Personal Jesus

So have you ever thought about making someone into your own personal Jesus?

Apparently Martin Gore of Depeche Mode fame did. The song, Personal Jesus, was inspired by the relationship between Priscilla Presley and Elvis Presley as detailed in the book Elvis and Me.
In an article published in Spin Magazine Gore stated, “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?"

I agree….it’s not a balanced view of someone, but I love the song and I like Depeche Mode.

Some of the adjectives used to describe Depeche Mode is successful, influential, and longest lived for bands that emerged from the early 80s.

The marketing campaign for the song, Personal Jesus, is pretty interesting. Advertisements were placed in the personal columns of UK regional newspapers with the words “Your own personal Jesus” and a phone number was provided. When the number was called folks heard the song.

The song has been covered by many including Marilyn Manson and Johnny Cash.

Here are the lyrics:

Reach out and touch faith

Your own person 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 a 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 and 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
I will deliver
You know I’m a forgiver

Reach out and touch faith

Your own personal Jesus

Reach out and touch faith


The official website for Depeche Mode can be found here