Brilliant comedian. Playwright. Contributor to The New Yorker. And now songwriter for hymn-deprived atheists. Steve Martin – who comes into focus within 10 seconds – performs here with the Steep Canyon Rangers at Merlefest 2010…
You can find an alternate/more polished version recorded on the David Letterman Show here…
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Love it …
Too funny!
Steve Martin is sooooo talented.
That just cracked me up!!!
Atheists don’t have no songs but sing the blues, could be it’s because they know better than anyone that they are missing out on the best thing that they could ever have, Jesus, He is Risen, He is Alive!
Atheists don’t have no songs but sing the blues, could be it’s because they know better than anyone that they are missing out on the best thing that they could ever have, Jesus, He is Risen, He is Alive!
Ummm, missing out on what.…. I get to see and hear about as many zombies as I can handle on the TV and movies
Sorry I am not missing out on anything. You can keep your imaginary friend.
children…the beauty of this is that Mr. Martin teaches all of us that we are to laughnUNITE takes allowing each other be ourselves and know we are One nnI still have tears in my eyes from laughing.. join me!
Not imaginary. Born of a virgin, crucified for your and my sin, rose from the dead, and is coming back, probably in our lifetime. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
all’s good
I’m an atheist and I love this song. Thank you Steve Martin! I cracked up.
I’m a Christian, and I think this is hilarious!
AWESOME! Someone ought to write a song about the Higgs Boson. That’s about as close as we’ll get — for THIS universe anyway.
No such thing as an atheist.
I wonder which of the four main atheist denominations will pick this up?
Interestingly, if you go to a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple here in the United States, you’ll find that they sing “hymnals” which are (erroneously) referred to as gathas. Most of the time, the gathas are accompanied by an organ (or a piano, depending upon the temple). These hymnals aren’t sung at the temples in Japan, and came about as an attempt to “Americanize” the temple service, making them similar to the Protestant Christian service that were familiar to many Americans back in the 1920’s.
Mark I am very happy and sing a happy tune everyday because I am free from lies and control. I value freedom over some mind controlling dogma.
This song was respectful, and true. As for “atheists singing the blues because they secretly know”… whatever helps you sleep at night. The blues are the best music, followed by rock n’ roll, and both were accused of being unholy or satanic. I think that was the point of saying Atheists ‘have rock n’ roll’ and so on. “He is risen” was reference to the hymn, it was not intended as a jab toward Atheists. Anyway, what a great song. Makes me want to pick up my banjo… and… learn how to play. Thanks Steve!
There’s a lovely atheist hymn in the first cartoon version of Charlotte’s Web. Charlotte the spider sings it, if memory serves.
Sorry, I don’t believe there was anything in that song that would lead an atheist to The Lord or anybody for that matter, If a lost person hears something like that they would turn more from God than towards him and that’s sad!
I’m sorry that you have no sense of humor. Sucks to be you, I guess.
To which I reply — show me.
My challenge — I will speak to you, and to the local Hindu religious functionary from the local temple in Queens. Show me objective, testable evidence of your deity’s existence that can be reproduced by other people. I’ll speak to both Jesus and Ganesh, with one rule — no 3rd parties allowed. No humans, books or prophets. As the one testing, *I* determine the standards.
Certainly, an all powerful deity can spare me 5 minutes.
I’m waiting.
Thanks, Steve!!! The music is the only thing I miss about religion!
At least an atheist you can see, touch, talk to. There is actual evidence they exist.
(that was in reference to Stephen Archer saying “No such thing as an atheist.”)
I always said, back when I was a Christian, that the most fun you could have in church, indeed the only fun, was singing.
Thousands of songs and hymns written about God and Jesus worldwide over the centuries .… one atheist’s song. Imaginary friend?? LOL.….
Frank Turner’s got a great one, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbUCzUk84fE
To the tune of Amazing Grace:
Amazing work
How sweet the sound
That ended the smallpox!
God didn’t care
But scientists did
And now our kids are free!
When God had charge
He didn’t act
The deaf and blind stayed thus
But cochlear implants
And cataract surgeons
Took over and got it done!
We study and work
Investigate
We find the truth by sweat
We question and doubt
Till truth is known
And share it with mankind.
Amen, EvelynU. Great song!