Today’s Best Ignatian Song takes us back to the 70s, to the Jesus movement and to the hippie counterculture that put songs like “Jesus Is Just Alright” at the top of the charts. The Doobie Brothers made it a hit. Just saying the name of the band makes me smile. Go here to see the video on YouTube. H/T to Jennon Bell. Lyrics here.
Best Ignatian Songs: Jesus Is Just Alright
By Jim Manney
- Tags
- music
Previous article
Next article
Jim Manneyhttps://www.jimmanneybooks.com/
Jim Manney is the author of highly praised popular books on Ignatian spirituality, including A Simple, Life-Changing Prayer (about the Daily Examen) and God Finds Us (about the Spiritual Exercises). He is the compiler/editor of An Ignatian Book of Days. His latest book is What Matters Most and Why. He and his wife live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
RELATED ARTICLES
DOTMAGIS BLOGGERS
Actually, my favorite song of the period and the genre was “Spirit in the Sky:” “You know, you gotta have a friend in Jesus/So you know that when you die, He’s gonna recommend you to the Spirit in the Sky.”Loud, danceable, singable, theologically “meh,” but okay as far as it goes.
Child of the late sixties and early seventies that I am, some of my classmates and I tried to get a tape of this song for our graduation Mass from Catholic girls’ high school: The nun nearly had a stroke on the spot at the mere idea.
Actually, it would have been somewhat appropriate for our class: Five of our number died between the end of junior year and graduation, from various causes. We all hoped that Jesus recommended them to the Father, like the song said.
Ah, the doobie Brothers…! “Without love, where would you be now?” This song has a good beat and you can dance to it. As for theological content, it’s a rather watery soup! I’ll give it a 70.
Thanks Jim for unlocking some memories, and bringing back some smiles. I shared this on fb. Happy Sunday…
Along with the Doobie Brothers, this posting gave me the opportunity to again listen to a wonderful’Best Ignatian Song’ by Michael Card, Immanuel. Thank you !
I am guessing that a “Jesus Movement” would somehow be politically uncorrect these days. It was a kinder time when correctness had to do with the actually freedom to have your say. Oh, and He is more than just alright with me. One of my faves. Saw them live and now I am really dating myself.
m.
What a great trip down memory lane. Thanks for sharing this song and reminding us of the Jesus movement – those were interesting and challenging times but in many ways kinder times.