Bad Religion – American Jesus

"American Jesus" as written by and Greg/gurewitz Graffin....
I don't need to be a global citizen
Because I'm blessed by nationality
I'm member of a growing populace
We enforce our popularity
There are things that seem to pull us under
And there are things that drag us down
But there's a power and a vital presence
That's lurking all around

We've got the American Jesus
See him on the interstate
We've got the American Jesus
He helped build the president's estate

I feel sorry for the earth's population
'Cause so few live in the U.S.A.
At least the foreigners can copy our morality
They can visit but they cannot stay
Only precious few can garner the prosperity
It makes us walk with renewed confidence
We've got a place to go when we die
And the architect resides right here

We've got the American Jesus
Fostering their shame on faith
We've got the American Jesus
Overwhelming millions every day

He's the farmers barren fields
The force the army wields
The expression in the faces of the starving millions
The power of the man he's the fuel that drives the clan
He's the motive and conscience of the murderer
He's the preacher on t.v., the false sincerity
The form letter that's written by the big computers
The nuclear bombs and the kids with no moms
And I'm fearful that he's inside me

We've got the American Jesus
See him on the interstate
We've got the American Jesus
Exercising his authority

We've got the American Jesus
Fostering their shame on faith
We've got the American Jesus
Overwhelming millions every day, eah

One nation, under god. One nation, under god. One nation, under god.
One nation, under god. One nation, under god. One nation, under god.
One nation, under god. One nation, under god. One nation, under god.
One nation, under god. One nation, under god.


Lyrics submitted by oofus

"American Jesus" as written by Greg Graffin Brett W. Gurewitz

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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107 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment...ok...big surprise. Here it is. Song was written after a comment George Bush Sr. made about how america couldn't do wrong in the Gulf War, because Jesus was on the side of America. Which is, of course, psychotic self-imbibing fanaticism, but also a good indicator that intelligence is NOT something that runs in that family. That's still true, actually, many people think that current conflicts cannot go bad because Jesus is "on america's side". (Note the lyrics in the background when Greg's listing what the American Jesus is. In God, we trust, because he's one of us. Break down, Cave in. We can redeem your sins. Strong Heart. Clear mind, and infinitely kind. You lose. We Win. He's our champion) This little post could turn into an hours long political discussion, but i'll stop now.
    dropkick34on May 31, 2002   Link
  • +5
    General CommentFact: Greg Graffin is a very intelligent and wise man and a great frontman, also Fact: The US used religion to justify actions, just like anyone whose religious. FACT: I'm not patriotic at all, and i'm agnostic, but too many americans take what they have for granted. There IS alot wrong with the united states, corruption, cover ups, big business greed. But many of you forget that we are not having bombs dropped on us, followed by boxes of food, like some other parts of the world. (often time for RELIGIOUS reasons.) I consider myself quite liberal, i don't agree with christian conservatives, I don't beleive people are inherently evil. I'm not saying wave a american flag around and say the "pledge of alliegence." But I am saying that we take WAY too much for granted. So, think about what you have that's good, and think of ways to help change what you don't.
    CourseWeDeliveron August 02, 2002   Link
  • +4
    General Commentamericans in general think they own the world. am i wrong? and thanksgod i'm not american.
    prtrson May 10, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Commenti love this band and especially this song. i played it with my ex girlfriend acoustically at school my senior year. although i agree with it, being an atheist myself, i also strongly agree with Ratt. he talked about how you shouldnt blindly follow the opposite of what you hate. "Greg isn't God either" -Ratt. and he is completely right. although one side hasnt been your view, you cant just "rebel" to the blind opposite. just as the author of "when atheism becomes religion" says throughout his book. fundamental christians running the country isnt a great idea but neither is fundamental atheists. or as he calls them "new atheists". anyways. dont "rebel" just think. thinking still isnt illegal.
    JustinLWFAon September 07, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General CommentAnyone who claims that their country is "blessed by God" or "under God" or that they're better for being from a certain continent or country is nothing but a nationalistic racist. So many people are guilty of it which is why there's so much tension and anger in the world. I'm no better than anyone because I happened to be born in the United States. I don't salute the flag because I choose not to pledge my allegiance to a corrupt government or a land mass. I love that I'm apparently not the only one who feels this way, seeing as this song pulls no punches in that regard. I'm not an atheist, but I love Bad Religion because they actually THINK instead of follow blindly (in the music video people are blindfolded while holding crosses and chanting "One nation, under God" - great symbolism there) without ever questioning the things and/or people that/who so desperately need to be questioned.
    pleasebeatme92on January 30, 2011   Link
  • +3
    Song MeaningThe song holds validity in interpreting the country we live in today, as not the land of the free, but the land of JESUS. The USA's media and society is so overriden by what we need to believe in, and where we will all go when we die. The song can be directly compared to Leaving Jesusland by NOFX, as they both hold the same meaning in defining our country as a land of God, when the land is supposed to be about freedom, but being as things have obviously changed for the worst, the United States of America is no more than a land of disunity, because the true citizens are the ones who believe in what THEY choose to (i.e. atheists, agnostics, naturalists, etc.); because we do not realize we're sheep in a herd slowly following the alpha sheep off of a cliff to our own inevitable deaths.
    THINK. FOR. YOURSELF. DO NOT LET THE LAND YOU LIVE IN DEFINE WHO YOU ARE.
    japscatratpackon May 27, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Commentalthough I'm a major bad religion fan. I'm also a college graduate that can think on his own. And I hope you guys realize following Greg Graffin just because he is in a cool punk rock band. Is equally as bad as blindly following the American Government (which is you by the way) or blindly adhearing to christian Dogma. In other words listen to Greg then research about what his message is. Then either dismiss it or embrace it, Greg isn't God either.
    Ratton August 02, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General CommentThis song isnt about Jesus... it's about the American corruption of the hypothetical idea that is Jesus. Have you noticed that the part Jesus plays in world politics... especially here in the land of the free and home of the brave... is something of a boogeyman? Hate gays? Jesus tells me to. Against abortion? Jesus is, too. Racist? The Bible tells me so. Go to war? It's what god wants. Burn the Koran? Because it goes against the word of Jesus. That's why.

    We never see Jesus, but he must be there... right? Maybe he only appears through all these mudslinging agenda-pushing suited stiffs.
    We never see him. But he's around.
    He seems to be in every god-fearing and god-calling politician who says that gays cant get married because it's against the good word, or who say a woman has no right to choose because it's against the good book.

    Maybe he's just an idea. Maybe he's just a moral totem. Maybe he's just a convenient scapegoat. Maybe he's a bulletproof barrier that people in power with a secret agenda like to sling mud from behind.
    Or maybe he's not real. Maybe he's a figment of our collective imagination who can be summoned at will to promote whatever idea we'd like him to, if we skew it the right way. Satisfaction guaranteed.

    He seems to have found a way inside all of us, one way or another...
    Tig45on May 28, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think the song pretty well sums up the hypocritical neo-christian values that this country was founded on. And I agree, the video is awesome.
    Sasquatchon January 25, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think you guys are hung up on the religion theme. What struck me was the insular nature of America directing our energies inward. And the driving force of our conformity in America. The person we try to be because of societal pressure is a kin to trying to live up to the christian lord
    Ratton May 14, 2002   Link

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