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Friday Coffee Break: Jesus Rocks

Posted at 8:50 AM on December 23, 2011 by Steve Seel (52 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

We did this one a couple of years back on Christmas Eve for the 9:30 Coffee Break, and we thought we'd return to it today (here's the original blog post). As we put it back then:

For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, Jill and I had a slightly different idea for a Christmas-oriented theme. Since the holiday is about, you know, that guy who got born in a manger and inspired 2000 years subsequent devotion, consternation and, not least of all, art - howabout some songs demonstrating some of that historical impact? It's quite an understatement to say that Jesus has made his way into the poetry of rock from it's beginning. So that's our topic today. Jesus in rock!

Songs played:
The Vaselines "Jesus Wants Me for A Sunbeam"
Johnny Cash "Personal Jesus"
Jim White "If Jesus Drove a Motor Home"
Ministry "Jesus Built My Hotrod"
Tom Waits "Chocolate Jesus"
Wilco "Jesus, ect"

Comments (52)

John Prine: Jesus, the Missing Years. What did Jesus do in those years after his birth but before he got famous? Prine knows...

Posted by andy | December 23, 2011 9:03 AM

Please play Wilco / Billy Bragg: Christ for President!
Also Wilco: Jesus, Etc

Posted by allison | December 23, 2011 9:04 AM

St. Vincent - Jesus Saves, I Spend

Posted by Al | December 23, 2011 9:04 AM

Jesus at McDonald's -- Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper

Plastic Jesus -- various versions are out there

Personal Jesus -- Depeche Mode (bet you'll get a million mentions of this one!)

Jesus Built My Hotrod -- Ministry

Someone really needs to hire me to program a radio station. *snicker*

Posted by Wendy | December 23, 2011 9:05 AM

How 'bout The Caulfield's "Devil's Diary"?

Posted by Nick | December 23, 2011 9:06 AM

Personal Jesus - Johnny Cash, Depeche Mode
Jackelope Jesus - Goondas
Plastic Jesus - Flaming Lips
Jesus Fever - Kurt Vile
Jesus Don't Want Me For A Sunbeam - Vaselines

Posted by Lori | December 23, 2011 9:06 AM

Jesus and Tequila -- Minutemen

Personal Jesus -- Depeche Mode / Johnny Cash

Jesusland -- Ben Folds

Industrial Disease -- Dire Straits [“two men say they’re Jesus/one of them must be wrong”]

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam -- Vaselines \ Nirvana

Gloria -- Patti Smith [“Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine”]

Jesus Is My Homeboy -- David LaChapelle

Jesus Is Just Alright -- the Byrds

Posted by lou | December 23, 2011 9:07 AM

The Velvet Underground's "Jesus". A simple, yet beautiful song.

Posted by Andy | December 23, 2011 9:07 AM

"Jesus Christ Pose" - Soundgarden
"Jesus is Just Alright" - Doobie Bros.
"Jesus Walking on the Water" - Violet Femmes
And yeah, "Personal Jesus" was on my list.

Posted by cal | December 23, 2011 9:07 AM

Jesus Built My Hotrod / Ministry

Hey andy! Regarding the "What did Jesus do in his off years" -- read Christopher Moore's "Lamb: The Life and Times of Biff, Christ's Childhood Friend." Absolutely hysterical. Biff meets Jesus at the village well while Jesus is entertaining his siblings by bringing back to life the lizards they smash with rocks.

Posted by Melissa | December 23, 2011 9:07 AM

"Ballad of John & Yoko"- The Beatles (I think "Christ" should count)
"Spirit in the Sky"- ...whoeveritwas
"Jesus Gonna Be Here"- Tom Waits
"Jesus Don't Want Me For a Sunbeam"- Vaselines/Nirvana
"Jesus, Etc."- Wilco
"Jesus Walks"- Kanye

Posted by Topher Boyd | December 23, 2011 9:08 AM

Not really Rock, but how about Jesus Walks - Kanye West?

Posted by Jamie | December 23, 2011 9:09 AM

POSSUM KINGDOM, by THE TOADIES!! Let's bring it back to 2004.

Posted by Tim | December 23, 2011 9:10 AM

Walkin' with Jesus - Spacemen 3

and of course Depeche Mode and Vaselines and Jesus and Mary Chain.

Posted by Chris | December 23, 2011 9:10 AM

The King of Carrot Flowers Parts 2& 3 - Neutral Milk Hotel

Posted by Shane | December 23, 2011 9:10 AM

Black Jesus-Lady Gaga

Posted by Adam | December 23, 2011 9:11 AM

Jews for Jesus Blues - Clem Snide
Jesus Walking on the Water - The Violent Femmes

Just a couple of "not so" religious songs...

Posted by Steve Curry | December 23, 2011 9:11 AM

Another John Prine song -- Sam Stone

"There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes.
And Jesus died for nothing, I suppose."

Very upbeat.

Posted by Melissa | December 23, 2011 9:11 AM

"Heads Roll Off" -- Frightened Rabbit

Posted by Emily | December 23, 2011 9:12 AM

"Jesus Chrysler Drives a Dodge" -- Screaming Blue Messiahs
"Jesus on TV" -- Celibate Rifles
"Jesus Built My Hotrod" -- Ministry
"Quicksand Jesus" -- Skid Row

Posted by (JL) | December 23, 2011 9:12 AM

Sufjan Stevens - "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts"
Not a straight reference to Jesus. But definitely about him. If you're looking for art inspired by the Man, that's a good one.

Posted by Brad | December 23, 2011 9:12 AM

Please, please, please make my Xmas and play "Jesus built my hot rod" by ministry. Happy Holidays!

Posted by steve-o | December 23, 2011 9:13 AM

Prince - "The Holy River"
George Harrison - "My Sweet Lord"
They Might Be Giants - "Kiss Me, Son of God"

Posted by Todd | December 23, 2011 9:13 AM

Green Day - Jesus of Suburbia

Posted by Dan | December 23, 2011 9:13 AM

Toadies - Possum Kingdom

Posted by Becky | December 23, 2011 9:13 AM

Guster: Jesus on the Radio (!! ha)

Johnny Cash's "Personal Jesus" and Soundgarden's "Jesus Christ Pose" are also two of my favorites!

Posted by Jessica | December 23, 2011 9:14 AM

Statue of Jesus- Gear Daddies
Jesus on the Radio-Guster

Posted by Julie | December 23, 2011 9:14 AM

Nirvana - "Jesus doesn't want me for a sunbeam"

Posted by Nic Abney | December 23, 2011 9:14 AM

I vote for Billy Bragg & Wilco's "Jesus Christ for President"

Posted by erin | December 23, 2011 9:15 AM

King of Carrot Flowers, Pt 2 - Neutral Milk Hotel

Posted by Jenny | December 23, 2011 9:15 AM

Reverence- Jesus and Mary Chain
You get a two-fer with the band name and a reference to JC in the lyrics.

Posted by Steve | December 23, 2011 9:16 AM

Jesus Wrote a Blank Check - Cake

Posted by Rachel | December 23, 2011 9:17 AM

Jesus Christ - Big Star
Plastic Jesus - Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon
Jesus and Tequila - Minutemen

Posted by jeff | December 23, 2011 9:17 AM

jesus - dom
jesus wrote a blank check - cake
plastic jesus - the flaming lips
jesus walks - kanye west
jesus fever - kurt vile
jesus children of america - stevie wonder
jesus, etc. - wilco
jesus - the velvet underground
oh, maker - janelle monae

Posted by andy | December 23, 2011 9:17 AM

Drive by Truckers "Too much Sex (too Little Jesus"

Posted by joe | December 23, 2011 9:19 AM

"Can't Hardly Wait" The Replacements
"Tiny Dancer" Elton John
"In the Wake of Poseiden" King Crimson
"Gloria" Patti Smith
"What's That Buzz" From the musical Godspell
"Jesus is Just Alright" Doobie Brothers
"I Have Forgiven Jesus" Morrisey

This song doesn't mention Jesus but, does mention God and it is a great song.
"His Truth is MArching On" Mike Doughty

Posted by Marlene | December 23, 2011 9:20 AM

Can't Hardly Wait -- Replacements

"Jesus rides beside me. He never buys any smokes."

Posted by Danielle | December 23, 2011 9:22 AM

Chocolate Jesus, please! Tom Waits.

Posted by Amanda Hedlund | December 23, 2011 9:22 AM

"Jesus are You Real"- Mason Jennings

Posted by Laura | December 23, 2011 9:24 AM

Free Fallin'
Bicycle (Queen)
Jesus Christ (woodie Guthrie)

Posted by jon | December 23, 2011 9:25 AM

Mason Jennings, "Jesus Are You Real" (Boneclouds, 2006)

Posted by Patrick | December 23, 2011 9:26 AM

Jesus Is On the Main Line - Jerry Lee Lewis from Boogie Woogie Country Man, 1975.

Jesus is on the main line
Call him up some time!

Posted by Tom | December 23, 2011 9:27 AM

Jesus Saves - Slayer

Posted by Jesse | December 23, 2011 9:27 AM

Jesus are You Real, Mason Jennings

Posted by Kelsey | December 23, 2011 9:27 AM

"Heads Roll Off" -- Frightened Rabbit

Posted by Emily | December 23, 2011 9:28 AM

"Jesus Want's Me For A Sunbeam" - Vasalines

"Spirit In The Sky" - Norman Greenbaum

Posted by Patrick | December 23, 2011 9:28 AM

Jesus Christ - Brand New

Posted by Michelle | December 23, 2011 9:31 AM

Jesus was an only son-Bruce Springsteen

Posted by Jeff | December 23, 2011 9:37 AM

"Jesus Shootin' Heroin" or "Thank You, Jack White For The Fiber Optic Jesus" - The Flaming Lips

"Jesus, Ect"- Wilco

Posted by Seamus | December 23, 2011 9:37 AM

She left me for Jesus - Hayes Carl

Posted by Trace | December 23, 2011 9:38 AM

Mindy Smith - Come to Jesus is a great song

Posted by Royd | December 23, 2011 9:49 AM

Jesus Christ pose by Soundgarden please.

Posted by Dean Carlson | December 23, 2011 10:17 AM

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