The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Religions all around the world
Every man, every woman
Every want to be martyr
We have to learn, to learn
The way we need to live together
If the planet earth stopped revolving
Would religion really matter anymore?
And if Jerusalem began dissolving
You'd see the man from Salt Lake City
At your door
I believe
I believe
That there's so much more
Than we can see
I believe
I believe
That there's more to life
There's more to life than this
Should I call you Jesus?
Or should I call you Buddha
Don't you know Jehovah
He read the kabbala
Should I talk to Allah?
Does it really matter?
God is god
By any god given name
If the Vatican built all the temples
Would confession drive the innocent insane?
And if charity organized religion
would there be wealth enough
To chant away the day
I believe
I believe
That there's more to life
There's more to life than this
Should I call you Jesus?
Or should I call you Buddha
Don't you know Jehovah?
He read the kabbala
Should I talk to Allah?
Does it really matter?
God is god
By any god given name
Some people, some people
Say he won't answer
I say that the question should change
Our father who art in heaven
Ancient omnipresent
Hallowed be thy name
Legendary reincarnation
Chameleon of faith
Untruth Man made
Our father who art in heaven
If I get your name wrong
Will you turn me away?
Should I call you Jesus?
Or should I call you Buddha
Don't you know Jehovah?
He read the kabbala
Should I talk to Allah?
Does it really matter?
God is god
By any god given name
Religion isn't hate
Religion isn't war
Genocide, brutal or cruel
It doesn't kill
Discriminate
It isn't vicious
And it doesn't violate
It isn't massacre
Bloodshed
Conflict or slaughter
Barbaric terror
Barbaric torture
Tyranny
Dictatorship
Or fear
Religions all around the world
Every man, every woman
Every want to be martyr
We have to learn, to learn
The way we need to live together
I ask only one question
Should I call you Jesus?
Does it really matter?
Jesus come over here, have a beer!
Every man, every woman
Every want to be martyr
We have to learn, to learn
The way we need to live together
If the planet earth stopped revolving
Would religion really matter anymore?
And if Jerusalem began dissolving
You'd see the man from Salt Lake City
At your door
I believe
I believe
That there's so much more
Than we can see
I believe
I believe
That there's more to life
There's more to life than this
Should I call you Jesus?
Or should I call you Buddha
Don't you know Jehovah
He read the kabbala
Should I talk to Allah?
Does it really matter?
God is god
By any god given name
If the Vatican built all the temples
Would confession drive the innocent insane?
And if charity organized religion
would there be wealth enough
To chant away the day
I believe
I believe
That there's more to life
There's more to life than this
Should I call you Jesus?
Or should I call you Buddha
Don't you know Jehovah?
He read the kabbala
Should I talk to Allah?
Does it really matter?
God is god
By any god given name
Some people, some people
Say he won't answer
I say that the question should change
Our father who art in heaven
Ancient omnipresent
Hallowed be thy name
Legendary reincarnation
Chameleon of faith
Untruth Man made
Our father who art in heaven
If I get your name wrong
Will you turn me away?
Should I call you Jesus?
Or should I call you Buddha
Don't you know Jehovah?
He read the kabbala
Should I talk to Allah?
Does it really matter?
God is god
By any god given name
Religion isn't hate
Religion isn't war
Genocide, brutal or cruel
It doesn't kill
Discriminate
It isn't vicious
And it doesn't violate
It isn't massacre
Bloodshed
Conflict or slaughter
Barbaric terror
Barbaric torture
Tyranny
Dictatorship
Or fear
Religions all around the world
Every man, every woman
Every want to be martyr
We have to learn, to learn
The way we need to live together
I ask only one question
Should I call you Jesus?
Does it really matter?
Jesus come over here, have a beer!
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Should I Call You Jesus? Lyrics as written by Peter Vale Beverley Myers
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Well it's a question of faith without sounding like a complete heretic, obviously. But the version on my CD has slightly diff. lyrics: It doesn't kill Or violate It isn't vicious Full of hate
Then there's some words at the end that are edited out altogether. Weird.