Walking With Jesus

Album: The Perfect Prescription (1986)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Walking With Jesus" finds singer Jason Pierce in conversation with the Son of God. Jesus warns the vocalist that his drug-taking and debauchery will cost him in the afterlife, and after thinking about the advice, Pierce decides Heaven does sound like an attractive place. But there's a dilemma: he doesn't think he can get through the rest of his life without getting high, so he asks the Lord for forgiveness and carries on with his hedonistic lifestyle.
  • This was one of the first songs written by Spacemen 3. They recorded an early iteration for a 1984 demo tape in Rugby before remixing it for their first single, thickening the guitars. Released in November 1986 it peaked at #29 on the UK Independent Chart.
  • Jason Pierce mentions Jesus' name in many of his songs. Uncut magazine asked him if he considered himself a Christian. "No, I don't," he replied. "I adore gospel music - I've always thought it comes from a place of truth, and I feel like so much music isn't truthful, it's copying somebody else's ideas or style in order to sell something. When I was still in Rugby I discovered gospel and, I guess like rock and roll, I love the language. 'Lord help me' sounds so much more than just 'help me.'

    With 'Walking With Jesus,' the reference lays out the story, and then makes the rest of the telling of the story easier to do - so it's a kind of a vehicle, and people respond to it, They understand it. I don't believe people listen to my music and say, I better get to church - but they understand it, and it puts ideas across in a way that obviously works on every level.

    Do I have faith? No, well I probably have faith but not any with religious beliefs. It's impossible to stand in front of those gospel choirs and not be deeply moved."
  • "Walking With Jesus" is the second track on The Perfect Prescription. A concept album about a drug trip, it takes the listener from the blissful highs of "Take Me to the Other Side" to the unsettling lows of "Call the Doctor."

    Pitchfork Media listed it at #50 in their list of the greatest albums of the 1980s.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.