Song: Jesus On A Chain
Album: HeartBroke Motel released on HeartBroke Records 2021
Written By: JonEmery Dodds
Music Arrangements by: JonEmery Dodds, Matt Bowhall, Maike Bacon Jr., JD Vargas
Players: JonEmery: Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Matt Bowhall: Electric Guitars, Steel Guitar, Theremin, Vocals, Mike Bacon Jr.: Bass Guitar, Organ, Engineering, JD Vargas: Drums
The Story Behind The Song : Jesus On A Chain
I am not a religious person nor am I anti-religion. I don't believe in "God" or gods, however, I do find organized religion fascinating and purposeful. In my humble opinion, religion was designed to build communities under the guidance, rules and/or laws set forth by how whatever creator prefers us to engage each other. Generally, with kindness, empathy and thoughtfulness. Unfortunately, its people that use religion as a guise for acts against the very fabric of what they preach.
As an adolescent of the late 80s/early 90s, religion was a hot topic. Christian music was crossing over into the pop charts with the likes of Amy Grant. The 77s were a huge crossover indie regional band in California. Twila Paris, Dallas Holmes and Comedian Mike Warnke were selling out medium size venues across the nation. Televangelists large and small, were pulling at the heartstrings of giving US citizens, raking in millions of dollars of donations. The church was a lucrative business. During this period, everything "un-Christian" was simply "satanic". Dungeons & Dragons, Heavy Metal music, Paganism and "The Russians" are just a handful of scapegoats on how Satan was taking over the world.
I was just doing my best to not be a rebellious teenager, and failing miserably. My mother had found Jesus and was adamant about us (my brother and I) to join her in church activities. She would have us dressed up in pastel polos, pressed slacks, argyle socks and loafers to look the look the part. We were Christian posers for sure, but the wrath of our mother was far scarier to us than the wrath of God. We would see on daily basis what our mother was capable of where as God...? We heard the stories but, never witnessed any event that would best the fury of our mother.
I never bought into the "one god to rule them all" or believed there were ever god(s) to begin with. To me, it didnt make practical sense, but, the stories are fantastic! The ideology that one god created the universe in 7 days and bestowed upon "us" an entire planet of beings, land & water to care is pretty far fetched, and a bit irresponsibleas it took millions of years to get the human race even started. However, that is a far more intriguing and dramatic than a "Big Bang".
One thing that I found off putting was the Jesus on a cross pendant. I don't remember if it was a fad or I was just exposed to it more. Shiny, golden dying Jesus' on a cross weighing down the necks of sinners. It seemed like EVERYONE wore one. I find it kind of morbid. Here is this man's last breathes immortalized as a symbol; and turned into a trinket for sale. A dead man hung from a cross. I mean, the shear brutality of being nailed to a cross and left to hang there until dead is insane enough to think about, right?
Jesus On A Chain (the song) isn't an anti-religion song. Its a song questioning the importance of openly branding one's self as religious, but acting the exact opposite of scripture. Wearing the outfit as if one is protected or exempt from sin. Buying your seat to heaven and judging those who don't, or can't. I am not saying every religious person, in every religious brand is like this. Unfortunately, like we have witnessed in recent years, the good out weigh the bad, but the bad will make the headlines, and overtly capitalize on it.
Jesus On A Chain
I am a God fearing man
So, I fear nothing
But in all of my days
Ain't seen nothing as strange
As Jesus on a chain
I am a God fearing man
So, I fear nothing
Intrigued by the legend
But I'm sure he'll understand
That the ghost is a shadow of a man
This world is so much smaller
and the order is taller
The famine it ain't food
Its knowledge
If I need Jesus on a chain
Just to kneel down and pray
You're telling all that he sacrificed for
Was in vain
I am a God fearing man
So, I fear nothing
But in all of my days
Ain't seen nothing as strange
As Jesus on a chain
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Amen
Thanks for reading and Thanks to Scott Carpenter for suggesting the first of many Stories Behind The Songs