WILL THAULT: Top 30 Unintentional Hymns

By Will Thault
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Frequent Albany Herald columnist Will Thault wrote a column recently on songs that either in verse or scope were “unintentionally spiritual.” Here he takes that concept a step further:

Title & Performing Artist

In order to appreciate the unintentional messages found in these songs, you’ll have to shift your focus away from their worldly meanings toward more spiritual ones. Listen with new ears and find a whole new way of appreciating these popular classics.

1. Devoted to You — Linda Ronstadt

2. You’ve Got a Friend — Carole King

3. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) — James Taylor

4. I Can See Clearly Now — Johnny Nash

5. Haven’t Got Time for the Pain — Carly Simon

6. Bridge Over Troubled Water — Simon & Garfunkel

7. Home — Phillip Phillips

8. Follow Me — John Denver

9. The Long and Winding Road — The Beatles

10. (You’re Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher — Jackie Wilson

11. Kind & Generous — Natilie Merchant

12. For Once in My Life — Stevie Wonder

13. The Wind — Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens

14. No More Lonely Nights — Paul McCartney

15. Never Alone — Barlow Girl

16. Let ‘Em In — Wings

17. Feels Like Home — Bonnie Raitt

18. Morning Has Broken — Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens

19. Sunshine on My Shoulders — John Denver

20. Lovely Day — Bill Withers

21. Perhaps Love — John Denver

22. What the World Needs Now is Love — Jackie DeShannon

23. All You Need Is Love — The Beatles

24. So Easy — Phillip Phillips

25. Handy Man — James Taylor

26. Have a Little Faith in Me — Mandy Moore

27. You Needed Me — Anne Murray

28. Soldier — Craig Morgan

29. The Wood Song — Indigo Girls

30. Heart of Gold — Neil Young

Honorable mentions: Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) — The Byrds; The Prayer — Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli; Spirit in the Sky — Norman Greenbaum

There are countless more songs that could easily be added to this list. Suggestions are welcome.

Staff File Photo: Carlton Fletcher

Will Thault is a retired Albany businessman whose travels have led him to many memorable adventures.