Sunday Song Lyric:

America may be a “Christian” nation — or at least a very religious one — but religious messages are not particularly prominent in popular culture (let alone Christian ones). Although I am not particularly religious myself, I often notice that religion is more likely to be mocked or disdained in popular culture than celebrated (“The Passion” notwithstanding). “Christian rock” is its own musical genre in America, but it rarely crosses over into the mainstream. Few overtly religious rock bands meet with much mainstream commerical success.


One exception, that I’ve noted before, is P.O.D. A hard-edged alternative rock band from southern California, P.O.D.’s music is overtly religious, but this has not prevented them from reaching a wider audience. They’ve been rock darlings on MTV and toured with OzzFest and Linkin Park. Yet unlike many other religious artists, their escape from the ghetto of Chritian rock did not come at the expense of their message.


One of P.O.D.’s bigger hits, from a few years back, is “Alive,” off of their best-selling album to date, Satellite. Often mistaken for a basic love song, “Alive” is clearly a celebration of religious faith. It’s also a great, straight-ahead rock song.

Everyday is a new day

I’m thankful for every breath I take

I won’t take it for granted

So I learn from my mistakes

It’s beyond my control, sometimes it’s best to let go

Whatever happens in this lifetime

So I trust in love

You have given me peace of mind


I feel so alive for the very first time

I can’t deny you

I feel so alive

I feel so alive for the very first time

And I think I can fly


Sunshine upon my face

A new song for me to sing

Tell the world how I feel inside

Even though it might cost me everything

Now that I know this, so beyond, I can’t hold this

I can never turn my back away

Now that I’ve seen you

I can never look away


Now that I know you (I could never turn my back away)

Now that I see you (I could never look away)

Now that I know you (I could never turn my back away)

Now that I see you (I believe no matter what they say)


I feel so alive for the very first time

I can’t deny you

I feel so alive

I feel so alive for the very first time

And I think I can fly