Initially a avantgarde thrash metal / prog rock hybrid, Thought Industry's signature sound is showcased on their first two albums; Songs For Insects and Mods Carve The Pig: Assassins, Toads And God's Flesh, however by the time of their third album Outer Space Is Just A Martini Away, the band had started to shed their metal roots and had moved into alternative and art rock by the time they recorded their fourth album, 1997's Black Umbrella. The band are known to have remained active as of 2001 but disbanded shorly after the release of their magnum opus Short Wave On A Cold Day.
Michigan Jesus
Thought Industry Lyrics
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get to buy the first round.
(Jesus:) Guiness Stout?
(Brent:) I'll cleanse your feet with my beer. We'll have
another round, Collin. May I bum a smoke? Thank
you.
(Jesus:) Citizens, the proletariat will rise. Marx was right
to believe in something new.
(Dippy:) Can I quote that?
(Jesus:) Government, reduced to a momentary guard. I was
born just a man within a plan.
(Lippy:) That's with a "J", right?
(Brent:) Christ, the girls are onto you. A godless herd.
But I don't believe in god either.
(Jesus:) And neither do I.
(Brent:) Let's pound some shots of Quervo. I'm always
thinking wrong loaded. So, damn it, come along. We'll
sing.
(Jesus, Brent, and the People:) Tralala lalalalalalalala lalalalalala lalala.
Tralala lalalalalalalala lalalalalala lalala.
(Dippy:) Genius, who's your agent?
(Lippy:) Is that in Hebrew?
(Brent:) I'm outta here. Call me a taxi. Christ, my keys.
You sure know how to drink my friend J.C.
(Dippy:) I love you.
(People:) Adieu, adieu, and yes we love you Jesus, too.
Please come back to conclude in lost Hebrew.
(Lippy:) Please, don't leave.
(Jesus:) Thank you much. Come meet my wife at the
laundromat.
The song "Michigan Jesus" by Thought Industry talks about a bizarre and surreal encounter between three friends and Jesus Christ in a bar. The song starts with the band members extending an invitation to Jesus to buy the first round of drinks. Jesus accepts the offer and questions the capitalist system in which the working class remains oppressed, and the government serves as a temporary guard. The members ask to quote him, confirm his name's spelling, and then the conversation moves to religion. One of the members says they don't believe in God, which Jesus agrees with, leading to them doing shots of Quervo together.
The song's lyrics are not meant to be taken literally, and it's not clear what the encounter ultimately symbolizes. It could be an allegory for Jesus' human nature and his desire to connect and interact with people from all backgrounds without judgment. Or the song could be a satire about religion and how its role in society can be questioned and mocked.
Overall, "Michigan Jesus" is a thought-provoking and surreal exploration of religious and societal expectations in a modern context.
Line by Line Meaning
Christ, you've toiled hard. So grab a stool. You get to buy the first round.
Hey Jesus, you have been working hard, take a seat while you get to purchase the first beer.
Guiness Stout?
Would you like to have Guinness Stout?
I'll cleanse your feet with my beer. We'll have another round, Collin. May I bum a smoke? Thank you.
Let me cleanse your feet with my beer, and we can have more beer after this, Collin. By the way, can I have a cigarette? Thank you.
Citizens, the proletariat will rise. Marx was right to believe in something new.
People, the lowest class will take over. Marx was correct to think about new things.
Can I quote that?
May I cite this?
Government, reduced to a momentary guard. I was born just a man within a plan.
The government is only temporary, like a guard. I was simply born as a man according to the plan.
That's with a "J", right?
Am I spelling it correctly? With a J?
Christ, the girls are onto you. A godless herd. But I don't believe in god either.
Jesus, the girls have discovered your identity. They are atheists, and so am I.
And neither do I.
I don't believe in God either.
Let's pound some shots of Quervo. I'm always thinking wrong loaded. So, damn it, come along. We'll sing.
Let's drink some Tequila shots. I always say the wrong things when I am drinking. So come along, let's sing.
Tralala lalalalalalalala lalalalalala lalala. Tralala lalalalalalalala lalalalalala lalala.
Singing tralala lalalalalalalala lalalalalala lalala. Tralala lalalalalalalala lalalalalala lalala.
Genius, who's your agent?
You are a genius. Who is your agent?
Is that in Hebrew?
Is that language Hebrew?
I'm outta here. Call me a taxi. Christ, my keys. You sure know how to drink my friend J.C.
I'm leaving now. Please, call me a cab. Jesus, my keys! You are good at drinking my friend, J.C.
I love you.
I love you.
Adieu, adieu, and yes we love you Jesus, too. Please come back to conclude in lost Hebrew.
Goodbye, goodbye, and yes, we love you, Jesus. Please return to conclude this in the lost Hebrew language.
Please, don't leave.
Please, don't go.
Thank you much. Come meet my wife at the laundromat.
Thank you very much. Let's meet my wife at the laundromat.
Contributed by Sophie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.