Jesus Saves
Slayer Lyrics


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You go to the church, you kiss the cross
You will be saved at any cost
You have your own reality
Christianity
You spend your life just kissing ass
A trait that's grown as time has passed
You think the world will end today
You praise the Lord, that's all you say

Jesus saves
Listen to you pray
You think you'll see the pearly gates when Death takes you away

For all respect, you cannot lust
In an invisible man you place your trust
Indirect dependency
Eternal attempt at amnesty
He will decide who lives and dies
Depopulate, Satanic rise
You will be an accessory
Irreverence and blasphemy

Jesus saves
No need to pray, the gates of pearl have turned to gold
It seems you've lost your way

Jesus saves




No words of praise, no promised land to take you to
There is no other way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Slayer's song "Jesus Saves" criticize organized religion, particularly the Christian faith, suggesting that people blindly follow their beliefs without questioning their logic or sources. The song accuses Christians of being hypocritical, judgmental, and self-righteous, implying that their faith is illogical and that they are dependent on an inexplicable being instead of living their lives for themselves. The song concludes that, in the end, there are no pearly gates or promised lands awaiting anyone, and believers are deluding themselves by placing their hopes in an unknown entity.


The accusatory lyrics of "Jesus Save" reflect the fierce reputation of Slayer, a death metal band famous for their controversial subject matter and extreme music. Slayer's style often explores themes of violence, death, and Satanism, drawing criticism from conservative groups and religious authorities. "Jesus Saves" is an example of the band's unyielding and provocative approach to the subject of religion. Through the use of visceral language and graphic imagery, the song underscores the futility of religious zealotry and the danger of blindly following dogmatic beliefs. It challenges the listener to question their faith and encourages them to seek a more rational and introspective understanding of their existence.


Line by Line Meaning

You go to the church, you kiss the cross
You regularly attend church and perform religious rituals, such as kissing the cross


You will be saved at any cost
You believe that you will be saved from eternal damnation at any cost


You have your own reality
You have your own perception of reality, which is heavily influenced by your religious beliefs


Christianity
Your religious beliefs are based in Christianity


You spend your life just kissing ass
You spend most of your life trying to please others, particularly those in positions of religious authority


A trait that's grown as time has passed
This tendency to be submissive has become more ingrained in you as you've aged


You think the world will end today
You believe that the world will end imminently, possibly even today


You praise the Lord, that's all you say
Your religious discourse is largely comprised of only praising the Lord


Jesus saves
You believe that Jesus can save you from eternal damnation


Listen to you pray
When you pray, you want others to listen to you


You think you'll see the pearly gates when Death takes you away
When you die, you believe that you will be granted access to heaven


For all respect, you cannot lust
You believe that lust is a sinful behavior and strive to avoid it, out of respect for your religion


In an invisible man you place your trust
You place your trust in an invisible deity, namely God


Indirect dependency
Your dependence on God is indirect, as you have no direct way to interact with him


Eternal attempt at amnesty
Your goal is to achieve eternal salvation, which requires continually striving for God's forgiveness


He will decide who lives and dies
You believe that God has complete control over life and death


Depopulate, Satanic rise
Some interpret this line as a criticism of Christianity's history of perpetrating wars and perpetuating oppression in the name of religion


You will be an accessory
You are complicit in these harmful actions, as you continue to support the church through your attendance and donations


Irreverence and blasphemy
This line condemns the church for committing acts of disrespect and irreverence in the name of religious dogma


No need to pray, the gates of pearl have turned to gold
You realize that your religious beliefs were misguided and that there is no need to continue praying, as the promises of eternal salvation were false


It seems you've lost your way
This line suggests that you have become disillusioned with your religion and feel like you have lost your sense of direction in life


No words of praise, no promised land to take you to
You have stopped praising God and no longer believe in the existence of a promised land


There is no other way
You have come to the conclusion that there is no other route than to abandon your religious beliefs




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jeffery John Hanneman, Kerry King

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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