Jesus Christ

Given the history of southern gospel music in Memphis, this genre was bound to influence Chilton to a certain degree. Maybe more of a musical homage than sarcastic?

I think the surprise secret is that this song was done absolutely in earnest.

This is the best Christmas song. It gets stuck nicely in the head, even when it's the middle of June.

lyrical homage, I should say,

It doesn't have to be one or the other. He could have been sincere for most of the song and then wanted to poke a bit in the end at the ways people often express faith.

I think it's sarcastic. It doesn't really seem like it, but coming from an album like Third, how could it not be?

I think it's sarcastic. It doesn't really seem like it, but coming from an album like Third, how could it not be?

Weird song. If it is sarcastic it's way less obvious than say 'Thank You Friends' because this time the song and delivery are absolutely deadpan. Funny when you expect a song called 'Jesus Christ' on a dark album to be a big evil anti-christ statement and what do you get? Why a traditional sounding christmas balled!

My viewpoint is that it is a sarcastic song. Certainly, without a doubt, this song is upbeat and cheery, but look at it with the entire album in mind, or, more specifically, the song prior to this one, "Big Black Car," which has themes of depression and melancholy. Following up a depressing song with a song about Jesus Christ is almost laughable, especially when you look at the final line, "And we're gonna get born now." I interpret it as Chilton laughing at the idea that Jesus Christ is the solution to everybody's problems. Follow that up, two songs later, with "Holocaust" and I think this song is put into perspective. I think if you look at the overall themes of the entire album then you see what Chilton is doing here, and I think it's genius!

Although, I will say that I will crank this song up on the road sometimes and get an overall happy feeling because it is definitely a cheery song.

I don't disagree with it being sarcastic.... I've read that several times before over the years. Don't take the sequence of songs on 3rd/Sister Lovers to be a clue though.... Keep in mind that the album has never been released with the intended song sequence (according to many sources anyway).