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Rock songs surprisingly inspired by the Bible
- Inspiration for songs knows no boundaries. Indeed, it can come from numerous sources, including the Bible. While many of the artists and bands listed in this gallery are not followers of a specific faith, many took to the Holy Book to find inspiration for their tunes. From literal biblical quotes, to lyrics inspired by biblical references, in this gallery you'll find it all. Click through and discover the rock songs that are surprisingly inspired by the Bible.
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
'Turn! Turn! Turn!' - The Byrds
- First performed by folk group The Limeliters in 1962 (under the title 'To Everything There Is a Season'), this 1965 song hit no. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Chart when it was released by The Byrds.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
'Turn! Turn! Turn!' - The Byrds
- The track had both an anti-war message and Biblical roots. More specifically, the song borrowed lines from the Old Testament's Book of Ecclesiastes.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
'Story of Isaac' - Leonard Cohen
- This Leonard Cohen song from 1969 has a pretty biblical title, and indeed it is about the biblical story of Abraham being commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
'Story of Isaac' - Leonard Cohen
- The twist is that Cohen gives Isaac a voice in this song, which is not featured in the original Old Testament story.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
'Highway 61 Revisited' - Bob Dylan
- Bob Dylan was born and raised Jewish. Even though he went on to become a born-again Christian for three years (1979 to 1981), this song was released in 1965, while he was (according to some critics) attempting to come to terms with his Jewish heritage.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
'Highway 61 Revisited' - Bob Dylan
- Like Cohen's, this song is also about Isaac. The lyrics, in a very Dylan-esque style, contain lines such as "Oh God said to Abraham, 'Kill me a son'/Abe says, 'Man, you must be puttin' me on'."
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
'Creeping Death' - Metallica
- 'Creeping Death' can be found on Metallica's 1984 album 'Ride the Lightning.' The lyrics give voice to the Angel of Death described in the Book of Exodus, who was sent by God to kill the firstborn sons of the Egyptians.
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
'Creeping Death' - Metallica
- Front man James Hetfield, inspired by the 1956 movie 'The Ten Commandments,' went on to write lyrics for the song. Some of which read "Slaves, Hebrews, born to serve the pharaoh / Heed to his every word, live in fear / So let it be written, so let it be done / To kill the first-born pharaoh son / I'm Creeping Death."
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
'Shadrach' - Beastie Boys
- The famous hip-hop trio from New York City released this track in 1989. 'Shadrach' is about the story of the three Hebrews Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego mentioned in the Book of Daniel.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
'Shadrach' - Beastie Boys
- The three men refused to worship the statue built by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. We can see how three rebels can appeal to the rap trio who happen to have Jewish heritage, right?
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
'Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk' - Pink Floyd
- This song, which can be found in the band's 1967 album 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn,' is inspired by one of the most famous miracles performed by Jesus in the New Testament.
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
'Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk' - Pink Floyd
- This specific miracle is described in John 5:8. Jesus heals a paralytic man who's been sitting on a mat for years. The band went on to draw inspiration from the Book of Ecclesiastes for their iconic 1973 album 'Dark Side of the Moon.'
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
'The Calling' - The Killers
- This song was inspired by Caravaggio's famous painting 'The Calling of Saint Matthew,' which in turn drew inspiration from the Gospel of Matthew.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
'The Calling' - The Killers
- So much so that the band asked actor Woody Harrelson to read Matthew 9:10-12 for the song.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
'Adam's Apple' - Aerosmith
- It's not hard to figure out what this 1975 song by Aerosmith is about, right? Yes, it's inspired by the Fall from Paradise story of Adam and Eve.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
'Adam's Apple' - Aerosmith
- Steven Tyler's lyrics contain lines such as "Man he was believer/ Lady was deceiver / So the story goes but you see / That snake was he / She just climbed right up his tree."
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
'Adam Raised a Cain' - Bruce Springsteen
- This track from Springsteen's 1978 album 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' is inspired by brothers Cain and Abel's relationship, as described in the Bible.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
'Adam Raised a Cain' - Bruce Springsteen
- Though Springsteen delves deep into the intricacies of family dynamics, and how Cain was somehow a byproduct of his father, Adam.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
'Get Out of Your Own Way' - U2
- U2 are a known Christian group, so perhaps a biblical reference doesn't come as a surprise. This song in particular was inspired by the Sermon on the Mount, as described in Matthew 5:3-11.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
'Get Out of Your Own Way' - U2
- The lyrics include lines such as "Blessed are the arrogant: for theirs is the kingdom of their own company / Blessed are the superstars: for in the magnificence of their light we understand better our own insignificance / Blessed are the filthy rich: for you can only truly own what you give away, like your pain."
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
'Prodigal Son' - The Rolling Stones
- This song is actually not an original from the Stones. It was written by the country-blues guitarist and singer "The Reverend" Robert Wilkins.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
'Prodigal Son' - The Rolling Stones
- The parable of the prodigal son can be found in the Gospel of Luke, more specifically in Luke 15:11–32.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
'Rock of Ages' by Def Leppard
- This song can be found on the British rockers' 1983 album 'Pyromania.' Front man Joe Elliott told the story of how the song came to be.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
'Rock of Ages' by Def Leppard
- "We let somebody use the studio the night before, and they held a Bible study session. A Bible was left in the studio open to the hymn 'Rock of Ages.' So, I picked it up and started singing," said Elliott.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
'The Fallen' - Franz Ferdinand
- This song is inspired by the life of Jesus, as described in the Gospels. The twist is that the biblical figure is reimagined as a Scottish character.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
'The Fallen' - Franz Ferdinand
- The song is about "what he'd do and imagining him coming back and turning the rich into wine and drinking them and walking on the mean and maybe getting on Mary Magdalene," explained Ferdinand's front man, Alex Kapranos.
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
'The Prophet's Song' - Queen
- This eight-minute-plus song written by guitarist Brian May can be found on the band's 1975 album 'A Night at the Opera.'
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
'The Prophet's Song' - Queen
- May wrote the song after having a dream about a natural disaster, like an Old Testament-inspired flood. It also makes reference to the story of Noah's Ark.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
'The Writing on the Wall' - Iron Maiden
- This song by English heavy metal legends Iron Maiden is inspired by the Old Testament's Book of Daniel.
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
'The Writing on the Wall' - Iron Maiden
- More specifically, the story of Belshazzar's Feast (Daniel 5:30). Sources: (Far Out Magazine) (Ultimate Classic Rock) (Billboard) (Metal Hammer) (Spin Magazine) (Grunge) See also: The most influential women of the Bible
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
Rock songs surprisingly inspired by the Bible
- Inspiration for songs knows no boundaries. Indeed, it can come from numerous sources, including the Bible. While many of the artists and bands listed in this gallery are not followers of a specific faith, many took to the Holy Book to find inspiration for their tunes. From literal biblical quotes, to lyrics inspired by biblical references, in this gallery you'll find it all. Click through and discover the rock songs that are surprisingly inspired by the Bible.
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
'Turn! Turn! Turn!' - The Byrds
- First performed by folk group The Limeliters in 1962 (under the title 'To Everything There Is a Season'), this 1965 song hit no. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Chart when it was released by The Byrds.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
'Turn! Turn! Turn!' - The Byrds
- The track had both an anti-war message and Biblical roots. More specifically, the song borrowed lines from the Old Testament's Book of Ecclesiastes.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
'Story of Isaac' - Leonard Cohen
- This Leonard Cohen song from 1969 has a pretty biblical title, and indeed it is about the biblical story of Abraham being commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
'Story of Isaac' - Leonard Cohen
- The twist is that Cohen gives Isaac a voice in this song, which is not featured in the original Old Testament story.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
'Highway 61 Revisited' - Bob Dylan
- Bob Dylan was born and raised Jewish. Even though he went on to become a born-again Christian for three years (1979 to 1981), this song was released in 1965, while he was (according to some critics) attempting to come to terms with his Jewish heritage.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
'Highway 61 Revisited' - Bob Dylan
- Like Cohen's, this song is also about Isaac. The lyrics, in a very Dylan-esque style, contain lines such as "Oh God said to Abraham, 'Kill me a son'/Abe says, 'Man, you must be puttin' me on'."
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
'Creeping Death' - Metallica
- 'Creeping Death' can be found on Metallica's 1984 album 'Ride the Lightning.' The lyrics give voice to the Angel of Death described in the Book of Exodus, who was sent by God to kill the firstborn sons of the Egyptians.
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
'Creeping Death' - Metallica
- Front man James Hetfield, inspired by the 1956 movie 'The Ten Commandments,' went on to write lyrics for the song. Some of which read "Slaves, Hebrews, born to serve the pharaoh / Heed to his every word, live in fear / So let it be written, so let it be done / To kill the first-born pharaoh son / I'm Creeping Death."
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
'Shadrach' - Beastie Boys
- The famous hip-hop trio from New York City released this track in 1989. 'Shadrach' is about the story of the three Hebrews Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego mentioned in the Book of Daniel.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
'Shadrach' - Beastie Boys
- The three men refused to worship the statue built by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. We can see how three rebels can appeal to the rap trio who happen to have Jewish heritage, right?
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
'Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk' - Pink Floyd
- This song, which can be found in the band's 1967 album 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn,' is inspired by one of the most famous miracles performed by Jesus in the New Testament.
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
'Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk' - Pink Floyd
- This specific miracle is described in John 5:8. Jesus heals a paralytic man who's been sitting on a mat for years. The band went on to draw inspiration from the Book of Ecclesiastes for their iconic 1973 album 'Dark Side of the Moon.'
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
'The Calling' - The Killers
- This song was inspired by Caravaggio's famous painting 'The Calling of Saint Matthew,' which in turn drew inspiration from the Gospel of Matthew.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
'The Calling' - The Killers
- So much so that the band asked actor Woody Harrelson to read Matthew 9:10-12 for the song.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
'Adam's Apple' - Aerosmith
- It's not hard to figure out what this 1975 song by Aerosmith is about, right? Yes, it's inspired by the Fall from Paradise story of Adam and Eve.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
'Adam's Apple' - Aerosmith
- Steven Tyler's lyrics contain lines such as "Man he was believer/ Lady was deceiver / So the story goes but you see / That snake was he / She just climbed right up his tree."
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
'Adam Raised a Cain' - Bruce Springsteen
- This track from Springsteen's 1978 album 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' is inspired by brothers Cain and Abel's relationship, as described in the Bible.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
'Adam Raised a Cain' - Bruce Springsteen
- Though Springsteen delves deep into the intricacies of family dynamics, and how Cain was somehow a byproduct of his father, Adam.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
'Get Out of Your Own Way' - U2
- U2 are a known Christian group, so perhaps a biblical reference doesn't come as a surprise. This song in particular was inspired by the Sermon on the Mount, as described in Matthew 5:3-11.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
'Get Out of Your Own Way' - U2
- The lyrics include lines such as "Blessed are the arrogant: for theirs is the kingdom of their own company / Blessed are the superstars: for in the magnificence of their light we understand better our own insignificance / Blessed are the filthy rich: for you can only truly own what you give away, like your pain."
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
'Prodigal Son' - The Rolling Stones
- This song is actually not an original from the Stones. It was written by the country-blues guitarist and singer "The Reverend" Robert Wilkins.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
'Prodigal Son' - The Rolling Stones
- The parable of the prodigal son can be found in the Gospel of Luke, more specifically in Luke 15:11–32.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
'Rock of Ages' by Def Leppard
- This song can be found on the British rockers' 1983 album 'Pyromania.' Front man Joe Elliott told the story of how the song came to be.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
'Rock of Ages' by Def Leppard
- "We let somebody use the studio the night before, and they held a Bible study session. A Bible was left in the studio open to the hymn 'Rock of Ages.' So, I picked it up and started singing," said Elliott.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
'The Fallen' - Franz Ferdinand
- This song is inspired by the life of Jesus, as described in the Gospels. The twist is that the biblical figure is reimagined as a Scottish character.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
'The Fallen' - Franz Ferdinand
- The song is about "what he'd do and imagining him coming back and turning the rich into wine and drinking them and walking on the mean and maybe getting on Mary Magdalene," explained Ferdinand's front man, Alex Kapranos.
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
'The Prophet's Song' - Queen
- This eight-minute-plus song written by guitarist Brian May can be found on the band's 1975 album 'A Night at the Opera.'
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
'The Prophet's Song' - Queen
- May wrote the song after having a dream about a natural disaster, like an Old Testament-inspired flood. It also makes reference to the story of Noah's Ark.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
'The Writing on the Wall' - Iron Maiden
- This song by English heavy metal legends Iron Maiden is inspired by the Old Testament's Book of Daniel.
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
'The Writing on the Wall' - Iron Maiden
- More specifically, the story of Belshazzar's Feast (Daniel 5:30). Sources: (Far Out Magazine) (Ultimate Classic Rock) (Billboard) (Metal Hammer) (Spin Magazine) (Grunge) See also: The most influential women of the Bible
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
Rock songs surprisingly inspired by the Bible
© Getty Images
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