Jesus or a Gun

Fuel

About Jesus or a Gun

"Jesus or a Gun" is a song by American alternative rock band Fuel. It was released in April 1999 as the fourth single from their debut studio album, Sunburn. The track stands out among other Fuel singles due to its fast tempo and heaviness. When played on MTV or radio stations, the title is censored to read "Jesus or a ..." and the chorus lyric mutes the word "Gun".


Year:
1997
92 

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Walk away, I walk the wire
And my fields are burning in the flames
Feel my way, blind in the mire
Struggling from your voice inside my head

But now everything's trying to drag me down
But I'll rip the sky from the ground
But tell me now, who's my saving one
Jesus or a gun

Stripped away my last desire
Nothing comes and nothing's sent away
Happiness I couldn't hire
Struggling from these thoughts inside my head

But now everything's trying to drag me down
But I'll rip the sky from the ground
But tell me now, who's my saving one
Jesus or a gun

All that's safer falls from my favor
When it's over who will cry for me

It's safe to say I don't desire
Everything you push inside my head
And I'll reject it until I'm dead

But now everything's trying to drag me down
But I'll rip the sky from the ground
But tell me now, who's my saving one
Jesus or a gun

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Fuel

Formed in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania by guitarist-songwriter Carl Bell in 1989, Fuel are known for their hit songs “Shimmer” from the album Sunburn, “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” and “Bad Day” from the album Something Like Human, as well as “Falls on Me” from the album Natural Selection as well as many other rock singles and albums. In addition, the band had multiple videos in heavy rotation on MTV, numerous live network TV performances in the US, Canada, and Australia, and songs on film soundtracks such as Scream 3, Daredevil, A Walk to Remember, and Godzilla. The album Sunburn is certified platinum by the RIAA, and the album Something Like Human is certified double-platinum. "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" held the #1 spot on Billboard’s Rock charts for ov… more »

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Written by: BRETT SCALLIONS, CARL WILLIAM BELL

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


20 facts about this song

Song Overview
"Jesus or a Gun" is a song by American rock band, Fuel. It's part of their debut full-length studio album, "Sunburn," which was released in 1998.
Genre Classification
The song represents the post-grunge genre, a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-to-late 1990s and is heavily influenced by grunge music.
Lineup
The primary musicians in Fuel at the time of the song's recording were Brett Scallions (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Carl Bell (lead guitar), Jeff Abercrombie (bass guitar), and Kevin Miller (drums).
Song Theme
"Jesus or a Gun" presents strong imagery in its lyrics, alluding to dichotomies such as faith vs. violence, suggesting the struggles of choosing between spiritual redemption and destructive forces.
Chart Success
Although not as commercially successful as other singles from "Sunburn," the song helped establish Fuel's presence in the rock music scene and contributed to the overall success of the album.
Music Video
There is a music video for "Jesus or a Gun," which includes performance footage of the band intertwined with a substance-abuse-themed narrative, echoing the song's exploration of despair and redemption.
Live Performances
The song is known to be part of Fuel's live lineup, helping to showcase their energy and sound, and contributing to their reputation as a solid live act.
Production Credits
The song, like the rest of the "Sunburn" album, was produced by Steven Haigler, known for his work with Pixies, Quicksand, and Local H.
Lyrics Interpretations
While the song's lyrics contain religious and violent imagery, it is generally seen as more metaphorical, popularly interpreted as an internal struggle between good and evil, or symbolizing the battle against addiction.
Album Impact
Besides fueling the overall success of the "Sunburn" album, "Jesus or a Gun" also contributed to the band's thematic and stylistic evolution, hinting at the heavier and darker sound that characterizes their later releases.
Song Composition
"Jesus or a Gun" is written and composed by Carl Bell, the lead guitarist and main songwriter of the band Fuel.
Album Release
The song is a track on Fuel's debut studio album 'Sunburn,' which was released in 1998.
Genre
Commonly classified under the genre of post-grunge/alternative rock, "Jesus or a Gun" is recognized for its hard-hitting, emotional lyrics and distinctive percussion.
Song Theme
The lyrics of "Jesus or a Gun" appear to delve into the theme of choice and consequence, dealing with a protagonist who faces hard decisions in life.
Uncommon Object
The song title 'Jesus or a Gun' is a reflection of the somewhat unconventional objects of choice in the song, creating an interesting juxtaposition of a religious icon and a symbol of violence.
Musicianship
Brett Scallions, the lead vocalist of Fuel, is lauded for his powerful vocal execution in "Jesus or a Gun", which complements the raw, emotional undertones of the song’s lyrics.
Album Success
The 'Sunburn' album, which features "Jesus or a Gun", helped establish Fuel as one of the prominent bands of the post-grunge era. This album peaked at number 77 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum in the United States.
Live Performance
"Jesus or a Gun" was often performed live by Fuel during their debut tour and received positive engagement from the audience.
Song Length
The runtime of "Jesus or a Gun" is 3:59, making it one of the longer tracks on the 'Sunburn' album.
Record Label
The song, along with the full 'Sunburn' album, was produced under the banner of Sony's Epic Records.

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