Sensing the Sacred in the Secular

Compiled and Written by Rich Coffey

"...There is a certain craft to good songwriting. I use the word "Pop" in the best possible sense; Pop for me is an easily understood thing, you listen to it and you comprehend it almost immediately. You relate to it instinctively.” - Bono

Song Selection

There have been more than a few special songs in mainstream pop that have touched my life. Through this presentation, my hope is to instill in others the same passion and inspiration these tunes gave me. My choices are obviously colored by my own personal preferences and life experiences. Although this is only a select sampling – see “Other Recommended Songs” link at bottom for further contemplative listening.

Viewing Options

Created as a catalyst for personal reflection and/or collective discussion, this interactive presentation features original photo montages custom-crafted for each of the songs. Where indicated, a YouTube link is provided to listen to the song.

There are a few viewing options to consider. Both the lyrics and the YouTube videos are hidden by default but can be displayed by clicking on a link. This provides the option to start the audio (YouTube Vide) but hide it for a visually less distracted listening experience.

Begin: Early 60s – Protest and Deeper Sensitivity

- Songs by Topic -

Early 60s – Protest and Deeper Sensitivity
A Higher Calling - Searching For or Acknowledging the Spiritual
Fate and Faith – Even in despair, there is always a pervasive sense of hope...
Bible-Based – Verses from the Bible used in contemporary songs
Bob Dylan – One of the most original and poetic voices in the history of American popular music
The Elder Statesman – Peter Gabriel
Special Mention - Seawind

Other Recommended Songs

Additional Songs 'Spiritual in Nature' but by no means complete, this is just a select sampling:

Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
Pride (In The Name Of Love) - U2
Let It Be - Beatles
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
Oleta Adams - Circle of One
The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
No One Is to Blame - Howard Jones
More Than This - Peter Gabriel
San Jacinto - Peter Gabriel
Be Still - Eagles
One More Day - Neville Brothers
Steer Me Right - Neville Brothers
Fallin’ Rain - Neville Brothers
Whenever God Shines His Light - Van Morrison
A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall - Bob Dylan