secular songs of praise

**billkilpatrick** · Jul-26-2012, 12:53pm

louis armstrong's version of "what a wonderful world" was brought to my attention recently but can you think of any other songs of joy and gladness which are devoid of specific religious references? nat king cole's "nature boy" has a nice metaphysical flavor to it but is still secular. can you think of any songs which herald man's scientific or engineering achievements? ... breakthroughs in medicine perhaps? ... woody guthrie was commissioned to write a song about the great coolie dam but has anyone ever written a song about jonas salk, for example - the man who discovered a cure for polio?

how about songs written about the majesty, wonder, etc., etc. of nature?

armstrong's version seems to enjoying a break from youtube ... but herrre's joey!

**OldSausage** · Jul-26-2012, 1:03pm

Well, there's this:

http://www.symphonyofscience.com/

**Darren Bailey** · Jul-26-2012, 1:06pm

What's the context for their use? Why the need to avoid religious content?

**mrmando** · Jul-26-2012, 1:15pm

Well, there's always Dr. Stephen Baird and his "scientific gospel music." Sat through a live set of his once ... I can't remember if my band was on right after him or he was after us ... kind of a one-joke act that got tiresome after three songs or so. YMMV.

**JeffD** · Jul-26-2012, 1:18pm

Who are we praising, then?

**catmandu2** · Jul-26-2012, 1:20pm

I was thinking..."Lush Lfe"

add: it is my favorite tune of all time (these days)

**billkilpatrick** · Jul-26-2012, 1:34pm

Originally Posted by JeffD

Who are we praising, then?

exactly ...

**billkilpatrick** · Jul-26-2012, 1:39pm

Originally Posted by OldSausage

Well, there's this:

http://www.symphonyofscience.com/

thanks david - that's wonderful - going to share this

**Andrew Roberts** · Jul-26-2012, 2:05pm

I never thought I would see Symphony of Science pop up on the Mandolin Cafe, but I'm pretty pumped that it did! My personal favorites are Onward to the Edge and The Case for Mars. First person to upload some mandolin covers gets a big Mandolin Cafe thank you from your's truly. There is also a really nice remix of some Mr. Rogers clips by the same person behind SoS that might fit the bill, Bill.

A secular song of praise from an ordained Presbyterian minister... something for everyone!

**allenhopkins** · Jul-26-2012, 3:35pm

Well, "secular..." I immediately thought of the late Dave Carter's Gentle Arms of Eden, but there's a "goddess" in there, which takes it out of the secular realm. However, if you listen to the words, seems that the "goddess" is really a flesh-and-blood person, since Carter sings:

I will lay my burden in the cradle of your grace
And the shining beaches of your love and the sea of your embrace

which seems pretty immediate and not at all supernatural.

In any case, a great song:

I've heard Tracy Grammer do quite a bit of Carter's music, and his untimely death in 2002 deprived us of a really distinctive voice.

**billkilpatrick** · Jul-26-2012, 4:07pm

lovely song. "this is my home - this is the only home i know" sounds pretty secular and at a stretch, "goddess" might refer to an age of reason metaphor for "mom nature" but the garden of eden reference, alas, puts it squarely in a biblical context.

i googled dave carter - thanks for the reference

**billkilpatrick** · Jul-26-2012, 4:22pm

someone suggested this - george almost solo:

**Alex Orr** · Jul-26-2012, 4:30pm

"Redwood Hill" is an old Country Gentlemen tune. Our banjo player refers to it as a gospel song for tree huggers and Wiccans

I think the lyrics are ridiculous, but our guitarist/singer likes it, so we play it, and FWIW, the chord progression and melody are cool.

**adgefan** · Jul-26-2012, 5:37pm

You might like "Here Comes Science" by They Might Be Giants with its songs about the scientific method, the elements, DNA, evolution and electric cars (amongst other things). All the tracks can be found on YouTube.

**mandocrucian** · Jul-26-2012, 6:05pm

secular song of praise:

"Boobs A Lot" by The Holy Modal Rounders (or The Fugs)

= = = = = = = =
or, more seriously:

"Crown Of Creation" - Jefferson Airplane

**Mike Bunting** · Jul-26-2012, 6:14pm

How many here have that first Fugs album. We actually had them at the New Penelope Coffeehouse in Montreal. Ah, Sunflower, Weary of Time, Swinburne Stomp

**Laird** · Jul-26-2012, 9:54pm

Originally Posted by allenhopkins

Well, "secular..." I immediately thought of the late Dave Carter's Gentle Arms of Eden, . . .
I've heard Tracy Grammer do quite a bit of Carter's music, and his untimely death in 2002 deprived us of a really distinctive voice.

Gosh, I miss Dave. What a sad, untimely passing--and what a beautiful song.

There seems to be more in that vein coming out of my native Pacific Northwest than in other places. I'll have to put my mind to it, but Laura Love, Michael Franti, and even Hot Buttered Rum come to mind.

Hey, how about "Best Feeling," by Keller Williams (performed here with the String Cheese Incident)?

**Laird** · Jul-26-2012, 9:58pm

One I've been enjoying performing a lot lately (our band tends toward eco-conscious, peace-loving songs) is "Old Man and the Land," by Railroad Earth:

**Laird** · Jul-26-2012, 10:10pm

Couldn't find a video, but here's Hot Buttered Rum's "Return Someday":
http://www.myspace.com/hotbutteredru...meday-41999579

And here's one of many relevant songs by Elephant Revival:

**billkilpatrick** · Jul-27-2012, 9:22am

number one on the list:

**Laird** · Jul-27-2012, 10:04am

Originally Posted by JeffD

Who are we praising, then?

I'm thinking "what" might be a more useful word here, in the spirit of Bill's post, since "who" encourages personification (with all of its attendant problems).

**billkilpatrick** · Jul-27-2012, 10:21am

my answer to both is "us."

**Pete Counter** · Jul-27-2012, 10:34am

Originally Posted by Laird

I'm thinking "what" might be a more useful word here, in the spirit of Bill's post, since "who" encourages personification (with all of its attendant problems).

Its an offhanded way of publicly proclaiming a distaste for religion. The same people if god is mentioned will start yelling about thier rights being violated. Seems like a thread with high potential for being locked.

**farmerjones** · Jul-27-2012, 11:19am

i'll add Three Dog Night's, Joy to the World and Travis Tritt's, It's a Great Day to be Alive.

**Jesse Harmon** · Jul-27-2012, 11:19am

Well one of my favorite's in this vein is James Taylor's "Up from your life", also on the same "Hourglass " album I think "Gaia" and also one called "Up Er Mei" seems to put me in a place that somehow doesn't seem to insult my life experience. Probably a little off the mark from "secular" I suppose.