CHAPTER 2: Jesus Made Wine, and So Do I!
The question posed in the last post was whether or not Jesus would be into the music that he has inspired over the years since his existence. The difficult part of looking at this is Jesus has inspired so much. As we talked about, he has those who love and revere him, those who look at him and his creation with spite, those who take a more satirical approach to his existence, and even those who don’t think his existed at all. You look at his musical resume and he has quite the repertoire of genres under his belt. So pretty much what I am saying is that Jesus is everywhere man, everywhere in musical history. For him to like it all equally may be a stretch, but I imagine that Jesus can find an appreciation in all the styles and approaches that are taken to carry on his name.
The Blues in particular is an interesting genre to look at. It has an interesting balance of Jesus and Devil imagery early on. You see many praise songs for Jesus, and inspirational themed ballads sung to motivate the downtrodden. These songs can find their origins in old slave spirituals, African American folk tunes, work songs, and the hymns found throughout the gospels, as well as Scottish and Irish traditional music. This is counterbalanced quite well through the blues mythology and legends of deals with Devil, selling ones soul for guitar prowess, and sweet duels. I can imagine Jesus kickin’ back on a porch pulling out an old dusty 45 of some Blind Willie Johnson album and soaking in that early 20th century Texas slide guitar style while rockin’ back and forth in his chair. Even more so I can picture Jesus strolling down a lonesome Mississippi back road with guitar case in hand and the devil appears at the crossroads to make him an offer. They are swept into a seedy satanic blues club where Jesus proceeds to do some massive guitar shredding. Pretty much I imagine Ralph Macchio in Crossroads being substituted for Jesus, and he gets to battle Steve Vai playing a pretentious Douche, so just himself.
Just as much as hanging out in rural Mississippi, I can also see Jesus out in the backwoods of Kentucky sitting in a rocking chair playing a jug with 12 other country hillbillies jamming out on their respective instrument and recording their folk tunes with Alan Lomax or Cecil Sharp as one of them tours the US recording the undocumented music history of our country. The Old-time, Appalachia, early folk music of country has its roots in the British Isles style, with some African touch as well. The influence of Gospel, Religious Music, and Race Recording can be found this style as it grew and was adapted by newer artists over the years. It would be these tunes that go on to inspire Porter Wagoner, George Jones, and Hank Williams sing their country ballads praising their Lord Jesus Christ. Country and Western, Texas Swing, Appalachia, Old Time, Folk, and modern Country all have their roots in Jesus’s musical repertoire.
This music is the roots to what we listen to today, it is what has helped us develop rock n’ roll, Nashville country, metal, punk rock, prog rock, indie, Britpop, ect .I think what makes Jesus one of the biggest influences is musical history is he not only inspired praise songs, but also inspired many artists who revile him, artists who think Christ imagery is funny and those just indifferent. Jesus is not just captured in the gospel ballads of the early 20th century, or the folk tunes of mountain people, but in the death metal of Florida, hardcore punk of NYC, neo-psychedelia of Spacemen 3, and in some goofy country by Mr. Nixon. As music progressed from the 1920’s all the way through the 2000’s, we have seen so many new genres and styles, and throughout all of those you can probably find an artist who references back to the gospel music and folk tunes of Jesus.
Jesus is found in the post-punk madness of Big Black. Jesus is found in the southern hard rock of Nashville Pussy. Jesus is found in the brutal death metal of Deicide. He is found in much much more, but I have to say Mojo Nixon is my favorite modern Jesus balladeer by far. “Are You Drinkin' with me Jesus” is my favorite alternative reality Jesus songs. I could definitely imagine going into a bar and seeing Jesus hanging out and buying a couple of rounds. Before you know it, I bet we would be best friends and telling random stories of our travels. We would shoot the shit for a while, and then stumble out to see what trouble we would get into and eventually have to run from the cops. Thank you Jesus for the good times, and the massive amounts of good music.
Starting in the early part of last century, we saw early blues and jazz from the southern United States and old-timey gospel tunes from the back country of Appalachia being sung about Jesus. Of course we do have the previous 1800 years or so and the roots of these initial American styles as well, but we will just look at our more modern history. I definitely think that Jesus would have been appreciated of these early styles and the songs sung in his name.
Just as much as hanging out in rural Mississippi, I can also see Jesus out in the backwoods of Kentucky sitting in a rocking chair playing a jug with 12 other country hillbillies jamming out on their respective instrument and recording their folk tunes with Alan Lomax or Cecil Sharp as one of them tours the US recording the undocumented music history of our country. The Old-time, Appalachia, early folk music of country has its roots in the British Isles style, with some African touch as well. The influence of Gospel, Religious Music, and Race Recording can be found this style as it grew and was adapted by newer artists over the years. It would be these tunes that go on to inspire Porter Wagoner, George Jones, and Hank Williams sing their country ballads praising their Lord Jesus Christ. Country and Western, Texas Swing, Appalachia, Old Time, Folk, and modern Country all have their roots in Jesus’s musical repertoire.
As the 1980’s and 90’s came songs about Jesus definitely started to take a different approach, and I think he would have found a lot of humor in it. There are definitely a few scenes that I bet we could’ve found Jesus floating around in. There is not much Jesus praise in the crust punk, PC-emo, abc rio, ebullition scene of the late 80’s and 90’s, and yet I can imagine Jesus fitting right in with that crowd if he dropped the religious aspect of his teaching. “Neo-Hippie” punk rockers seems right up Jesus’ allies of people he’d be looking after. Jesus, as a historical figure head, is pretty punk rock. He was a rebel for his time, and in fact he was the counterculture in battle with the Pharisees, Romans and other Jewish leaders at the time. Jesus did things DIY,
, traveled across the land, getting dirty and smelly. Jesus was fighting one of the biggest corporations for his time, and did not back down even in the face of the law. You would probably find him today sporting a Capitalist Casualities shirt, a sleeveless denim jacket with a Heresy back patch while rolling up some drum tobacco with his mixed-breed pit tied to his side with a rope and bandana around its neck.
, traveled across the land, getting dirty and smelly. Jesus was fighting one of the biggest corporations for his time, and did not back down even in the face of the law. You would probably find him today sporting a Capitalist Casualities shirt, a sleeveless denim jacket with a Heresy back patch while rolling up some drum tobacco with his mixed-breed pit tied to his side with a rope and bandana around its neck. Jesus is found in the post-punk madness of Big Black. Jesus is found in the southern hard rock of Nashville Pussy. Jesus is found in the brutal death metal of Deicide. He is found in much much more, but I have to say Mojo Nixon is my favorite modern Jesus balladeer by far. “Are You Drinkin' with me Jesus” is my favorite alternative reality Jesus songs. I could definitely imagine going into a bar and seeing Jesus hanging out and buying a couple of rounds. Before you know it, I bet we would be best friends and telling random stories of our travels. We would shoot the shit for a while, and then stumble out to see what trouble we would get into and eventually have to run from the cops. Thank you Jesus for the good times, and the massive amounts of good music.
While there are a great amount of great songs inspired by Jesus, I feel regretful to mention there is a bad side too: Jesus has influenced just as much of an amount of crap as well. I could start going on a rant right now, but I will let that wait for Chapter 3, where you will also find a final Jesus mix. Enjoy!
SFMTC Vol. 2b – Jesus Made Wine, and So Do I. Tracklist
01. Jello Biafra & Mojo Nixon – “Are You Drinkin with Me Jesus?” – ‘ Prarie Home Invasion’
02. Deicide – “Death to Jesus” – ‘The Stench of Redemption’
03. Humble Pie – “Groovin with Jesus” – ‘Thunderbox’
04. John Prine – “Jesus the Missing Years” – ‘The Missing Years’
05. Skip James – “Jesus is a Mighty Good Leader” – ‘The Complete Early Recordings’
06. Brian Jonestown Massacre – “Jesus” – ‘Their Satanic Majesties Second Request’
07. Capitalist Casualities – “Jesus’ Whore” – ‘Capitalist Casualties’
08. Queen – “Jesus” – ‘Queen’
09. The Flaming Lips – “Shine on Sweet Jesus” – ‘In a Priest Driven Ambulance’
10. Billy Joe Shaver – “Jesus Christ, What a Man” – ‘Old Five and Dimers Like Me’
11. Wilco – “Jesus, Ect.” – ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’
12. Cake – “Jesus Wrote a Blank Check” – ‘Motorcade of Generosity’
13. Rest in Pieces – “Jesus” – ‘Rest in Pieces’
14. Violent Femmes – “Jesus Walking on the Water” – ‘Hallowed Ground’
15. Bruce Springsteen – “Jesus was an only Son” – ‘Devils and Dust’
16. Orange Goblin – “Jesus Beater” – ‘Coup de Grace’
17. Primal Scream – “Jesus cant Save Me” – ‘Primal Scream’
18. Agoraphobic Nosebleed – “Fuck your Soccer Jesus” – ‘ Altered States of America’
19. The Flying Burrito Brothers – “Jesus Broke the Wild Horses” – ‘Airborne’
20. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – “Jesus Met the Woman at the Well” – ‘Kicking Against the Pricks’
21. King Missile – “Jesus was Way Cool” – ‘Mystic Shit’
22. George Jones – “Just a Little Talk with Jesus” – ‘The Gospel Collection’
23. Witches Hammer – “Alien Jesus” – ‘Stretching into Infinity’
24. Stonewall Jackson – “Jesus Took the Outlaw Out of Me” – ‘Bad Ass’
25. Bad Religion – “American Jesus” – ‘Recipe for Hat e’
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