Sundays, I go to church in the barn. I keep a dollar store bible up in the rafters. Sometimes, I even read a psalm or two. Mostly, I just sit there quietly, in peace, grateful for the day. Or, ungrateful, but determined to sit there til some sense of calm appears. Before I had a barn, sometimes I just went to church in a car listening to the radio. Or, at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee. I’d stir my black coffee just to hear the metal tinkling of the spoon when I needed a little Sunday morning church music.

Music takes the rules out of worship and brings it back home to where it needs to be. A drink of water for the soul. Lots of musicians must feel this way too, as many have recorded some type of spirit filled music, no matter their background or beliefs. Me, I do enjoy the bible, especially psalms. But, I’ve always figured if God can put up with what I’ve put His good book through, He’s gotta have enough love for everybody in the whole wide world, regardless. ‘Cause, truth be told, I’ve gotten it wet in the mud and the blood and the beer as Mr. Cash might say, more than once. In fact, just this morning it was up on the clothesline from where it fell in the creek. I might’ve worn this one out.

If you’re in the mood to dance with the spirit, try Billy Joe Shaver’s “If You Don’t Love Jesus“. The best line in this very upbeat song is, “Take your rotten rags of righteousness and stuff ‘em up yourself!” Shaver was officially named the spiritual adviser for Kinky Friedman (of the Texas Jewboys) when he ran for Texas office. Friedman’s  ”They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” is a fabulous Sunday morning satire where he beats up a racist, anti Semite while honkytonking. In between punches, Friedman sings to the man who just insulted him “No, they ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore/We don’t turn the other cheek like they done before!” If that doesn’t get you dancing or laughing, I don’t know what will.

But, maybe you’re not ready for fighting or dancing this time of day. If you’re feeling a little more sedate, heat up the skillet for some fried potatoes or latkes while you listen to the next one. ‘Cause, some church music songs don’t mention church at all. They don’t need to. “Wide Open Spaces” from the Dixie Chicks is that kind of church song. So is their version of “Landslide“. Songs that center you and make you feel like there’s a bit more breathing room in your life than there was two minutes and thirty-nine seconds ago. Songs are good when you’ve got too short an attention span to listen to a whole sermon, or can’t quite find someone to preach you’d agree with enough to make it worth sitting through.

Probably my all time favorite song to renew my spirit with is “Oh Mary Don’t You Weep“. You’ll find versions to fit many tastes since everyone and his brother set that one down in vinyl. There are straight forward spiritual versions and others where the lyrics have been impishly changed for a bad boy touch. From the country blues of Mississippi John Hurt to the Blue Sky Boys who influenced bluegrass, just take your pick. But, this wasn’t just a song that made it onto records. It’s one of those real life songs that everyday folks really did sing to comfort themselves. There’s a great version of Georgia field hands sitting by a bob wire fence and harmonizing on YouTube from about 1929. Sunday school lesson of the day: Who needs a barn OR a church when you’ve got a bob wire fence and some mighty talented friends? Oh, and a bible on the clothesline.