Welcome To Paradise
Front 242 Lyrics


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Hey poor, you don't have to be poor anymore
Jesus is here!
In the name of Jesus (hallelujah!)
Feel like your life is going nowhere

Ten seconds, standby
Jesus is the Son of God
Come in Jesus (hallelujah!)
Oh God, I'm a sinner!

I deserve to go to hell (hallelujah!)
No Sex Until Marriage!
Oh God, I'm a sinner, I deserve to go to hell
The bible said you keep him out in the lie

In the name of Jesus
Jesus is the Son of God
In the name of Jesus (hallelujah!)
Hey poor, you don't have to be poor anymore





Jesus is here! (Don't tell the devil)
Hey poor, you don't have to be Jesus!

Overall Meaning

Front 242's song "Welcome to Paradise" is a satirical critique of the religious and consumerist culture of the 1980s. The song begins with the phrase "Hey poor, you don't have to be poor anymore, Jesus is here!" which is a riff off the popular televangelist trope of using religion to promise economic prosperity. This phrase is followed by "In the name of Jesus (hallelujah!), feel like your life is going nowhere." The use of religious language here suggests that religion can provide a sense of purpose for those who are struggling in life. However, the song then descends into a series of seemingly nonsensical phrases that allude to the manipulative tactics of religious and commercial culture.


The phrase "Ten seconds, standby" is a reference to the rapid-fire nature of televangelists' speeches, who often use intense and rapid language to persuade their audience. The song then continues with a series of contradictory phrases such as "No Sex Until Marriage!" and "Hey poor, you don't have to be Jesus!" which suggest that religion and consumerism are both trying to limit and control individuals. However, the final line of the song "Hey poor, you don't have to be Jesus!" could be interpreted as a message of upliftment, encouraging individuals to be their authentic selves and not succumb to societal or religious pressures.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey poor, you don't have to be poor anymore
Jesus can improve your life and end your financial struggles


Jesus is here!
Jesus is present and able to help and solve problems


In the name of Jesus (hallelujah!)
Acknowledging and celebrating the power of Jesus


Feel like your life is going nowhere
Feeling lost and aimless in life


Ten seconds, standby
Preparing for something to happen imminently


Jesus is the Son of God
Believing in Jesus as the son of God


Come in Jesus (hallelujah!)
Inviting Jesus into one's life


Oh God, I'm a sinner!
Acknowledging one's own faults and wrongdoings


I deserve to go to hell (hallelujah!)
Feeling remorseful and guilty for one's sins


No Sex Until Marriage!
Adhering to certain religious values and beliefs regarding purity and sex


The bible said you keep him out in the lie
Using religious teachings to stay true and honest


Hey poor, you don't have to be Jesus!
Rejecting the notion that one needs to be like Jesus and instead embracing one's own individuality




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Daniel Bressanutti, Jean-Luc De Meyer, Patrick Codenys, Richard Jonckheere

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@matu5550

Pasarán los años y seguirá siendo un temazo...

@karehaitza

Jode matu han pasado 10 años y sigue siendo un temazo. Yo ya lo bailaba en el 89 y los vi en directo 2 veces ,el 91 en la Level 0 y en la Florida 54 el 93. Aquellos maravillosos años. Un saludo desde el país vasco. Ayo.

@bobbysands6923

If someone asked me to describe techno, or industrial, or electronic music, I would say nothing and just let them hear this. The tune, the lyrics, the sampling, the production values...My GOD it is great!!

@luclauwers3969

this comment is apt

@tomteanders1357

Well, actually it is just EBM. None of the above. Still I love this masterpiece.
Belgian Rock

@Eduardo-tq5sk

God?,that is the great famous sun of bitch if he has mother!

@bloomaxxx

there were a lot of great records in this era which sampled televangelists, this is one of the best. Front 242, a great dance band

@wigalert

Cassandra Complex: Beyond Belief

@GTSN38

Name some. I like this, because I'm a Christian

@juanespinosa1259

These guys made FM synths to an art. This track has Yamaha DX-7 written all over it and I love it. One of the best bands ever, bar none. Brussel's finest.

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