10 Famous 70s Hits You Forgot Were Secretly About God

00:00 Intro 01:11 #10 Day by Day — Godspell Cast (1972) 03:00 #9 Jesus Is Just Alright — The Doobie Brothers (1973) 04:47 #8 Oh Happy Day — The Edwin Hawkins Singers (1970) 06:21 #7 I Don't Know How to Love Him — Yvonne Elliman (1971) 08:00 #6 Knockin' on Heaven's Door — Bob Dylan (1973) 09:49 #5 Morning Has Broken — Cat Stevens (1972) 11:30 #4 Fire and Rain — James Taylor (1970) 13:14 #3 American Pie — Don McLean (1971) 15:11 #2 Bridge Over Troubled Water — Simon and Garfunkel (1970) 16:55 #1 My Sweet Lord — George Harrison (1970) 19:04 Outro This video tells the true stories behind ten beloved hits from the 1970s that were secretly about God, the songs you sang along to for years without realizing what they were really saying. The faith was hiding in plain sight all along. Each entry covers where the song came from, the message buried in the lyrics, and how it climbed the charts. What's covered in this video: Day by Day by the Godspell Cast (1972) came from the hit musical and set a 13th-century prayer to a soft pop melody. Many radio listeners never realized the gentle tune was actually a centuries-old devotional. Jesus Is Just Alright by the Doobie Brothers (1973) turned an old gospel number into a rock radio staple. The harmonies were so catchy that fans sang along for years without clocking the plainly spiritual message. Oh Happy Day by the Edwin Hawkins Singers (1970) reworked an 18th-century hymn into a soulful crossover smash that hit #4. It opened the door for gospel on pop radio while listeners danced to a hymn. I Don't Know How to Love Him by Yvonne Elliman (1971) came from Jesus Christ Superstar, sung in character by Mary Magdalene. On the radio, it sounded like an ordinary love song rather than a number about Christ. Knockin' on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan (1973) was written for a film, voicing a wounded lawman in his final scene. The quiet refrain about reaching heaven's door became one of rock's most covered spiritual songs. Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens (1972) was a 1931 Christian hymn he turned into a top-10 hit. With its sweeping piano, most listeners heard a pretty nature song and missed that every line praises creation. Fire and Rain by James Taylor (1970) is a confessional ballad whose second verse calls out directly to Jesus for help through hard times. The plea is right there, yet many hear only a mellow folk classic. American Pie by Don McLean (1971) weaves the father, son, and holy ghost into its sprawling story of music and change. The #1 epic is packed with religious imagery that casual singers rarely stop to decode. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel (1970) was shaped by gospel music into a hymn-like promise of comfort. Many treat it as a love song, but its roots and tone run deeply spiritual. My Sweet Lord by George Harrison (1970) was the first solo Beatle #1 and an open declaration of devotion. He blended Hallelujah and Hare Krishna to show how much the world's faiths share at heart. Mentioned in this video: Day by Day, Godspell, Stephen Schwartz, John-Michael Tebelak, Robin Lamont, Jesus Is Just Alright, the Doobie Brothers, Art Reynolds, the Art Reynolds Singers, the Byrds, Tom Johnston, Oh Happy Day, the Edwin Hawkins Singers, Dorothy Combs Morrison, Philip Doddridge, I Don't Know How to Love Him, Yvonne Elliman, Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Helen Reddy, Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Bob Dylan, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Sam Peckinpah, Slim Pickens, Katy Jurado, Eric Clapton, Guns N' Roses, Morning Has Broken, Cat Stevens, Eleanor Farjeon, Rick Wakeman, Fire and Rain, James Taylor, Carole King, American Pie, Don McLean, Buddy Holly, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, the Swan Silvertones, My Sweet Lord, George Harrison, the Beatles, Swami Prabhupada, the Chiffons, Billboard Hot 100. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All music clips and visual material used in this video are the property of their respective owners and are used here for commentary, criticism, and educational purposes only. This channel is independently produced with no connection to any artists, bands, or record labels featured.