Music of the Day, 2 July 2025
goodbye and good riddance
I learned just a few minutes ago that one of the smarmiest first-gen televangelists1 died yesterday. It was a bit of a surprise, because I thought he’d popped his clogs a few years ago, but I was misremembering—that was another smarmy slimeball. Anyway, right on cue, today’s MotD started playing on the radio station in my mind.
There’s no way of knowing, of course, but I like to think that “Jesus He Knows Me” would have come to mind even if I hadn’t mentioned the song just over two months ago. And—praise be!—now I can listen to it as many times as I want and as loudly as I want.2
I also learned today that “Jesus He Knows Me” was the fourth single from Genesis’ 1992 album We Can’t Dance. As that was right around my turning away from listening to the radio in favor of my rapidly growing collection of CDs, I’m pretty sure I never heard it on radio. (Being in the bible belt certainly didn’t help … I wonder how many concertgoers were butthurt by the song’s inclusion in the band’s setlist on that tour.)
All three band members have a songwriting credit for it; based on its Wiki page, Phil Collins wrote the lyrics, which Tony Banks commented were a bit more cynical than usual. Revisiting them today, I think Collins could have gone harder. I particularly like the astute phrasing in the chorus: “Jesus he knows me, and he knows I’m right.” In the Before Times, when Christians actually sought to follow the son of their god3, it was clear they were expected to know him and the rightness (and righteousness) of his way.
The music is equally appealing to me. From Tony Banks’ irresistible keyboard riff in the intro to Mike Rutherford’s tasty licks and fills on guitar4 and Collins’ appropriately spare yet driving drum work, it’s four minutes of Genesis rock music heaven. No wonder it’s so hard for me to make the time to explore their prog beginnings: I don’t even listen to the discs I know I adore often enough!
at least I think he was; I’m not going to waste time and give any web pages about that odious asshole my attention
well, until my kid complains … I’m not a total monster
if you’re one of that flock, please know that I mean you no disrespect nor malice; with compassion and empathy under heavy attack, anyone who’s for more of them is an ally. We can discuss our differences once today’s ugliness is successfully repelled, if I’m still around
both kinds! Electric and bass guitar
Love this. That album was good company one lonely Christmas.