soundtrack at the ending sends chills.

[Tenofovir]

Originally Posted by kmaaj

And then watch "Fearless" with Jeff Bridges. The way that 1st movement was used in the soundtrack at the ending sends chills.

Yes, it was in that film. My favourite is the 3rd movement though. The lyrics of two of the movements are prayers (one was a prayer prayed by a captured young female partisan in a Gestapo cell, another is a very old prayer) and the third is an old folk song - a mother laments the death of her son who fought in one of the Polish wars for freedom. There are of course direct references to God there. There are also 3 extra pieces called Three Olden Style Pieces.

[opus65]

Originally Posted by damian clarke

I have listened to the music of Leonard Cohen for many years. The more Iisten the more I hear Catholic themes in his lyrics. I am particulalrly moved by the words to Hallelujah.
And even if it all goes wrong
I will stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my lips but
Hallelujah

I am also extremely moved by Tom Russel. He is a Catholic cowboy who altough he is upset about the Child abuse scandal writes some wonderful music

Have you tried listening to Sam Baker? The Album "Mercy" is brilliant with lots of Catholic shedes here and there, especially on the song "Angels." OK so he sounds a bit like how you'd imagine George W Bush singing, but he's brilliant ang gets me crying.

[Miguelita]

Originally Posted by willofgods

Thank you, my friend. It's hard to find good Catholic music I can listen to in my different moods (Gregorian isn't always fitting to how I feel )

Evanescence is a very secular group, but a second ear to their lyrics makes me hear nothing but my relationship with Jesus. Hahaha, it's true that God can make straight lines out of curves.

Actually, they started out AS a Christian band. From what I read, they stopped calling themselves strictly Christian once they signed with a more mainstream label

[Miguelita]

Also, I caaan't remember his name, but he's a country singer who sang I Love You This Much,. about a little boy who grew up with a neglectful father, but never stopped loving him. He grew up vagelu bitter though, till at his fathers funeral he looks up at the crucifix on the altar and realized that Jesus was holding his arms stretched wide saying, I love you this much.

[cjkaupke]

I recommend the album Until We Have Faces by the Christian rock band Red. Structurally, it is similar to Dante's Divine Comedy, but thematically it reminds me of St. Augustine's Confessions: I interpreted the album (which is best listened to all the way through) as the story of someone's journey from a life of sin to a life of grace. It is really beautiful, even if you're not generally a fan of hard rock music.

[Neildown]

Originally Posted by cjkaupke

I recommend the album Until We Have Faces by the Christian rock band Red. Structurally, it is similar to Dante's Divine Comedy, but thematically it reminds me of St. Augustine's Confessions: I interpreted the album (which is best listened to all the way through) as the story of someone's journey from a life of sin to a life of grace. It is really beautiful, even if you're not generally a fan of hard rock music.

Red is a pretty good band - I have their End of Silence album.

[cjkaupke]

Yeah they're one of my favorites. I think their second album is better than their first, and their third album is their best.