Frank Turner - Glory Hallelujah (Live, New Song) - The Regal, Oxford, 5 December 2010

[fascoli04]

Too stupid to understand science? Try religion!

[woodwindvista]

Glad to be an Atheist!

[shawridge]

I love Frank Turner but I kinda feel like this song is associating a belief system with a cool image which is potentially unethical. It's a pity because this is a great song but he kinda runs an unnecessary risk of offending people and swaying, I know that's not what he intended and his auto biographical song writing style is what makes him great but this song was just a little too explicit for my liking.

Speaking as a devout atheist here

[xxsandmanxx02]

@shawridge He seems like one of the few exceptions in that Frank seems mostly only interested in putting out personal, meaningful, "real", etc music. Make money along the way sure, but I dig that he seems truly driven by the music. In this song he's just stating his personal belief, I havent ever seen or heard of him pushing his beliefs on fans and the public or anything..seems like something he's normally quiet about but chose to write something meaningful to share.

[shawridge]

@xxsandmanxx02 I dunno, I've just always been of the opinion that Christianity, and religion in general, is a good thing, majority of people who believe in a higher power are good people. The line "there is no god" is pretty definite, I think it alienates his fans a little.

Great song though lol

[xxsandmanxx02]

@shawridge *Faith* can be a good thing, but throughout history *religion* on the whole has been a very bad thing. More people have killed and died in the name of one God or another than any other one thing. Humans took a potentially good concept (religion) and have used it to justify their own personal ends. Now im not talkin of every individual believer, just religion on the whole. If anyone feels alienated by this then thats honestly just a shame. He's not campainging to convert people- (cont)

[Neuroslicer]

@xxsandmanxx02 No, Faith is never a good thing. It is the willingness to shut your mind off from reason and to accept something with no evidence whatsoever. It is the epitome of closed mindedness.

[faganliam2007]

@Neuroslicer or to some people its the ability to belive in something better with no proof, having faith does not mean beliving in organised religion or not being able to let someone else have there own views

[hamneggwich]

@faganliam2007 Beliefs with no evidence aren't worth much, if anything, IMHO.

People have faith in awful things, as well, such as hell(and how all the people they don't like are totally going there). That's not "something better", believing in the supernatural isn't better. There is nothing better than reality, the sole reason being that it is REAL.

I don't see anyone here disallowing others from their views, either. Criticism is equal to censorship now, apparently. Sigh.

[xxsandmanxx02]

@shawridge he wrote a very personal song to express his views. And yes generally speaking most believers are good people but also generally speaking theyre very intolerant of anyone who questions their views. Tolerance goes both ways and noone should be offended because someone expresses their beliefs, as this is no different than an artist writing a song praising God. It would different if he was out rallying against religion every chance he got, but thats not the case at all. Its just one song

[jay1bug]

It's time people stopped sticking their nose into other peoples beliefs/disbeliefs and just concentrated on their own. Then maybe all the fighting would stop. I couldnt care less what beliefs people around me have, they are entitled to believe what they want as long as they understand that I am also entitled to believe/disbelieve anything I want and not try to kill me for it. He's not asking you to believe/disbelieve what he's singing.......he just feels the need to sing it! Fantastic!

[yeahman209]

ＦＲＡＮＫ ＴＵＲＮＥＲ ＩＳ ＴＨＥ ＯＮＬＹ ＧＯＤ !!

[slipperywhenwet5]

I like how he makes a preemptive apology when it seems like everyone approved.

I also like that everyone approved.

[eire360]

I'm religious and am part of the Catholic Church. I think this song is awesome. People can sing about anything they want. Who gives a shit. Religion shouldn't be brought into music or sport or anything.

[gianichan]

I was driving down the highway listening to this song the other day. I passed a convoy of tractor trailers filled with cows heading to their slaughter. There is no God. Satori!

[gorstrom]

This man is my new hero

[laughingcoyote111]

@gregorymwishart: Death will be no different than before I was born. Nothing that is in any sense "me" existed before I was born, and no such thing will exist after I die.

So, I will live while I'm alive. :)

[evansentranced]

@gregorymwishart It makes me happy because it's a fun, upbeat and positive song, because the crowd is so into it, and because the thing they're so upbeat and happy about is something that, yes, I care about, and that I'm always having to hear negative things about. It's cheerful, it's invigorating, and it's got a positive message. You just don't hear that about atheism as often as I'd like.

And yes, I'm usually pretty thrilled when someone I like turns out to be an atheist. :]

[gregorymwishart]

coming from someone who believes in a god: i can see frank has no desire to create anger or strife but is merely stating what he believes, which i think he has the right to. it makes me sad on one had that this anthem is the polar opposite of my beliefs but on the other hand it makes me happy that we live in a world where people can differ and not live in fear of there life for doing so. heres to freedom of speech

[sadclownbadlucy]

i love how many non-theists are commenting on this. we need an atheist revolution!

[gregorymwishart]

@sadclownbadlucy an honest question: what are athiests feelings on death. is that just the end forever or something?

[muffler48]

@gregorymwishart Confine yourself to the present. The rest will take care of itself. I don't need a book written by desert people some 3000 years ago or so and then edited/commented on by more people than we can count to be told to live in fear of a yet another man made God. 

[gregorymwishart]

@muffler48 k ill confine myself and i know you dont need a book to tell you anything, i was just curious on any thoughts

[SwingRiots]

Funny thing about this song is, lyrically, its much more life-affirming than any fucking hymn I've ever heard. The "there is no God" refrain aside, the other lyrics are much more positive and have much more faith in humanity than hymns. (and folks who are offended clearly didn't listen to him when he was talking at the beginning).

[dishlerm712]

Who needs a god when you can have friends, family, experiences, places, and beauty in life? Certainly not me, and certainly not Frank Turner.

[evansentranced]

Every single time I hear this song, I just get this huge smile on my face. This is totally my atheism anthem.

[gregorymwishart]

@evansentranced why does that make you happy? cuz an artist you like shares your beliefs? sincere question

[sylvanha]

TO ALL THOSE WHO WOULD DARE SAY OUT LOUD THAT THERE ARE NO GIANT OGRES IN EUROPE, YOU ARE OFFENDING ME AND MY BELIEFS!!!

[GoblinJuiceII]

I have just found my atheism recently and this song sums it up for me. I have been agnostic for a while but recently I have realised, why should I accept that there may be a god (or gods) when all the evidence suggests that there isn't. We have evolved to be perfectly fitting for this world, the world wasn't built on our specifications. It seems that if we say "there is no God" it offends people. But we are not allowed to get offended by people saying "there is a God..." Where is the sense?

[iaretwopro]

@GoblinJuiceII There is nothing offensive in choosing not to beleive in something, it is in no way offensive to people who do beleive.

However what is offensive is to effectively insult anybody who beleives in god by parading 'the truth' in a song, especially when it has no evidence on its claims (admittidly singing a song with a detailed physics lecture explaining his beleif would be pretty dull)

[sylvanha]

@iaretwopro I don't see whats insulting by questioning other people's beliefs. We constantly need reality checks, every one of us. Doubt is the most useful tool with curiosity.

[iaretwopro]

@sylvanha @sylvanha Its not 'questioning' others beleifs, that would be 'why is there a god' not 'there is no god' it sounds as if frank has some mystical knowledge nobody else does, for he says it as an absoloute. Yeah, that is his beleif, it as much a matter of faith to beleive in god as to not to beleive in god.

[sylvanha]

@iaretwopro False, that is like saying it takes as much patience to play golf as it takes not to play golf. It takes as much a matter of racism to hate black people then not to hate them.Atheism is not defined by a non-belief in any deity. It is theism that defines itself by its beliefs.

There is a saying from theists that atheism is almost a religious system of belief.There is also an atheist saying that if that is the case, then not collecting stamps is a hobby and not playing rugby is a sport

[ThunderRoad1991]

@iaretwopro

Christian hymns state that there absolutely IS a god and Atheists don't get offended - so how can a Christian get offended when an athiest sings about how there is no god? It's the same principal, but many religious people seem to think that their beliefs are more important/sacred than ours and can't be expressed in the same ways. It's a wonderful example of hypocrisy.

[GoblinJuiceII]

@iaretwopro I would say there is a lot more evidence that there is no God than there is a God. But that is beside the point. There are plenty of songs mentioning God and saying that there is a God so why should it be bad for us to say that there isn't? It isn't calling believers stupid, nor are songs saying there is a God calling atheists stupid. Just because there is no proof in something that people believe does not mean that you can get offended when other people point this out. Sorry!

[DeapPolitical]

@iaretwopro But it's not a song parading that belief. I know it's hard to hear any of the other lines because of the sound quality, but his belief that there is no God is just something the informs the meaning of the song. The whole song is "Carpe Diem," and he's saying that you should live life to the fullest and love and be grateful for what you have. He only frames it aroudn the ideology that because there is no afterlife (in his opinion), that we should worry about our 'domestic' life.

[iaretwopro]

It is not the message that Frank needs no God to live his life humanely and as a good person that is offensive, it is the blatant statement of:

'There is no God'

This is basically calling anybody who believes in God idiotic, because he obviously doesn't exist.....

Admittedly, He does say that the song isn't meant to offend people and it is just his views, but it is the iconic figure of a man that so many people respect and even revere in a sense almost chanting it out, it becomes degrading.

[FaithyBattenburg16]

people getting irrate about this song just calm down he does explain that it wasn't meant to piss people off xD it a song just live with it or don't listen to it xD

[kapanaligsawala27]

Somebody sent me the link to this vid and so I watched it. The melody sounded so happy but it also sounded weird. Maybe I'm not used to hearing atheist gospel songs. LOL.

[seniorclapshishands]

I find this just as annoying and offensive as Christian's preaching.

[MrFrenchdog]

@AlexM19936 Right, it's comments like this that are making loads of Christians whine.

[MrFrenchdog]

Hey guess what guys, I'm a Christian, i believe in a God who i love love love and guess what i also love... THIS SONG! :O WOH!!!

I'm not exactly gonna run around singing 'there's no God' But it's a good song, and i'm not offended.

[tehcatspajamas]

i love this. what a beautiful message.

[deconverts]

As an ex-Christian, I REALLY appreciate this! Especially the style :)

[roont]

*clap, clap, clap*!!!!

[mordinvan]

Win and awesome.

[11qheck]

@AitorElf The fact that this offended you, offends me, That is offensive to humanity as a whole, to say that this, someone stating there beliefs, not in any sort of in your face way offends you. There is absolutely no difference between stating religious beliefs and stating political beliefs. It's not like he said fuck you if you don't believe what I say in this song. Saying that him not believing what you believe is offense is something any logical person would be ashamed to say.

[MsCoralline]

@11qheck

I recommend you see the video linked to in AitorElf's post, before assuming he doesn't get it. He's with you.

[AitorElf]

@11qheck I entirely agree.

And you are an ****, and all those that voted me down without a clue for what irony is, or checking out the youtube link.

Thanks MsCoraline! =)

[Bigcannonball75]

YES!!! finally someone who sings, what I feel!

[skullandtrombone]

I was at this show. So epic :)

[teddy4dvids]

he had myopinions in all his songs :L

[Dimenchemist]

We're all in this together. I love this phrase, because we are not alone in the universe, we have each other. I am proud to call myself a humanist.

[MrRoyotu]

he is so fucked if god does exist

[MsCoralline]

@MrRoyotu

Perhaps. Which god? One who cares what he thinks? Not all of them are rumored to give a crap what any of us think, you know. Some of them may even appreciate thinking and honesty.

[DearSergioSM]

Stop clapping so freaking fast haha...

The public have terrible timing

also, there is a god, he's called Frank.

[nakedrobz]

We're definitely going to hell!! we'll see you there franky!

[mordinvan]

@nakedrobz

Meh, heaven's for the climate, hell's for the company.

[dawnmariexo]

Great song! Thanks for this song. Too often people think of atheists as unhappy, mean people who are not in the mainstream. Unfortunately it takes guts to speak your beliefs and I applaud you!.

[swopitnow]

@memoryburn7 Yeah, I reckon you're right. It's a brilliant song, but a bit of subtlety wouldn't be amiss.

[prea66]

Oh man, what an awesome song :)

[PeshwariNaan]

Double negative.

[bassLAIFE]

Christians have absolutely no right to be offended by it. There are Christian bands, Christian rock festivals, even a Christian music market and Christian record labels. So if someone wants to believe in God they can go listen to as much religious music as they want. If it's that OK for Christians to put their beliefs into music, and in effect tell atheists they're wrong, then we atheists have just as much of a right to do exactly the same thing.

[jazzbassrocker]

@bassLAIFE Fuck the haters, I'm a life-long Christian and this is one of my favorite songs.

[memoryburn7]

good song but maybe it'd be better without the lyrics being so literal? i'm atheist and all and i know you're going for the classical/sincere/straightforw­ard, but maybe a touch more irony/modernity? eh just my opinion.

[christiemac1]

What I love about this song is how it's a celebration of freedom, free thinking, and love for one another. It's so optimistic and beautiful and you can see everyone jumping and clapping along. It's the complete opposite of the stereotypes we're given in the media and by religious people. All the atheists I know (myself included) are happy and optimistic because we have freed ourselves from the burden of religion. "The storm has lifted and there's nothing to lose"

[ramseswraith]

Goosebumps...

[HappyRogueStatus]

@baza73

Sections 57-58: Possession offences: Section 57 is dealing with possessing articles for the purpose of terrorist acts. Section 58 is dealing with collecting or holding information that is of a kind likely to be useful to those involved in acts of terrorism. Section 57 includes a specific intention, section 58 does not

[HappyRogueStatus]

you sir, are WIN

[Johnb0789]

Whoa! Frank your definatley going to hell...

Oh wait there is no hell... ;-) @fthc Your awesome

[Zakistan]

Brilliant atheist anthem, got a good tune and you can hear the passion all the way through... Now I just have to wait for someone to write an Anthem for Agnostics so I can sing something with that amount of conviction and devotion :D Frank = THE BEST

[PositiveTension505]

@Zakistan I think I may just write that. But about the real meaning of agnosticism :p

[susanananananaa]

Although I disagree with the lyrics, I give kudos to Frank for always saying what's on his mind. Not everyone has the guts to sing so openly about such a delicate subject.

[beard1973]

I really like Frank's music and have seen him live 4 times... but as a born again christian, this song sadly upsets me.

I'm an open minded guy and Frank is entitled to his opinion, but its also my opinion that Frank's wrong here... :(

Genesis Ch1 v1... In the beginning GOD... ;)

[djthackray]

@beard1973 To me, the point of this song is to encourage equal freedom of speech between believers and non-believers. An Atheist has the same right to sing about his beliefs as Christians do to sing about theirs. I don't think he's telling anybody what to believe. Which is a view that I share, I wish more people could just deal with the innate differences between people and move on.

[Fredonia2k]

@beard1973 My book is true because it says it's true! Hahaha

[roont]

@beard1973 What about the song upsets you? Someone expressing their opinion different from yours?

[meddeyc]

I love how he has the ballz to sing this kind of thing

[TheAlmightyRobinator]

"I Still Believe" in God. Absolutely ace song - it has a great melody.

[thepunkfish109]

@TheAlmightyRobinator Dude... You have the absolutely right attitude about this. And.... I'm proud to say we like the same song. Cheers.

[loitzlouis]

Funniest thing about being there was the old people walking out in disgust :)

[joemccorriston]

fucking love this song, and i believe everything he says, and whoever thinks it is offensive can fuck off because he's stating his own beliefs, you're entitled to your own opinion

[blobblexxx]

You know what's odd about this?

people get offended, but he's simply stating his beliefs - which he assumes are the truth.

Exactly like in hymns - when people sing 'praise the lord' they are assuming there is a god, and that what they believe is true.

It's like the hymn for atheists (the anti-hymn if you will).

You can't claim it's offensive when you do the exact same thing - just with the opposite belief.

[dannelsonuk]

@blobblexxx

fucking well said man.

[Frankturnersbeard]

It's ironic that religious folk can condemn non-religious folk, and it almost seems acceptable, yet if non-religious folk do the same, it's such a big deal. Christians are supposed to be accepting and forgiving but they will not tolerate people who do not believe, and in my experience, even less so than they tolerate people of other faiths. It's a completely insane paradox. Er......well.....that's just my opinion. Oh and Frank Turner rules!

[MrAndyDolan]

Great tune, disagree with the lyrics. Still love him though.

[christiemac1]

I want to see him in the UK so badly because he actually gets to headline. In America he opens for bigger bands and it's very rare that the other people in the audience know him. Just not as much fun

[djthackray]

@christiemac1 I recall him saying that he'll be doing a North American headline tour sometime in 2011, I think before summer.

[meddeyc]

@christiemac1 Reading Festival 2011. Come, It'll set you back around 250 dollars though...

[disorderly06]

@meddeyc He performed at Bonnaroo in the US last year too. I'm hoping he'll come back some day, Reading is quite a drive for some of us.

[grahamsmiththeroad]

Yes :)

[painfulinstrumental]

I love how upbeat this songs is. It could've easily been, for want of better words, preachy and holier-than-thou, but it's really not. It's so positive and has a great message.

And is bloody brilliant live.

[hazzario]

@DJandreIT No...it's about religion, hes an atheist and doesn't like the way religion can be used for so much bad. He's just questioning whether it is necessary in the 21st centuary and maybe how ridiculous it is that people still subscribe to this mythology. Read the lines before you read between them.

[DjAndreiT]

hes a crazy guy ...i think this is not about religion but we are what we believe and we are what we make of what we believe in and hes got the right to state whatever he believes.... as a lyric content i would put frank among bob marley and all the greats cos hes fuckin great ...

[CityOfDoors]

Awesome song, great recording!

[baza73]

controversial! section 58 of terrorism act 2000: inciting hatred?

[saphhome]

@baza73 I think you have your wires crossed, He's an atheist, i'm an atheist. How is that anything to do with the terrosism act. He's stating a fact. He doesn't believe there is a god, heaven and hell, that we make of life what we do. He's not saying anyone is wrong for what they belive. But this is what he believes. Pretty simple really.

[Zakistan]

@saphhome Crap, I just pressed thumbs down by accident, meant to be thumbs up. Had to say something, I feel bad when I'm supporting what ur saying :D

[Archaneus]

@saphhome Well, the implication is that theists are wrong, and it should be, because they are.

[converter7]

@saphhome He's not stating a fact, he is stating his belief. But the rest of yours and his sentiments stand. As a Catholic, i woulndn't feel comfortable singing this song but I'm not offended by it. I think it is great that people can proudly proclaim their beliefs in away that is not anti-anyone, but purely pro-something. Frank Turner is amazing, one of the greatest singer/songwriters England has produced since Billy Bragg.

[jelgerw]

@baza73 doesn't that apply to the US?

Besides that, this is not inciting hatred, this is merely using your freedom of speech. He says there is no god, is that already inciting hate? When religious people say there IS a God, I don't feel like they are trying to incite hate against me and other religious people.

Honestly, a lot of religious people (this is not particullary aimed at baza73) should stop being uptight about comments about no god. It's still the most logical theory that there's no

[HappyRogueStatus]

@baza73 lol wow, i feel sorry for you and your ignorance

[nakedrobz]

@baza73 hahahahah what you fool? against whom?

[Ivhobbs23vI]

@baza73 In that sense the Church is the largest terrorist group to have ever existed

[Bradster91]

I look forward to hearing the studio version of this song on Frank's new album.

[Cidarlollybrown]

I was there too!!! Frank can do no wrong in my book - Great night!!!

[Surfdude16]

Such an awesome gig, frank is never bad. Great new song too

[MoPictures]

I was there! Frank's one of the best live acts!