Shine the Light on Reason Medley: Reworking the words of one of my favourites

So many of us have been asked the big question. Why are there so few black atheists? Many hypotheses have been put forward each of them with its own weight of merit. Tonight I decided to listen to some of the old gospel tunes and remain convinced that one of the big factors is the music. There are some songs from the church that have come out of our people in America, Africa and the Caribbean that are just sweet, sweet, sweet. Listening to some tonight it was like discovering a lost love. I tell you these songs are infectious and the sound of the Aretha Franklynesque belters or the "in the spirit" choruses of the mass choirs is enough to give you goose pimples. The keyboard riffs and the running bass lines all add to the overall effect.

It is a shame to become an atheist and turn your back on these works of art, but in my new life I have to admit that the lyrics just don't measure up no matter how many times they say "the blessings come down" or "nobody but Jesus."

Well, I think I have found a way out. I have taken a medley produced by a group from the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean known as "Shine the Light." This medley with an infectious calypso beat is a favourite of mine and is popular throughout the Caribbean. I have, shall we say, put a bit of an atheistic spin on it. Singing it with these new words has given the song a whole new meaning and made it more powerful to me than the original ever was. I call it the " Shine the Light on Reason Medley."

Below are my amended lyrics. I have capitalised my additions and put the original words in brackets next to them. Why don't you listen to the medley in the video at the top of the page and sing along with the words below? I hope you have as much fun as I did, because you have to admit that this tune is "sweet for days."

By the way, don't feel guilty taking their tune and using it against Christ. They have done the same thing to songs "of the world" for years. It's why Danny Boy is now "You Raise Me up" and Greensleeves is " What Child is This?"

So go ahead, knock yourself out and remember don't sing the words in brackets.



Shine The Light on Reason Medley- by Caribatheist

1
Goodbye LORD (world)
I'll stay no longer with you
Goodbye JESUS AND (pleasures of) sin
I'll stay no longer with you
I've made up my mind to go MY (God's) way
The rest of my life
I've made up my mind to go MY (God's) way
The rest of my life

Repeat twice

2
OH REASON (My Jesus)
Look where you brought me from
Look where you brought me from
I was down in the CHURCH (world)
TRYING TO BELIEVE (doing what I pleased)
Look where you brought me from

Repeat

3
SOME CHRISTIANS ARE ( The devil is) mad
but I am glad
Glory Hallelujah

THEY (He) lost that soul THEY (He) thought THEY (He) had
Glory Hallelujah

SOME CHRISTIANS HAVE ON (The devil has on)
the hypocrite's shoes
Glory Hallelujah

And if you don't mind THEY'LL (he'll) put it on you
Glory Hallelujah

I don't know why CHRISTIANS (Satan) hate me so
Glory Hallelujah

ONLY EVIDENCE I TRY TO SHOW (He had me once and he let me go)
Glory Hallelujah

BELIEVERS ARE ( The devil is) mad
but I am glad
Glory Hallelujah

THEY (He) lost that soul THEY (He) thought THEY (He) had
Glory Hallelujah

BELIEVERS ARE ( The devil is) mad
but I am glad
Glory Hallelujah

THEY (He) lost that soul THEY (He) thought THEY (He) had
Glory Hallelujah

4
This BRAIN IS MY ONLY BRAIN (train is a holy train)
This BRAIN (train)

This BRAIN IS MY ONLY BRAIN (train is a holy train)
This BRAIN (train)

This BRAIN IS MY ONLY BRAIN (train is a holy train)
NOT GOING TO LEAVE IT TO WASTE AGAIN (Everybody ride it in Jesus' name)
This BRAIN (train ) This BRAIN (train)

This BRAIN (train) is bound for glory
This BRAIN (train)

This BRAIN (train) is bound for glory
This BRAIN (train)

This BRAIN (train) is bound for glory
Ain't GOT SPACE FOR FAIRY TALE STORY (carrying nothing but the pure and the holy)

This BRAIN(train) This BRAIN(train)

5
I can see I can see THE FALL OF  RELIGION (downfall of satan)
I can see I can see THE FALL OF RELIGION (downfall of satan)
I can see I can see THE FALL OF  RELIGION (downfall of satan)
I can see I can see THE FALL OF RELIGION (downfall of satan)

When I look to my right I see GODS JUST (satan) falling falling
When I look to my left  THE PROPHETS THEY (satan) crawling crawling
When I look to my back THE DEITIES (I see satan) jumping jumping
When I look to my front  THE SAVIOUR HE  (I see satan) running running

Repeat

6
REASON OH (Jesus name) so sweet
AND EVIDENCE OH (Emmanuel name) so sweet
REASON OH (Jesus name) so sweet
AND EVIDENCE OH (Emmanuel name) so sweet

Everybody walk and talk about REASON (Jesus)
REASON OH (Jesus name) so sweet
Everybody walk and talk about REASON (Jesus)
REASON OH(Jesus name) so sweet

REASON OH (Jesus name) so sweet
AND EVIDENCE OH (Emmanuel name) so sweet
REASON OH(Jesus name) so sweet
AND EVIDENCE OH (Emmanuel name) so sweet

Everybody walk and talk about REASON (Jesus)
REASON OH(Jesus name) so sweet
Oh walk and talk about REASON (Jesus)
REASON OH(Jesus name) so sweet

Oh walk and talk about REASON (Jesus)
REASON OH (Jesus name) so sweet
REASON, REASON, REASON, REASON (Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus)
REASON OH (Jesus name) so sweet

7
LIFE'S EVOLVING (It is raining) all around me
I can SEE (feel) it
IF I USE MY BRAIN (in the latter rain)
Ride on REASON (Jesus)
IT'S MUCH MORE PLAIN (Give us more rain)
DON"T YOU FORGET FAITH IS A JOKE(Til we are wet and we are soaked)
LET THE LOGIC REIGN (with the latter rain)

I GOT A BRAIN (Send down the rain)
YOU GOT A BRAIN (Send down the rain)
WE GOT TO USE OUR BRAINS (Send down the gospel rain)
I GOT A BRAIN ( Send down the rain)
YOU GOT A BRAIN (Send down the rain)
WE GOT TO USE OUR BRAINS (Send down the gospel rain)

We need the BRAIN (rain)
WE need the BRAIN (rain)
WE need TO USE OUR BRAIN (the gospel rain)
We need the BRAIN (rain)
WE need the BRAIN (rain)
WE need TO USE OUR BRAIN (the gospel rain)

LIFE'S EVOLVING (It is raining) all around me
I can SEE (feel) it
IF I USE MY BRAIN (in the latter rain)
Ride on REASON (Jesus)
IT'S MUCH MORE PLAIN (Give us more rain)
DON'T YOU FORGET FAITH IS A JOKE (Til we are wet and we are soaked)
LET THE LOGIC REIGN (in the latter rain)

LIFE'S EVOLVING (It is raining) all around me
I can SEE (feel) it
IF I USE MY BRAIN (in the latter rain)
Ride on REASON (Jesus)
IT'S MUCH MORE PLAIN (Give us more rain)

DON'T YOU FORGET FAITH IS A JOKE (Til we are wet and we are soaked)

DON'T YOU FORGET FAITH IS A JOKE (Til we are wet and we are soaked)
DON'T YOU FORGET FAITH IS A JOKE (Til we are wet and we are soaked)

DON'T YOU FORGET FAITH IS A JOKE (Til we are wet and we are soaked)

DON'T YOU FORGET FAITH IS A JOKE (Til we are wet and we are soaked)

DON'T YOU FORGET FAITH IS A JOKE (Til we are wet and we are soaked)
LET THE LOGIC REIGN (In the latter rain)

LET THE LOGIC REIGN (In the latter rain)
LET THE LOGIC REIGN (In the latter rain)
LET THE LOGIC REIGN (In the latter rain)
LET THE LOGIC REIGN (In the latter rain)
LET THE LOGIC REIGN (In the latter rain)
LET THE LOGIC REIGN (In the latter rain)