Thomas Rhett’s “Beer With Jesus” Proves Nothing’s Sacred
Nashville’s Music Row truly has no shame. It started in the modern era with these ridiculous “America Fuck Yeah!” anthems after 9/11 and the wild commercial success of Toby Keith. All of a sudden you couldn’t make an album on Music Row without including one. At their heart these songs weren’t heartfelt memoriums, they were strictly marketing ploys to pro-military sentiment pure and simple.
Now with the wars winding down and that style of song running its course, we needed a new enemy. So hell, why not Cancer? That’s a great sentiment to exploit, and Martina McBride rode it to grand commercial success with her song, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”, and Tim McGraw with “Live Like You Were Dying”.
And now some bored suits on music Row were sifting through demographic data and had an epiphany. “Hell, all these dumb rednecks who buy these stupid songs love Jesus, so why don’t we start releasing songs about that?” Is it any surprise that when you look who released Thomas Rhett’s “Beer With Jesus” it traces back once again to Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Records?
Jesus may have turned the other cheek, but he also overturned the tables of the money changers in the temple where they didn’t belong. Just like the Romans of biblical times, these pop country fart tards are foreign occupiers who need to get the hell out of country. I don’t pretend to know what Jesus would do, but if I were him, I’d shove my sandal straight up Thomas Rhett’s ass and tell him he could keep his Michelob Ultra. Somewhere in the Bible it must say that the worst lies are the ones you tell yourself, and if Thomas Rhett thinks this song is anything other than marketing, he’s committing a cardinal sin.
Besides, wasn’t Jesus more of a wine guy?
A little bit of me appreciates the sentiment and the creativity behind the idea of this song. The problem is it talks so far down to its audience, and Thomas Rhett’s “aw shucks” approach is such an overt acting job that you feel embarrassed for him. It’s too obvious what’s going on here. You’re supposed to go, “Well shit, I like Jesus, so I guess I like this song and find it touching. It’s religious, but cool too.”
And why is it that every time religion is peddled through popular culture it has to be some awful version of ultra cool, like Brantley Gilbert and his douchey attitude and motorcycle fashion, or that kid from American Idol, what’s his name, Dylan something and his ultra kinked-out, hyper-bleached mohawk? Religion is supposed to be boring because it is supposed to ground us.
Make no mistake folks, this is what passes for a “deep” song in the vapid, corporate country world. So thank God if you can see right through this and that you have real music filled with true heart and expression to listen to instead.
Two guns down.
November 20, 2012 @ 3:10 pm
What strikes me about this song after playing it on the radio a few times is how lazy it is, like all the creativity in the room was exhausted after they came up with the title. And it seems to me the proper response from a Christian shouldn’t be “aw shucks, that’s cute,” it should be raging about blasphemy.
I am curious to know what songs Rhett thinks Jesus would like to hear on the jukebox, though. If he really exists, let’s hope he would prefer “Jesus Take a Hold” to “Jesus Take the Wheel.”
November 20, 2012 @ 4:51 pm
Some people take things too seriously.
November 20, 2012 @ 6:47 pm
^This will be the most sane comment in this entire article/section.
December 3, 2012 @ 8:10 am
Some people don’t take things seriously enough.
November 20, 2012 @ 5:19 pm
I’m not an overly religious person, but this song doesnt really do anything for me at all. I’m not offended by it, I just think it’s a pretty bland song in terms of writing and the performance tries to hard to be important.
About the only thing the song has going for it is it’s pretty mellow musically, no grand choirs or overly bombastic production.
November 20, 2012 @ 5:26 pm
Jesus only drank straight bourbon.
November 22, 2012 @ 5:09 pm
I’m writing that song right now! It will be on Florida Georgia Line’s next album titled cruizin’ wit Jezuz
November 22, 2012 @ 6:06 pm
I get a cowrite credit.
November 20, 2012 @ 5:28 pm
About a month ago I was considering writing a post in the forum about the conection between Country music & Southern Gospel music. Now I see I should have gone ahead.
After about a 20 year I found my self rediscovering my reigous beliefs, & for the last 3 years I’ve rededacated my life to God. What I have noticed is that most southern gospel artist have a more country sound then most country artist. I’ve also noticed many older country acts are moving closer to gospel music. The Oak Ridge Boys, who started out in gospel have released more gospel albums in the last 10 years then they have country albums. Kenny Rodgers just released a gospel album as well.
It’s clear that with all the in fighting among fans of underground country that it doesn’t stand a chance of making an impact on mainstream country anytime soon, but Southern Gospel can.
Between the gaither Homecoming videos witch feature as many country acts these days as gospel, & with the emergance over the last ten years of many great Southern Gospel acts such as Ernie Haas & Signiture Sound, The Iaasics The Ball Brothers and many more, Southern Gospel has a big opertunity to capitalize on the lack of pure country acts in the mainstream.
http://youtu.be/inGzeCae8Oo
http://youtu.be/dOf4Jp_8e6I
http://youtu.be/sKzi4A1ldxE
http://youtu.be/TYSJj-EHAAk
http://youtu.be/bE7WX6kXg2g
November 21, 2012 @ 9:02 am
There is stll some great tradiional gospel music out there (and you have to add Ricky Skaggswork with Kentucky Thunder to your list) but how often do you actually hear it in churches? So much contemporary Christian praise music is the worst of bland pop.
November 22, 2012 @ 10:43 am
My Church has verry little Contemperary Christian, & the area I live in is rich with young Southern Gospel artist.
November 20, 2012 @ 6:02 pm
I was hoping you’d rip this song a new one. I find it completely offensive, and not just for the obvious reasons. I listened to it once all the way through on the radio trying to figure out if it was a parody or not. Now I just feel insulted. I don’t know Thomas Rhett (name even sounds made up) but I feel like he is personally talking down to me. This has got to be the most condescending shit I’ve ever heard and he has to know it. He just has to.
The only people I know who actually dig this bullshit are yank “rednecks” who drive brand new pickup trucks and post facebook pictures of themselves wearing thousands of dollars in hunting gear so everyone can see how country they are. Fuck you. Stop raping my culture.
November 20, 2012 @ 7:04 pm
I’m assuming Bones isn’t made up?
(Sorry, but that one was an easy target)
November 20, 2012 @ 7:42 pm
Yes, Ryan. Bones is not my God given name. Ya got me.
November 21, 2012 @ 6:50 am
Yes, even his name sounds made up. Thomas “Rhett” Butler?
Do you think that Borchetta, Curb, et al sit in a room and say: “Guys, lets see how far can we push this. Is there really no boundary? I mean, we openly mock and lampoon these people, and they actually pay us to do it. Isn’t it amazing that the more brazen and insulting we are, the more these idiots actually buy it? What a country.”
November 20, 2012 @ 7:27 pm
B-But…….I thought Miranda Lambert said that Jesus drank wine! =(
I don’t know what to believe anymore! ; __ ;
November 20, 2012 @ 7:28 pm
From my understanding, I believe this dude is Rhett Akins son. He took his dads first name to be his stage last name.
November 20, 2012 @ 9:13 pm
His name is Thomas Rhett Akins – yes, he is Rhett’s son. While it might not be lyrically an outstanding song…it’s sure a lot better than most of what else is being played on my local radio stations!
November 27, 2012 @ 7:52 am
Well that sure was a shit song. Somehow I end up listening to just terrible music when I come to this site.
November 20, 2012 @ 10:46 pm
I’m sorry, but I really like this song. I would actually put it in the top 20%, if not the top 10%, of songs currently on country radio. I love the music, and the lyrics are quite soulful.
I also don’t see how this song can be classified as “pop country”. The instrumentation, vocal style, and lyrical style seem to be very much traditional country to me. It is definitely less pop than at least 90% of the current country radio hits.
Also, I would like to mention that “Live Like You Were Dying” was one of my favorite songs of the entire last decade. That song was pop country, but it truly represented the finest of the genre.
November 21, 2012 @ 10:54 am
“Also, I would like to mention that “Live Like You Were Dying” was one of my favorite songs of the entire last decade. That song was pop country, but it truly represented the finest of the genre.”
^^^^^^^^^^^
LOL
November 21, 2012 @ 4:35 pm
The song won the CMA Song of the Year and was nominated for Song of the Year at the Grammys, in addition to being one of the biggest #1 hits on all radio in the past decade. Say what you want about the CMAs, but at least in the late 90s and the first half of the last decade, they proved that they had excellent taste when it came to awarding Song of the Year.
In fact, back in 2005, when I had very little idea about country music, I sometimes used to turn on country radio just to listen to “Live Like You Were Dying”. It wasn’t until many years later that I actually started to listen to country radio on a regular basis, but that song gave me my very first introduction to country music.
November 20, 2012 @ 10:58 pm
Patriotism and Country Music go hand in hand from World War 2, Vietnam, The First Iraq War and the winding down wars…
Ernest Tubb had a few WW2, There was a country song called “Frauline”.
Merle Haggard had “fighting side of me”, “okie from muskogee”…
Aaron Tippin had “you have to stand for something” in the first Iraq War
Billy Ray Cyrus”Some Gave All”-Best song ever in my books for veterans, police and firefighters lost on 9-11-01 even though this was written in 1991-1992.
But I get what your saying, and I’m getting tired of the same old recycled crap from the new boys of country.
I hate country radio now cause you don’t hear the magic from the 1980’s, 1990’s and up ’til 2008 when country songs seemed real and not forced.
I’d take Joe Diffie, Mark Wills, Deanna Carter, Mark Chesnutt over these new fools.
Though I did meet Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, in 2005 and 2009.
I wrote a book which is sold in the country music hall of fame (yay me), and I wrote it from 2001-2011 when I was 17-26 years old. Unlike “taylor” I was writing drinking songs in class,(even though I do not drink), I wrote all kinds of love songs, sad songs, tropical theme songs, dark songs, heartache songs, honky-tonk songs, fishing, country living, living it up in Vegas, to highschool songs which is the first chapter*but that chapter is written not in the past, but will be relevant for years and years to come*
My point being as a writer I did not focus my songs on one subject. I expanded my mind and wrote all kinds of songs. Even though half those songs I did not live, I made it real enough. Cause I have a great imagination and learn about cities or places I never been.
November 20, 2012 @ 11:45 pm
Interesting. I would really like to read your book and hear some of your songs. It seems like you’ve accomplished quite a lot.
Also, when you mention “taylor”, do you mean Taylor Swift?
November 21, 2012 @ 7:14 am
yes. Cause when I was her age and this goes for all the songwriters who are recycling the same old song, expand your minds and write diffrenent songs.
eric you can find my book here…
http://joesbook.webs.com/apps/webstore/ (hard copy of the book) I do sign all books.
if you have a kindle you can find it here…
http://www.amazon.com/Firsrt-Quarter-Songwriters-Dream-ebook/dp/B0091A5XRK/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353506882&sr=8-1-fkmr3&keywords=the+first+quarter-a+songwriters+dream
My songs range from: Friday Night Football Games, Homecoming, College, To my hometown, to Jimmy Buffett influenced songs, to the Devil’s rain, to country living, fishing, being on the road, songs about George Strait, Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, and there is alot of influence from these artists in my book. Heck I even go to Hell and Back and talk about demon’s and the devil.
I also talk about god, heaven, and love and redemption.
I had no co-writes either.
November 21, 2012 @ 5:55 am
One of the fascinating things about reading this site is I get exposed to stuff that would never, ever cross my path under normal circumstance. This song would never, ever get past my shit filter.
This sort of pap will always be with us, but it is fun to read Mr. Triggerman’s “Rage Against the Big Machine”.
AFAIK, Jesus wouldn’t be sitting down with Mr. Rhett and having a beer. He’d be reading Foolbert Sturgeon’s “New Adventures of Jesus” and enjoying in particular “Jesus Goes to the Movies”.
November 21, 2012 @ 7:36 am
I caught this song on the radio the other week. I heard the title. My instantaneous reaction was seething hatred. I was ready to have a new worst song on my list. Then I listened to the song and realized it really wasn’t bad compared to the other crap I heard on the radio that day. Not good, not bad, not enough to get me fired up.
November 21, 2012 @ 8:22 am
One time Jesus got so drunk he woke up in a cave 3 days later.
November 21, 2012 @ 9:35 am
(rim shot)
November 21, 2012 @ 8:48 am
Great post, but got to take issue with the idea that “Religion is supposed to be boring because it is supposed to ground us.” I agree that there is far too much pop sensibility in American churches today, in the preaching as much as the music. Many churches try to entertain and make people feel warm and fuzzy rather than shaking them up. But that does not mean the alternative is to be dull, though at times faith takes commitment through periods of dryness. Like good music, it draws people deeper, challenges us to think in new ways and changes our way of being in the world. It is a grounding, but not a static one. Religion is anything but boring in my experience,
I know I am responding to a single sentence which is not the focus of the piece, but couldn’t leave it. By the way, you could probably say much of this for other traditions, but I will leave that to them. And I suspect most of your readers are either Christian or come from that family tradition.
November 21, 2012 @ 9:03 am
We know from Terry Allen that Jesus is a beer drinker (and a car thief, as it happened):
“I know you might think it’s odd, but you got nothing to fear about drinkin’ a beer if you share it with the Son of God.”
November 27, 2012 @ 7:54 am
Now there’s a song writer!
November 21, 2012 @ 9:19 am
I couldn’t get through a minute of it. I did try. It’s trite, and obviously meant to appeal to the folks whose churches have coffee and gift shops inside, For me, I know that if I want to have a beer with Jesus, I can. The thing is we get to commune with God under whatever circumstances we please. Crappy songs with obviously fake country drawls are unnecessary for that privilege.
I was going to show my age and compare this to Don Williams’s “Lord I Hope This Day is Good,” but then I realized I don’t even need to go that far back. Jim Lauderdale did a song called “I Met Jesus in a Bar”; from the title it sounds not too far from this, but the subject matter is an honest spiritual revelation. It’s right to say that country music has been singing about Jesus as long as it’s existed (“Will The Circle Be Unbroken”, anybody?), but it’s usually done better.
November 21, 2012 @ 9:28 am
I have no doubt this audio turd will be as popular as ; $20.00 scratch-offs , Natural Light ICE , GPC cigarettes , DVR set for ” Maury ” , 20 oz. Monster energy drinks , and Tinkerbell floor mats/seat covers for those among us that haven’t completely evolved .
November 21, 2012 @ 10:08 am
I think it is a bit wrong to say that Tim McGraw was exploiting cancer with his song when his father died of cancer and the song for him was a way of handling his father having cancer. He never got a long great with Tug as he was always on the road with different teams and a crappy dad (In Tim’s eyes) but he was still very much torn up about it and said that this song was for him and the hoping that they would be able to make peace together when they meet again. To say it was a pure marketing move and exploitation of cancer is ridiculous and shows lack of knowledge and bad journalism and above all, absolute no line you wont cross to slander someone.
November 21, 2012 @ 11:54 am
My father died of Cancer when I was 5 years old. I find these songs repulsive and a pothole on the road to coping. But in fairness, this is my personal perspective and opinion.
November 21, 2012 @ 12:28 pm
I’m very sorry to hear about that.
The nice thing about “Live Like You Were Dying” is that it doesn’t discuss cancer directly, unlike Martina McBride’s song. It vaguely mentions “X-rays” and the possibility of life ending, without getting into unnecessary details. The song uses understatement in the classic country tradition, and that definitely makes me appreciate it.
November 21, 2012 @ 11:08 am
Shouldn’t it be Rhett Thomas? It’s like the pop country name generator reversed it so it wouldn’t be as obvious.
November 21, 2012 @ 11:55 am
It can’t be too long before Austin Beauregard or Carolina Duke have hit songs…
November 21, 2012 @ 1:26 pm
this song is great and i cant understand the hate it gets.
you gotta put this up there with your cheatin heart,mama tried,amarillo by morning and grand tour.
November 21, 2012 @ 2:04 pm
Sonny Burgess has one calle “Jesus and Bartenders hear it all”
November 22, 2012 @ 3:52 am
I heard this song on the radio the other day while I was test driving a car with a customer. At first, I kind of liked it. Who hasn’t wondered what it’d be like to have a beer with an authority figure, a hero, a fictional character, an old friend or relative long gone, a celebrity, a sports star, etc. ?
On the surface, I see no problem with the idea of sitting down and having a beer with Jesus, the man did, after all, turn water into wine when the wine ran out.
But as the song played on, it felt more and more stupid. Almost like we’re supposed to picture Jesus with a trucker cap and blue jeans on. Queue up Cal Noughton Jr. from Talledega Nights and throw in the tuxedo t-shirt while you’re at it.
I have no problem with country songs that mix drinking and Christianity; Kevin Fowler’s “The Lord Loves The Drinkin’ Man” is a funny and light-hearted example. “Thank God For Believers” by Mark Chestnutt is a serious and somber one.
But seriously, by the time “Beer With Jesus” is over, I’m seriously disappointed and pissed off. The idea of “having a beer with Jesus” could actually be such a great song concept, a chance to write something beautiful that has deep meaning and a point (no, I’m not saying “The Lord Loves The Drinkin’ Man” has a really deep meaning, though it DOES have a point), but instead we get a redneck drinking song with Jesus thrown in so it’d sell more; albeit one that’s so shallow that you could replace “Jesus” with the name of any other famous person in history without really changing anything in the song other than the chorus (which is the only redeeming part of this song).
I think I’ll write a new chorus, and just change out “Jesus” for “Nolan Ryan” for the verses and release it next year when this song is already forgotten, should be just as big a hit.
November 22, 2012 @ 9:21 am
I agree. As I said in the review, I can see how on the surface the concept of this song could be good. A lot of commenters have been bringing up other songs that mention Jesus and drinking, but most of these challenge, or offer something up intellectually or ironically. In this one, Rhett seems to want to convey himself as kind of stupid and simple, as if this is what being “country” is all about. Yet it’s also supposed to be deep.
May 21, 2013 @ 8:56 pm
I would like for someone to explain to me how this song is blasphemous, it’s not talking about taking Jesus out for his first night he’ll never remember! It’s talking about given the chance for some random amount of time and you had Jesus’s undivided attention, what would you with him, what would you ask? Frankly I don’t think I’d take Jesus to church, I mean really is that what any of you would do? Jesus the man that could answer any of life’s questions, the one who could tell you everything about everything, and you would take him to church to teach him about his father? Mind you this song says absolutely zero about Jesus having a beer. The depth of this song is there, and as far as intellect whether you believe in God or don’t, say that God does exist, and Jesus God’s son is coming to meet with you for whatever reason, ask yourself do you all of the sudden become the most Godly Christian in front of the man that knows every sin and everything you’ve ever done? The bible also talks about how Jesus did not like religious posturing. I think it’s condescending to think that Jesus wouldn’t go to a bar when in the bible it says Jesus went to where the sinners were, matter of fact that’s part of why he was crucified, for being around sinners. How can you say it’s condescending to think that Jesus may go where people need him most, and not think that it may be just a tad condescending to put Jesus in a box and say no he wouldn’t do that?
November 22, 2012 @ 7:13 am
As all gods and religions are created to manipulate and exploit, i don’t see why anyone should get upset if a singer and his record company try to make some money from jesus
November 22, 2012 @ 9:35 am
I’m going to go listen to some Hank gospel tunes now.
November 22, 2012 @ 10:52 am
Now He’s a Great Gospel Singer.
November 23, 2012 @ 12:08 pm
For good songs about Jesus see: Will Hoge’s Jesus Came to Tennessee and Otis Gibbs’s Christ Number Three.
Just thought you should offer some helpful options for songs about Jesus.
November 23, 2012 @ 1:33 pm
This is yet another guy who looks way too much like a metrosexual/Beta male for me to buy his music.
I will take a pass on viewing and listening to the music video for this tune.
There is a difference for a country musician (even an outlaw one, like Johnny Paycheck) cutting a gospel album and this kind of tripe.
November 26, 2012 @ 6:42 am
I can’t stand the song, my wife absolutely hates it. So that begs the question, why is it getting played on the radio? Nashville machine? I can pick up 4-5 country stations and there isn’t much difference in them maybe one plays a bit more good stuff like Gary Allan. Many times I’ll be flipping between stations and hit the same song at the same time.
November 26, 2012 @ 11:19 am
Charlie Parr- ‘Jesus At The Kenmore’
November 26, 2012 @ 1:31 pm
Hey trigger man. Turn the gun towards your face and pull! I’m not gonna put my real name on here since you won’t!
November 27, 2012 @ 8:41 am
Scott Borchetta? Maybe Rhett Akins? Perhaps you’re Thomas Rhett?
November 26, 2012 @ 3:28 pm
My favorite was when Ronnie Milsap did Jesus Is Your Ticket To Heaven. When I was a kid and this song came on we tore it up… He’s another one that got his Gospel roots. The song suffers from the sterile production of the time but it’s still a damn freight train. Thomas Rhett song is a steaming pile of shit…IMHO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZBxcPUEYOo
November 27, 2012 @ 12:37 am
The combination of the lazy songwriting, the lowest-common-denominator approach and the continued mockery of a great American art-form make this song offensive to me. This song could’ve been ironic in the way that Hayes Carll’s “She Left Me For Jesus” was, but alas, the mainstream pop country crowd doesn’t get irony. After all, the type of person that “they” write this crap for and market it to is who is butt of the joke in that song.
January 21, 2013 @ 12:15 am
Y’know, it always seemed to me that besides the hardcore born country music fans country music was where you went when you grew up. Maybee for more depth, or you were just tired of the same old crap that you always listened to. So why is it that now country music is turning into this? It is lazy. and it seems almost written to pump out a quick album. This is just plain ass immature. Why is country music so determined to play to teens or worse yet TWEENS?! What common sense person does this shit appeal to. I dont know about anyone else but my first reaction to this abortion of a supposed country song was “GROW THE FUCK UP!!”. Enough with the stereotypes and stupid cliche’s and GROW UP.
January 21, 2013 @ 8:41 am
“Y”™know, it always seemed to me that besides the hardcore born country music fans country music was where you went when you grew up. Maybee for more depth, or you were just tired of the same old crap that you always listened to…”
AMEN, sir! I can definitely attest to that. Even with the late ’80s, early ’90s stuff that I first got into, at least the vast majority of the songs came from fairly grown-up perspectives, in terms of the attitudes they expressed and issues they dealt with. Such a shame that today’s Top 40 country feels the need to compete with pop rather than provide a more mature — yet just as tuneful, if not more so — alternative to it.
January 30, 2013 @ 9:12 pm
To those with the attitude that Scott Borchetta is just playing what people want to hear: duh! That’s what country music is about, God, guns & family. rap plays to what it’s listeners like, cars jewelry, women etc. Same with rock, & pop. Why is it wrong when country does the same thing? besides, as has been mentioned Jesus turned water into wine, & the Bible does not say don’t drink alcohol. It says don’t drink in excess. There is a difference.
April 23, 2013 @ 4:56 am
Idk but y’all definitely ain’t country. And u have no room to talk about religion the bible says “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” So all your doing is starting a worthless argument over nothing because whoever wrote this article is just a loud mouth s.o.b who I’m sure doesn’t have the balls to step up to either of those men and say it to their face. Their both good singers and probably good ppl. So leav em all alone. Y’all re like a bunch of 2 year olds
August 25, 2014 @ 8:59 am
Now I didn’t take time to read all of the rants in the comments…however, I will say that I was under the impression that music was to speak to your soul…so what’s the difference of this song of the stuff they play on our local “gospel” channel? I can honestly say that I constantly battle with faith….but this song – puts me at peace. When I need calm, this is a song that does it…along with Live like you were dyin….love both of them. If you feel he’s “talking down to you” then maybe you’d need a beer with Jesus. Everyone finds faith, hope & peace differently. What I find funny is the masses of sheep in an organized religion, quoting only the parts of the bible they choose to worship from that support thier ideals…not the ones that they turn thier backs on for convenience. Bottom line….I like this song…doubt I’m the only one…but even if I am….I’m glad it was released. Anyone who doesn’t like it, change the channel.