American Jesus Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Tig45 

Cover art for American Jesus lyrics by Bad Religion

This 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...

perfect.