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This article appears in the Eschatology issue of Trinity News , the magazine of Trinity Church-St. Paul's Chapel.
What would the end of the world be without a soundtrack? We asked people of different generations and walks of life to give us their Top 5 End-Times Tunes.
THE SENIOR
Jesus Walks by Kanye West
The verses aren’t really relevant to the end of the world, but
the chorus reflects what I think most people would be thinking
during the apocalypse.
Apocalypse Please by Muse
Even though the song has a sarcastic feel to it, it so directly
deals with the end of the world, I had to include it.
Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival
OK, so I know the world is not supposed to end in “rivers
overflowing,” but CCR’s beat makes Armageddon seem
so...uplifting.
One Sweet World by Dave Matthews Band
This song is set apart from the others I chose because it’s
about embracing what we have and living in the moment, as
opposed to waiting for it all to end. It’s the way I think life
should be lived, whether or not we know the end is upon us.
“Take all that we can get.”
Seven Seas of Rhye by Queen
The lyrics in this song make it the most frightening on my list.
Whether Freddie Mercury was talking about God, the Devil,
or even himself, he paints a sinister picture of the future.
—From Kathryn Seiferth, high school student
THE MAVERICK
Belle of the Ball by Leroy Anderson (The Arthur Fiedler recording).
We’ll Meet Again as sung by Vera Lynn in Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove
Eli’s Comin’ by Laura Nyro
Time Will Crawl by David Bowie
London Calling by The Clash
—From Cameron Carpenter, world-famous organist
THE NEW DAD
John Saw That Number by Neko Case
With Gospel urgency and country longing, John the Baptist’s
call to repent finds its perfect backing band.
The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash
Inspired by the Book of Revelation, mysteriously uplifting
and frightening at once.
The Rising by Bruce Springsteen
The “rising” feels like Resurrection.
The Cool, Cool River by Paul Simon
A hopeful song. Suffering will cease, but not just yet. A generosity
in looking ahead to the well-being of future
generations.
It’s the End of The World (And I Feel Fine) by REM
Obvious? Yes. But you could base a theology on the intriguing
qualifier: It’s the end of the world “as we know it.” How do we
know the world? How might we change the world we know
for the better?
—From Nathan Brockman, editor of Trinity News
THE FORMER FLOWER CHILD
Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Okay, I know it’s a cliché; but for those of us over 50 “the
lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold” led us to consider a life
where “all is one and one is all.” Besides, it was a great slow
dance at the prom.
Give Me My Rapture by Van Morrison
The Irish soul man has never been shy about casting his faith
upon the water. “Let me contemplate the presence so divine,
let me sing all day and never get tired… give me my rapture.”
Sounds like a hymn to me.
Tryin’ to Get to Heaven by Bob Dylan
He boarded the “slow train coming” of Christianity in the
’80s, but back in the ’60s, Dylan was “walking that lonesome
valley, trying to get to heaven before they close the door.”
Into the Mystic by Van Morrison
Fear holds no place in Morrison's vision of the last days. To the
sounds of a sultry sax chorus, he croons, "When that foghorn
whistle blows, you know I'll be coming home, into the mystic."
Break on Through to the Other Side by The Doors
While Van Morrison slips through the misty fog to the other
side, Jim Morrison is breaking down the door. For Morrison,
the kingdom isn't something you wait for. You go out and get
it now.
—From Linda Hanick, vice president of communications at Trinity Church-St. Paul’s Chapel.
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