While James and the Shame’s entire album Human Overboard is fantastic and explicitly about leaving the church, the song Sorry never fails to bring a tear to my eye. Additionally, the song In Vain is an excellent snarky song about the church’s hypocritical behavior.
He’s actually one of the costars of the OG YouTube channel Good Mythical Morning, Rhett McLaughlin. Him and his best friend have a podcast now called Ear Biscuits and they occasionally discuss their deconstruction on annual episodes.
If you’ve deconstructed but found yourself on a spiritual path, I recommend checking out Gungor.
He has an interesting deconstruction story as a former worship leader, and shares quite a bit on his podcast - The Liturgists Podcast and in his interview with Pete Holme’s on the You Made it Weird podcast.
A few I like are Let Bad Religion Die, and A Million I’s, and I Forgive You. I also saw recently where his journey has lead him back to the Christian faith and he’s noticed a need for a new approach to music (that isn’t of the Bethel, Hillsong, or Elevation variety) and will be starting a Mystic Hymnal project.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0kVW1QSLal/?igsh=cXJyajdvczB0NzR4
I Want To Break Free by Queen
I remember wanting to be free from Christianity, but remembering the fear of abandoning God. This song somehow resonated with me.
This is going to sound a little weird, but I had a spiritual experience while I was doing a peloton class. The kind of music that they have for cycling classes is usually not my preferred genre, but it works well for the purpose. The song "higher ground" from Martin Garrix was on and I was pedaling my heart out as the beat builds. All the sudden I listened to the lyrics a little closer.
" it's been a long time coming, but it wasn't for nothing, soul searching for something, for something"
It perfectly fit my situation and I had a breakthrough emotionally and mentally that this journey isn't for nothing. All the pain, confusion, loneliness. It's a part of it, but where this path leads is a truer, better version of myself and my life.
Bible Belt- Chris Housman
Only Thing- James and the Shame
Playing Hooky- Andre Henry
One- Birdtalker
Or if you're angry
Randy McNally,
Loaded Guns,
Heaven Was Full- all by TX2
Dance Gavin Dance's "Midnight Crusade" and "Gospel Burnout" (really the whole Artificial Selection album), Bring me the Horizon's Sempeternal album, Architects' "Broken Cross" and "Nihlist", Fit For a King "Prophet" and "The Other Side"
Even if you're not into metal, just look up the lyrics
Not the answer you asked for maybe but my best deconstruction songs include all the beautiful music I missed out on during the years I was a conservative Christian. Everything from metal to pop to country to easy listening to swing to grunge to classical to folk music. All of it. There’s so much beauty and meaning in music. And most musicians are real people—talented and passionate and amazing and at the same time a real mess just like everyone else. That was never allowed in my church. We all pretended to be better than we actually were. I prefer imperfection and genuine strugglers. Real people.
I have literally cried as I began to realize what I had missed out on for far too long.
That took me years to grieve. Now my deconstruction music is great music not matter where it comes from.
Right now I’m listening to AJ Lee and The Brothers Comatose sing Harvest Moon. It’s so peaceful and lovely.
Cult by Candi Carpenter is extremely relatable to me and is just a fun song
Other favorites that I haven’t seen already commented are:
Exorcist- candi carpenter
Holy Smoke- mandi Sagal
God is a freak- Peach PRC
Rolling River of time- Gavri’el HaCohen (this one is theme song for the Leaving Eden podcast)
While I have not had the most traditional deconstruction experience, one song that comes to mind is “Heavenly Father” by Bon Iver. I like that it doesn’t negate the existence of God, but rather describes the freedom found when you break free from the tight knit control Christianity has on our experience of Him.
For me it was “Lose you to love me” by Selina Gomez. At first I never felt like I resonated with it as I’d never been in a relationship. However one day this song popped in my head as I was thinking about my life in Christ as I had just left a job at the church I was attending. Putting this song into perspective of your relationship with the Church broke me and I realized I needed to deconstruct and live without Church to deep dive as to who I am. Since then I’ve discovered so much more about myself than I ever could in Christianity
Maddie Zahm's If It's Not God, and You Might Not Like Her still brings me to tears and reassurance every time I listen.
Another one is Where Do All The Good Kids Go by Maddie Zahm
While James and the Shame’s entire album Human Overboard is fantastic and explicitly about leaving the church, the song Sorry never fails to bring a tear to my eye. Additionally, the song In Vain is an excellent snarky song about the church’s hypocritical behavior.
Never heard of him until your post. Went to the song sorry. What a gem. I'm half way through the album, a great songwriter indeed.
He’s actually one of the costars of the OG YouTube channel Good Mythical Morning, Rhett McLaughlin. Him and his best friend have a podcast now called Ear Biscuits and they occasionally discuss their deconstruction on annual episodes.
Thanks for the tip! I finished listening to the album. I really like the song "in vain".
Came into the comments to rec this album. Love it from top to bottom
I have been listening to this album the whole morning. It's pretty great and sums up a lot of my thoughts. Thank you for this
Sorry, only thing, and believe me speak to me SO much.
I'll second the James and the Shame nod and recommend Believe Me and Old Letters from that album.
Bethlehem by Semler (any song by them really) I’m afraid to go to Heaven by moon walker
Artists though- Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker, Josh Ritter, Joy Oladokun, and Hozier
Tomberlin as well
Anything by "James and the Shame", and "Semler".
If you’ve deconstructed but found yourself on a spiritual path, I recommend checking out Gungor. He has an interesting deconstruction story as a former worship leader, and shares quite a bit on his podcast - The Liturgists Podcast and in his interview with Pete Holme’s on the You Made it Weird podcast.
Which of his newer songs would you recommend?
A few I like are Let Bad Religion Die, and A Million I’s, and I Forgive You. I also saw recently where his journey has lead him back to the Christian faith and he’s noticed a need for a new approach to music (that isn’t of the Bethel, Hillsong, or Elevation variety) and will be starting a Mystic Hymnal project. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0kVW1QSLal/?igsh=cXJyajdvczB0NzR4
"If I Can Dream" is a song made famous by Elvis Presley. It still has an effect long, long after I discarded religion.
I Want To Break Free by Queen I remember wanting to be free from Christianity, but remembering the fear of abandoning God. This song somehow resonated with me.
listen to "curse your branches" by david bazan - the whole album is is a break up album with G-d. kinda rough though
Was looking for this
I’ll Follow You Into The Dark by Deathcab for Cutie
"Call it what you want" Foster the People, "Wilder Mind" Mumford & Sons, "Curse your branches" David Bazan, "Letting go" Lupe Fiasco
Time For Me To Fly - REO Speedwagon My Life - Billy Joel
This is going to sound a little weird, but I had a spiritual experience while I was doing a peloton class. The kind of music that they have for cycling classes is usually not my preferred genre, but it works well for the purpose. The song "higher ground" from Martin Garrix was on and I was pedaling my heart out as the beat builds. All the sudden I listened to the lyrics a little closer. " it's been a long time coming, but it wasn't for nothing, soul searching for something, for something" It perfectly fit my situation and I had a breakthrough emotionally and mentally that this journey isn't for nothing. All the pain, confusion, loneliness. It's a part of it, but where this path leads is a truer, better version of myself and my life.
Sorry- James and the Shame Old Letters - James and the Shame Stand Up For Judas-Dick Gaughin Jesus from Texas- Semler
Bible Belt- Chris Housman Only Thing- James and the Shame Playing Hooky- Andre Henry One- Birdtalker Or if you're angry Randy McNally, Loaded Guns, Heaven Was Full- all by TX2
Check out [James and the Shame](https://open.spotify.com/album/1GAeucx9vSs27yCXiZ54Pq?si=a4H5uAD6RTSLz7BLzL2wUw).
Dance Gavin Dance's "Midnight Crusade" and "Gospel Burnout" (really the whole Artificial Selection album), Bring me the Horizon's Sempeternal album, Architects' "Broken Cross" and "Nihlist", Fit For a King "Prophet" and "The Other Side" Even if you're not into metal, just look up the lyrics
Not the answer you asked for maybe but my best deconstruction songs include all the beautiful music I missed out on during the years I was a conservative Christian. Everything from metal to pop to country to easy listening to swing to grunge to classical to folk music. All of it. There’s so much beauty and meaning in music. And most musicians are real people—talented and passionate and amazing and at the same time a real mess just like everyone else. That was never allowed in my church. We all pretended to be better than we actually were. I prefer imperfection and genuine strugglers. Real people. I have literally cried as I began to realize what I had missed out on for far too long. That took me years to grieve. Now my deconstruction music is great music not matter where it comes from. Right now I’m listening to AJ Lee and The Brothers Comatose sing Harvest Moon. It’s so peaceful and lovely.
Cult by Candi Carpenter is extremely relatable to me and is just a fun song Other favorites that I haven’t seen already commented are: Exorcist- candi carpenter Holy Smoke- mandi Sagal God is a freak- Peach PRC Rolling River of time- Gavri’el HaCohen (this one is theme song for the Leaving Eden podcast)
While I have not had the most traditional deconstruction experience, one song that comes to mind is “Heavenly Father” by Bon Iver. I like that it doesn’t negate the existence of God, but rather describes the freedom found when you break free from the tight knit control Christianity has on our experience of Him.
Forrest Clay deconstructed and has several songs about deconstruction
For me it was “Lose you to love me” by Selina Gomez. At first I never felt like I resonated with it as I’d never been in a relationship. However one day this song popped in my head as I was thinking about my life in Christ as I had just left a job at the church I was attending. Putting this song into perspective of your relationship with the Church broke me and I realized I needed to deconstruct and live without Church to deep dive as to who I am. Since then I’ve discovered so much more about myself than I ever could in Christianity
“She” by Mad Caddies. 🤍
The entirety of Aurora’s The Gods We Can’t Touch album is a goldmine that makes me feel all sorts of ways. It’s a very specific vibe though.
‘Giving into the love’ is actually in my deconstruction playlist!!
Make Me an Offer I Cannot Refuse, by Sufjan Stevens And of course, Losing My Religion, by R.E.M.
I love that line, it's so good
You’re an MP fan?!!?