There was a lot of searching going on back in the late 60s and early 70s in terms of a spiritual quest. Plenty of hippies were getting stoned out of their minds with hard core drugs, but not all of them were satisfied with just the latest high. Many wanted more. Many were looking for something better, and many were on a spiritual journey.
I know this full well, since I was one of those searchers. I was looking for quite some time, and finally in August of 1971 I found what I was looking for. Or rather, God found me. My story of spiritual longing and spiritual searching is told in detail in this 4-part article: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2012/06/27/coming-home-my-testimony-part-1/
Some songs back then clearly reflected what seemed to be a real spiritual search. Not all that many of course, but there were some significant tunes that come to mind. Consider some of the songs that came out during this period:
“The Christian Life” – The Byrds, 1968
“Spirit in the Sky” – Norman Greenbaum, 1969
“In the Presence of the Lord” – Blind Faith, 1969
“My Sweet Lord” – George Harrison, 1970
“Talkin’ About Jesus” – Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, 1971
“Jesus is Just Alright” – The Doobie Brothers, 1972
“Why Me Lord?” – Kris Kristofferson, 1973
How many of these old rockers were really searching is not so clear. Some may have just liked the music or the concepts. But some might have delved into all this much deeper, and much more seriously. Some might have found what they were searching for.
Let me look further at some of these songs. Consider the one from the Byrds. It came from their 1968 album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo. I and my freak friends were aware of it at the time, but like most hippies and druggies, we were dubious: country music? Come on man! We were much more into heavy rock, psychedelic rock, and acid rock. Give us Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Give us Black Sabbath and Deep Purple.
But the Byrds’ songs I mentioned above was not bad for a secular group back in 1968. Here are the lyrics:
And they also sang the old traditional song, “I am a Pilgrim”. Its lyrics are these:
I am a pilgrim and a stranger
Traveling through this wearisome land
I’ve got a home in that yonder city, good Lord
And it’s not, not made by hand
I’ve got a mother, sister and a brother
Who have gone this way before
I am determined to go and see them, good Lord
For they’re on that other shore
I’m goin’ down to the river of Jordan
Just to bathe my wearisome soul
If I can just touch the hem of his garment, good Lord
Then I know he’d take me home
I am a pilgrim and a stranger
Traveling through this wearisome land
I’ve got a home in that yonder city, good Lord
And it’s not, not made by hand
Speaking of rockers going down the path of country, others can be mentioned. A spinoff group from The Grateful Dead was the New Riders of the Purple Sage. They would usually open the show, followed by the Dead. I saw both groups a number of times back in the day.
And then there was the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. They had been involved in country music for a while, and in 1972 they went to Nashville and recorded the album Will the Circle Be Unbroken. It was a three-disc album that featured a number of country greats, including Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, and on the last day of recording, Roy Acuff.
I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin
I wouldn’t let my dear Savior in
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
Just like a blind man, I wandered along
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
I was a fool to wander and stray
For straight is the gate and narrow’s the way
Now I have traded the wrong for the right
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
But I digress! The real issue here is how many of these old rockers found what they might have been searching for. I certainly did. But it is not certain if many of these others did come to find Christ as Saviour. It is said that George Harrison did in the end come to Christ. See this video with evangelist Ray Comfort: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMl5dfl3fEI
And let me speak to one other artist. The Kris Kristofferson song Why Me Lord? came as a result of him going to a Christian church and heeding a gospel call. He had been in an emotionally low period of his life. A friend urged him to attend a religious service conducted by the Rev. Jimmie Rogers Snow – the son of country star Hank Snow.
After this moving experience (a genuine conversion experience?), he wrote the song. “I had a profound religious experience” he said. And thereafter he always featured it as his closing song at his concerts. See this video for his description of what happened to him, and why he penned the piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tA7E7pbUws
The lyrics of his hit song are these:
Why me Lord, what have I ever done
To deserve even one
Of the pleasures I’ve known
Tell me Lord, what did I ever do
That was worth loving You
Or the kindness You’ve shown
Lord, help me Jesus, I’ve wasted it
So help me Jesus, I know what I am
But now that I know that I’ve needed You
So Help me Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand
Try me Lord, if You think there’s a way
I can try to repay
All I’ve taken from You
Maybe Lord, I can show someone else
What I’ve been through myself
On my way back to You
Lord, help me Jesus, I’ve wasted it
So help me Jesus, I know what I am
But now that I know that I’ve needed You
So help me Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand
Lord, help me Jesus, I’ve wasted it
So help me Jesus, I know what I am
But now that I know that I’ve needed You
So help me Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand
Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand
It is hoped that this was indeed a real Christian conversion. Kristofferson of course passed away in late September of last year, aged 88. But it is intriguing how many rockers had interacted with older Christian songs or penned their own. I mentioned above Delaney and Bonnie. They released an album in 1971 which had numerous gospel songs – Motel Shot.
But of all these artists, how many have found what they sang about – what they might have been looking for? Many have now passed on. We can pray for those who still remain. I found the light, and it is hoped that they will too.
Yes, I saw Led Zeppelin. I saw Santana. I saw Jefferson Airplane. I saw the Grateful Dead. I saw Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. I saw Johnny Winter. I saw Cat Stevens. But how many like me became a Christian? Carlos Santana might have.
Sadly, not many others. God has certainly been gracious to me. I still pray daily for folks like Jagger and Richards, McCartney and Starr, etc. You should too.
I always think of those haunting words of James Taylor in Fire and Rain: “You’ve got to look down up on me Jesus, you have to help me make a stand.” This was upon learning of the suicide of his childhood friend.
Thanks Dave.
Willie Nelson, raised by his grandmother, was the inspiration for writing the song “Family Bible” . Unfortunately it would seem the message of the gospel hasn’t reached his life.
Thanks for that Bryan.
No Bob Dylan. Slow Train Coming, Saved. Whether still a believer or not God knows. But I would say some of the best CCM songs ever written by far lyric wise and music.
Yes Stephen. I pray for Bob daily that he is indeed one of the redeemed!
Dear Bill, Many of these songs had a profound effect upon me before I came to Christ. I still love the songs, listen to them, and appreciate how they influenced me and many others. There was a lady named Lesley Duncan (“Love Song”, sung by Elton John) who sang a song called “Help Me Jesus”. We listened to it all the way to California and back to Sheboygan! I remember your post about how God left a witness for us in our cultures. Thanks for the post Bill. I had a good cry listening to Kris and friends sing “Why Me Lord” Why me indeed! We do indeed hope to see some these truly creative people in Heaven! Many blessings, dear brother!
Jim Hess
Many thanks and blessings Jim.
Here are a few items to add to your Rockers looking into Christ list.
Dust in the Wind (Kansas – 1977). Penned by K.Livgren, who later became Christian and later did explicitly Christian albums.
And some of the 70s rockers had some intuitive grasp that the world they knew was ripe for judgment. So a number of bands did songs with an Apocalyptic theme such as Barry Maguire’s Eve of Destruction. Seems Yes did such songs (on Relayer?). One dark Apocalyptic themed albums was
I always think of those haunting words of James Taylor in Fire and Rain: “You’ve got to look down up on me Jesus, you have to help me make a stand.” This was upon learning of the suicide of his childhood friend.
Thanks Dave.
Willie Nelson, raised by his grandmother, was the inspiration for writing the song “Family Bible” . Unfortunately it would seem the message of the gospel hasn’t reached his life.
Thanks for that Bryan.
No Bob Dylan. Slow Train Coming, Saved. Whether still a believer or not God knows. But I would say some of the best CCM songs ever written by far lyric wise and music.
Yes Stephen. I pray for Bob daily that he is indeed one of the redeemed!
Dear Bill, Many of these songs had a profound effect upon me before I came to Christ. I still love the songs, listen to them, and appreciate how they influenced me and many others. There was a lady named Lesley Duncan (“Love Song”, sung by Elton John) who sang a song called “Help Me Jesus”. We listened to it all the way to California and back to Sheboygan! I remember your post about how God left a witness for us in our cultures. Thanks for the post Bill. I had a good cry listening to Kris and friends sing “Why Me Lord” Why me indeed! We do indeed hope to see some these truly creative people in Heaven! Many blessings, dear brother!
Jim Hess
Many thanks and blessings Jim.
Here are a few items to add to your Rockers looking into Christ list.
Dust in the Wind (Kansas – 1977). Penned by K.Livgren, who later became Christian and later did explicitly Christian albums.
And some of the 70s rockers had some intuitive grasp that the world they knew was ripe for judgment. So a number of bands did songs with an Apocalyptic theme such as Barry Maguire’s Eve of Destruction. Seems Yes did such songs (on Relayer?). One dark Apocalyptic themed albums was
The 666 album by Aphrodite’s Child (1972)
Thanks for that Paul.