"My boyfriend is Jesus" songs
We often speak, in ever-so-slightly-deprecating tones, about "Jesus is my boyfriend" Christian songs. But what about "my boyfriend is Jesus" secular songs? Have you ever noticed how some secular love songs seem to be grasping at what (only) a relationship with Jesus offers? Here's one from Sarah McLachlan, especially in verse two (I actually love this song, and think the live version on Mirrorball is totally funky - you can listen on youtube here, or some kind of disco version here - have to admit I had some loungeroom dancing fun with that last version - which probably looked a little more aerobics - the "star jump" is my best move):
Sweet Surrender
it doesn't mean much
it doesn't mean anything at all
the life I've left behind me
is a cold room
I've crossed the last line
from where I can't return
where every step I took in faith
betrayed me
and led me from my home
and sweet
sweet surrender
is all that I have to give
you take me in
no questions asked
you strip away the ugliness
that surrounds me
are you an angel
am I already that gone
I only hope
that I won't disappoint you
when I'm down here
on my knees
and sweet
sweet
sweet surrender
is all that I have to give
sweet
sweet
sweet surrender
is all that I have to give
and I don't understand
by the touch of your hand
I would be the one to fall
I miss the little things
oh I miss everything
it doesn't mean much
it doesn't mean anything at all
the life I left behind me
is a cold room
And just incase, like me, you get a little hopeful at such ambiguous lyrics and think 'you know maybe Sarah McLachlan is really a Christian!' listen to this song, Dear God. I only discovered it today, still don't know which album it's from, and found it a little disturbing. It's the classic, "I can't believe in God because the world is full of suffering" argument, but sung persuasively. It frustrates and saddens me to hear it.