Country music is one mainstream genre that isn’t afraid to lean on religion. While other genres might shy away from expressing their faith, country artists don’t fear alienating an audience. They know their crowd, and they revel in their shared mindset.
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The three country songs below received mainstream praise, but they have unmistakable religious undertones (perhaps even overtones). Revisit these three country songs that wouldn’t be out of place in a church service, below.
“Go Rest High on That Mountain” (Vince Gill)
We’re starting our list of mainstream country songs that work as sneaky hymns with a, perhaps, obvious choice. We’re not sure we can call the religious tones in “Go Rest High on That Mountain” necessarily “sneaky”, but it is a song that made major waves on secular country radio. Either in spite of or because of Vince Gill‘s commitment to his faith, this song has been cemented in the annals of country history. You can’t talk about the heyday country had in the ’90s without mentioning Gill or this ballad. Go rest high on that mountain / Son your work on earth is done / Go to heaven a-shoutin’ / Love for the Father and the Son, are lyrics none of us will soon forget.
“That’s What I Love About Sunday” (Craig Morgan)
Many hymns are about the community a religious organization can offer. Craig Morgan follows that example in “That’s What I Love About Sunday.” Though this country song is probably too irreverent for a worship service, anyone who has attended a small town church in their lives will know exactly what Morgan is singing about here. That’s what I love about Sunday / Sing along as the choir sways / Every verse of Amazing Grace, the lyrics read.
“I Saw God Today” (George Strait)
God works in mysterious ways. That’s the onus behind countless songs in the hymn books. It’s also the idea behind George Strait’s “I Saw God Today”. While going about his day, Strait stops to notice the divine gifts all around him. This country song culminates in the acknowledgement of a “miracle”. She’s got my nose / She’s got her mama’s eyes / My brand new baby girl / She’s a miracle / I saw God today, he sings in this touching and devout track.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
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