The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Reach out, touch faith
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who's there
Feeling unknown
And you're all alone
Flesh and bone
By the telephone
Lift up the receiver
I'll make you a believer
Take second best
Put me to the test
Things on your chest
You need to confess
I will deliver
You know I'm a forgiver
Reach out, touch faith
Reach out, touch faith
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who's there
Feeling unknown
And you're all alone
Flesh and bone
By the telephone
Lift up the receiver
I'll make you a believer
I will deliver
You know I'm a forgiver
Reach out, touch faith
Your own personal Jesus
Reach out, touch faith
Reach out, touch faith
Reach out, touch faith
(Reach out, reach out)
Reach out, touch faith
Reach out and touch faith
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who's there
Feeling unknown
And you're all alone
Flesh and bone
By the telephone
Lift up the receiver
I'll make you a believer
Take second best
Put me to the test
Things on your chest
You need to confess
I will deliver
You know I'm a forgiver
Reach out, touch faith
Reach out, touch faith
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who's there
Feeling unknown
And you're all alone
Flesh and bone
By the telephone
Lift up the receiver
I'll make you a believer
I will deliver
You know I'm a forgiver
Reach out, touch faith
Your own personal Jesus
Reach out, touch faith
Reach out, touch faith
Reach out, touch faith
(Reach out, reach out)
Reach out, touch faith
Reach out and touch faith
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Blue
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
<i>Reach out and touch faith</i> is a take on AT&T's old slogan "Reach out and touch someone".
This song talks about the "second best" thing to talking to Jesus - the business of TV/phone evangelism. Getting "saved" through another human, a human who waits until you're down and out and vulnerable ("Feeling unknown/And you're all alone"), and then you're saved and converted, for a small fee. These guys basically play Jesus for these needy people - people with the need for an answer, because they're prayers aren't getting answered. Forgiving sins, converting folks to Christianity, etc. - all without getting off the couch.
Chin up, you are correct my man...
According to songwriter Martin Gore:
"It's a song about being a Jesus for somebody else, someone to give you hope and care. It's about how Elvis was her man and her mentor and how often that happens in love relationships; how everybody's heart is like a god in some way, and that's not a very balanced view of someone, is it?"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Jesus
I read a long long time ago that Martin Gore wrote this song after he read the autobiography of Pricella Presley about her love and devotion to Elvis. I can see how this song can relate to a one-sided relationship, when someone looses themself in the other... it can be tragic.
I think the song is about phone sex - quite seriously.
I think you may be right. not sure why everyone is against this view.
Another atheistic song. Its a Gore seal man! Just like Blasphemous... I think this song is a kinda "Nietzschian" philosofy. Believe in your self, not in gods. The 1sts verses explains all song. Your own personal jesus (that god you carry inside you, YOURSELF) is the only whos gonna hear your prayers, the only one who cares about you, is you. Forget god, dont expect nothing about him, its all in you (thats not my vision, lol, thats Martin vision)
According to songwriter Martin Gore:
Actually, THE Trent Reznor didn't say that; rather, a user on Songmeanings.net who goes by "Trent Reznor" as his username, who posted a message on Page 1 of this song's comment page. I apologize for any confusion.
I think this song is simply about the good friend that one confides in. Personal Jesus is the savior of this person, keeping them sane by their companionship/friendship.
I think this song it basically him offering to be someones Jesus, so one who will do anything for them, someone who will take there call and be there for them when ever they need it.
Annnnd because I forgot to mention this earlier: A lot of people tend to take this song quite literally, to mean that Jesus is meant to save everyone and what have you. But Depeche Mode aren\'t exactly a Christian rock band. So I would reconsider your interpretations. Of course, to each his own. I could be completely wrong.