Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?

Subject: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: GUEST,parody guy
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 07:09 PM

I read this question in another thread and it seemed legitimate. (I'm anonymous if the prevailing wind is that it's not legitimate)

A couple of lines about Allah can get you on a ten year 'hit list', but Jesus (whether fictional or real) can be put in dozens of silly musical situations without the author suffering serious death. I don't know about Texas, though. Perhaps as much as good folks like Fred Phelps would like to eliminate sacriligious poets, he just doesn't hang in those circles.

What about Buddha? Is he just not funny?

Parody Guy

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jes
From: mack/misophist
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 07:15 PM

America only sings about Jesus because it doesn't care about those others. You could go on at great length about this but I think that's the core of the matter.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jes
From: mack/misophist
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 07:17 PM

There is one bit from 'The King and I'


Allah, Buddha, and Confucious
Bearers of fate's golden cup.
If everything is written down
What's the use of getting up?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 07:52 PM

because there is SO much information/opinion/interpretation of Jesus and his 'place' in society and history!

.....almost anything well-known and important has been parodied and otherwise commented on in song.

In many less... ummm..'sophisticated' areas of our culture, the folklore surrounding Jesus and the bible has been simplified and embroidered, lending itself to many levels of musical treatment.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 08:42 PM

Allah has been in a few silly musical arrangements. See Levy Collection, "My Song of the Nile," "Allah's Holiday," etc. I remember that pseudo-middle eastern and north African novels were popular in the period 1870-1925. I seem to remember Buddha appearing is some poet's output- Kipling?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 08:56 PM

NEither JEsus nor Budha are particularlyu funny in themselves. But the public personae that have been mad eout of them by hundreds of years of idiocies are and on the whole the Christian alterations are a LOT more dramatic and grotesque, as far as I know. Also we are exposed to many mor eidiocies in the West that are perpetrated under CHristian auspices. If there has been a scandal concerning Buddhists seducing children for sexual gratification, we haven't heard about it. Of course, as far as I know, Buddhist groups haven't been stupid enough to make melodrama about sexuality to such an intense degree either...

A

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Deckman
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 09:28 PM

To answer your direct question ... because he's such a novel charactor. Bob

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jes
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 09:42 PM

Because lots of people have ambiguous attitudes toward Jesus. They fear him, 'cause he'll come down there and rip you a new one, but then there's this soupcon of "no such person" and that introduces fear into the equation. Sort of like the people who ride rollercoasters no hands.

And let's face it: in the West, Jesus is a well known figure.

We also have to factor in the HUGE amount of stuff "everyone knows" Jesus said and did and will do and won't do and....

Me, I don't care if it rains of freezes....

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 09:51 PM

Maybe it's because Christians are the only ones who are required to forgive us. <g>

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Gerard
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 09:57 PM

I don't know of any parodies written about Jesus. What and where are they?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 10:16 PM

Gerard:

Parodies may be the wrong term to use, but I recommend to your attention such classic compositions as Plastic Jesus, "Go!" with God, Rockin' Jesus, Drop-Kick Me Jesus, and A Whole Lot More Of Jesus (And a Lot Less Rock and Roll) for starters.

A

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 10:17 PM

ANY NUMBER of jokes.   The only song that comes to my mind at this moment is
"I don't care if it rains or freezes
"Long as I got my plastic Jesus
"Riding on the dashboard of my car!"

But I KNOW there are lots more.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Gerard
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 10:27 PM

Thank you for your responses. I think the difference between Jesus and other religious figures, is that He seems to be a more personal, and personable, Personality.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jes
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 10:33 PM

Check out the DT....

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 10:42 PM

A Whole Lot More Of Jesus (And a Lot Less Rock and Roll) by Wayne Raney was intended as serious religious music. It may seem like humor to worldly sophisticates such as ourselves but Wayne didn't see it that way.

One of the great things about learning those songs making fun of Christians when we were young and arrogant was that fundamentalists found the songs so loathsome. I mean, how could you have more fun than pissing off fundamentalists?

Now, a lifetime later, it occurs to me that it's been many many years since I've sung any of those songs. I also realize, typing this, that I still remember the words to them.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 11:17 PM

Mark,

I never realized that!! I am chastised!! But the song still makes me smirk smugly. I am sorry.

A

Subject: Lyr Add: Jesus Loves Me
From: Mark Clark
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 11:53 PM

I learned this many years ago from an old and dear friend who was kind enough to introduce me to all this music in the first place. It's a parody of the real Jesus Loves Me from the Digital Tradition database.

      - Mark



JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me this I know,
For the Baptists tell me so,
Five hundred million Hindus say they're wrong,
But they are weak and the Baptists are strong.

Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me,
The Baptists tell me so.

Amen.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: NicoleC
Date: 16 Jul 03 - 11:53 PM

A combination of things?

1) Christianity prevails in the West, where the concept of freedom speech and tolerance also prevails -- although given the history of the two, it's odd that they come together.

2) Writing a song about Jesus instantly makes the kind of connection with everyone in your audience (in the West) that writing about Hildegard von Bingen is unlikely to get you. Jesus may not be a part of everyone's religion in the West, but it's almost guarenteed to be a part of their culture.

3) The frequently ridiculous behavior of many people in the name of Jesus strikes a funny chord with many -- even if they are devout Christians.

And many more, I'm sure. Let's face it -- Jesus is not just a cultural icon, he's a huge celebrity.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 12:18 AM

How about 'Catter Rick Fielding's "If Jesus Was a Picker"?
And I agree that a number of songs we think of as pretty light, or even laughable, were at one time fairly serious ways of telling Biblical tales to those who otherwise might not hear or see them; a vocal society's version of the Biblical tales carved in stone on the high crosses. When you get right down to it, those Celtic style carvings are rather cartoonlike to modern viewers.
As a culture, we in the West seem to have a longstanding tradition of levity toward our icons, in all fields. I suspect that our other big names, in government and history and entertainment as well as religion, seem to receive little reverence compared to some other cultures.
I have read that, of all people after Jesus, there have been more songs about Napoleon than anyone else.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jes
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 12:21 AM

The parodies and novelty songs relate to songs, gospels and hymns, not necessarily the subject of the songs, gospels and hymns.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 03:51 AM

Just as Jesus is in all aspects of life, so He is in all aspects of things that make up our lives. If your life includes laughing, singing and dancing, then Jesus is in those things.

People tend to write about what affects them strongly, and if Jesus or whoever is a big part of your life, then it will start to affect your writing. The fact that we no longer get burnt at the stake, hauled into prison or flogged for blasphemy (Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain), means that more and more songs/poems/parodies have been written about Him as people no longer fear punishment. Other religious groups have chosen to continue to enforce their equivalent of the 7th commandment, so they only have songs/poems/parodies written about them in countries where the rule is predominantly Christian - but even there, as Salman Rushdie found out, no-one is invulnerable.

LTS

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Kim C
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 09:59 AM

Jesus has a sense of humor.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: GUEST,boo
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 10:02 AM

because we love him. its an affectionate thing.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Ely
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 10:05 AM

I'm sure there are zillions of reasons, but one of them is that, although everybody in the South lives with Jesus/Christianity as part of the culture, not everyone is all that into them as a religion. Those of us that aren't get a little exasperated by those that are. We might as well have some fun with it.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Frankham
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 04:48 PM

It's an interesting question. I think it's more about poking fun at pompous piety than anything else. (Pompous Piety, wasn't he the Roman leader in the Bible who..... oh never mind!)

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jes
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 05:09 PM

Like Mark, I believe that "We Need A Whole Lot More of Jesus" was written as a serious song. Now, "Plastic Jesus" was not, it seems to me. Then there's "Jesus Was A Capricorn", which, while not a religious song, is serious about how Christ's real message gets twisted by Christians.

Jesus was a Capricorn, he ate organic foods.
He believed in love and peace, and never wore no shoes.
Long hair, beard and sandals and a funky bunch of friends.
Reckon they'd just nail him up if he came down again.

Chorus
'Cause everybody's got to have somebody to look down on,
Who they can feel better than at any time they please.
Someone doing something dirty decent folks can frown on.
If you can't find nobody else, then help yourself to me.

Who wrote this, BTW? Kristoferson? Ochs?

Jerry

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jes
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 05:11 PM

-Your Buddy Christ-

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Kim C
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 05:15 PM

Archie McPhee also has a little plastic dashboard Jesus on a spring. Likewise, a little plastic dashboard Buddha on a spring.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 07:55 PM

Hmmm....When I wrote "If Jesus Was a Picker" the last thing I thought was that it would become my most requested song. The jokes are now old-hat to me, and it's a bit tedious, so I mess about with it instrumentally.

Just wouldn't work with Allah dressed up in folkie clothes.......besides .....those guys scare the crap outta me!

Rick

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jes
From: sheila
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 08:38 PM

Back in the late 60s, a classmate of mine at AADA in NYC (Victor StJohn Mathews, AKA Dusty Mathews)used to sing a song called 'I Want to Be a Jesus Cowboy In the Holy Ghost's Corral'. I've searched the archives here, and only found one mention of it, but not the lyrics. Does anyone here know this one?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: GUEST,Margret RoadKnight
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 09:39 PM

And then there's Martin Mull's "Jesus Is Easy".....

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 09:47 PM

Jesus is easily the single most influential person in Western culture, so of course there are a lot of novelty songs about him. He's also rather more approachable than many other great religious figures, having a very human aspect that most people can relate to in one way or another.

There are a fair number of novelty songs about Elvis too, for sort of similar reasons. There are also a tremendous number of novelty songs featuring Satan! Count 'em. Maybe more than about either Jesus or Elvis. I have a feeling Old Nick wins the novelty song sweepstakes hands down.

- LH

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Chief Chaos
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 04:46 PM

You're forgetting
"Would Jesus Wear A Rolex"
- Ray Stevens

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 05:37 PM

"The score was six to nothing, in Heaven's own backyard
With Jesus in the backfield, and Moses playing guard.
The angels in the grandstand let out a mighty yell,
When Jesus scored the touchdown to beat the boys from Hell.

..(softly)Stay with Christ, Stay with Christ
..(LOUD) Rock 'em, sock em, Jesus block 'em
..(softly)Stay with Christ"

tune is approximately what you'd sing "Dunderbeck/Johnny Vorbeck" to...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Deckman
Date: 18 Jul 03 - 07:20 PM

Back in the 50's, in Seattle, Mike Leib used to sing:

Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the bible tells me so,
When I die he'll clean my soul,
What a ... dirty little job for Jesus!

CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 02:53 AM

I learned a number of Jesus novelty songs in my eight years in a Catholic seminary. We loved 'em. That's where I picked up my love of quirky gospel songs. And we could chant just about anything, Gregorian-style. Curses work particularly well in Gregorian chant.

I think Jesus has a sense of humor about these things, too. It's his followers who tend to take things seriously - but not all of us.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Folklore: Why so many novelty songs about Jesus?
From: Kaleea
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 03:52 AM

Mesophist said:

"America only sings about Jesus because it doesn't care about those others."

Gee, mesophist, does the ground under my feet truly "care" about whom I sing? Does the ground under the feet of all Americans in the USA actually "care" about whom humans sing? What about the flag? Or the actual paper on which is written the Bill of Rights? Does paper or fabric "care?" Or is it that the humans standing on the soil seem to have a majority of "Christians" amongst them?
   I once thought that there was truly "Freedom of Religion" in the USA. I was quite naive. What I found was that many persons, most especially in the "mid-west" who proclaim that they are "Christians" make it their business to insist that, only persons who adopt a religion very much like their particular denomination are allowed to be considered true "Christians" making all others non-believers by default, and thereby NOT treating those non-"Christians" as an equal. I have often wished that these same "Christians" could go back in time & be in attendance during some of the religious rites of Jesus and his disciples. They would see little or nothing familiar! If they were to follow Jesus about, they would wonder why he "meditates" or does other things so much like some kind of pagan Eastern mysticism. If they got in on observing the voting which took place about which scriptures, letters, portions of books, & Hebrew oral stories would be included in the "New Testament," would they marvel about how "Revelations" won out over another apostle's letter by only a couple of votes? Or perhaps the aforementioned time travelers could go back to observe the process by which the then church leaders & King James deleted, altered, added, etc., during the process of "translation" of scriptures to make what we now consider to be THE Bible?
   In all of my many years of work as a church musician, I have seen a great many people in those churches who are not followers of the teachings of Jesus, to include many behind the pulpits. Some of the popular creatures on TV who preach at others & then beg for money came around the circuit through the church where I was as a teenager, and then other churches over the years. Many of them are absolutely not following the teachings of Jesus. This I know from the experience of observing them myself, then & in recent times, too. On rare occasions, I have found a marvelous minister who truly believes, follows, & lives by those same teachings which Jesus taught. They are the ones who are mostly unknown, except to the members of the community which they lovingly serve.    Some of these ministers are not of the "Christian" faith. Yet, they not only teach, but believe--live their lives by most all of those same teachings. I have observed persons of non-Christian beliefs who are most assuredly more Christ-like every day of their lives than most of the "Christians" who look down upon them & treat them publicly as inferiors. Is this the "American" way?

What, exactly is a Jesus "novelty song," anyway? How about:

Oh, Mary, don't you weep, don't you mourn;
Oh, Mary, don't you weep, don't you mourn;
Pharoh's army got drounded;
Oh, Mary, don't you weep.   ---HUH?