In my previous post, I noted that I hate country songs that reference Jesus. However, it would have been more accurate to say that I hate country, pop, whatever songs that openly reference religions as a means of praise.

That should be left to the contemporary Christian artists and worship leaders. The minute that gets intermingled into popular music, I think, a line has been crossed.

However, reason I write this is because I never meant I didn't like the metaphorical use of religion within lyrics. Hell -- pun intended -- I got my highest marks from the folks at TAXI three years ago on a tune I wrote called "Pray," in which the storyline centered on a dude who was so pained by his divorce that he was led to faith as a means of desperation.

I used to believe in a school of thought

that divine intervention couldn't cure what I got

But I left it in higher hands

cause I soon realized God has a plan

And i know that society gets a little suspicious

when we get down on our knees

Whoever reviewed my demo loved the heck out of it, lyrically. Perhaps, one would have to hear the music that goes with it.

Nevertheless, there is a country song -- an actual popular one as opposed to the cassette tapes I have laid away here at the house -- that is a brilliant use of religion as a metaphor. It's Rodney Atkins' "If You're Going Through Hell," and it not only centers on hell as a spiritual domain, but it mechanically references it like one would a town.

If you're going through hell

Keep on going, Don't slow down

If you're scared, don't show it

You might get out

Before the devil even knows you're there

It's at once good and bad that country music is so known by its lyricists' willingness to turn phrases and meanings for the sake of easy wonderment on the part of listeners like me. However, most of the bad is overshadowed by masterful wordsmithing.

The part of country writing I never could deal with is the constant writing and rewriting. My issue was only with the latter. The process is so formulaic and so without room for spontaneity or, hell, I'll say it -- art -- that I wouldn't be able to deal with it for too long.

That's not to say there aren't millions of artful country songs. There are. However, turning on your typical new country music station ain't gonna deliver those more than about a third of the time. You'll have to pay attention to deep album cuts, starving songwriters, Americana stations and Time-Life albums for those.