The Meek Ain't Gonna Inherit Shit

I'm a big music fan. I'm not going to listen to music just because it happens to have an anti-religious theme. But, one of my favourite bands Alabama 3 have all bases covered. Alabama 3's musical style is best described as acid-country-gospel-techno and their subject matter is political with a liberal dash of satire targeting organised religion and drug culture.

The band have their own church - the First Presleyterian Church of Elvis the Divine (UK). Band member The Rev D. Wayne Love is a minister of the church and preaches, among other things, "D.Wayne Love represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit!". Well Amen to that.

Alabama 3 are best known for Woke up this Morning, the title track to the Sopranos, but if that's all you've heard then your seriously missing out (provided you like acid-country-gospel-techno and I can't see who wouldn't). The title of this post is a line from The Mansion on the Hill and appears on some of the Alabama 3 merchandise. Here are a few more irreverent examples:

  • I got two heads
    I'm gonna bang my heads together
    I got one leg
    I'm gonna hop to heaven's door
    I got three eyes
    I'm gonna pluck one out for Jesus
    And I ain't gonna have no troubles anymore
    - Two Heads

  • (Sung in the style an an American envangelical preacher)
    Step Three: Make a searching inventory of all your good shit
    Step Four: Inventory taken,you hand all that good shit over to me
    Step Five: Having divined I am the real thing you get down on your knees
    Step Six: ....and humbly ask me to remove your underthings
    - Hypo Full of Love

  • My two little cousins got shot selling rock
    Outside the old school gates

    CHORUS
    I don't mind cos I live in the light
    I live in the light of the Lord
    - Cocaine Killed my Community

A few Alabama 3 facts:

  • In the US the band are known as A3 (to avoid getting sued by a redneck band called Alabama).

  • The band are actually British.

  • They are one of the best live bands I've ever heard. Closest I'll get to a religious experience ;-).

The band have just released a DVD - Hear The Train A Comin:
Hear The Train A Comin DVD Cover