Most songs about obedience are anchored in Christian themes, pledging their obedience to God’s word and so on. But not all of them are clouded in this concept.
Our playlist of songs about obedience covers it all, whether you’re struggling with a dishonest, unfaithful partner or lashing out at the system imprisoning you in mindless obedience.
Songs About Obedience
1. David & Nicole Binion ft. MDSN – Yes
This Christian pop song cleverly disguises its true form until its chorus, parading as a love letter to a boyfriend, a family member, or any real-life figure you trust with your whole being.
The lyrics beautifully pledge obedience to the person you love, whether you choose to focus your energy towards their Christian meaning, or upon the sentiment of trust threaded brightly throughout the song;
“Laying my feelings down, you are my solid ground, I’m breathing to seek your face, the treasure I can’t replace… Anything for you, anywhere with you, Jesus, I offer obedience.”
Yes steps far away from the cringy sound expected from the Christian music genre, and could easily be mistaken for something off the Top 40 charts.
2. Upon This Dawning – OBEY
Upon This Dawning’s 2014 track Obey blends atmospheric Gothicism with heart-pounding death metal elements, interspersed with a melodic chorus crafted in polar contrast to the nourishing distortions which command the verse.
Upon This Dawning’s energy is as intense and captivating as an intimate live performance, their guttural lyrics searing like a hot blade through the track, creating a piece for anyone disdainful of mankind’s evacuation from independent thought.
This track takes the opposite approach to our concept, scornfully criticising those who follow blindly in obedience.
While this song can be interpreted as an anthem of anti-religion, its message of self-empowerment transfers to any occasion of sheep-like loyalty to a controlling entity, whether it’s God or the government;
“What will you do when you’re alone, and you realise everything is gone … Why’ve you not had enough of being treated like f****** slaves, you’re just another one that obeys with nothing to say.”
3. Crusher-p – Obey
Crusher-P’s quirky track Obey harnesses the sound of retro video games, its pixelated audio stylistically crafted to be almost heartlessly mechanical to drive home their dominating order for obedience.
The lyrics take the form of a strange character; a robotic overlord Queen ordering the obedience of her subjects; “I am considered merciful for my status as a queen, everything is just how it should be… There will be no revolution, I clearly have no time for that, nor your petty plans to overthrow me.”
4. Bring Me The Horizon ft. YUNGBLUD – Obey
Bring Me The Horizon & Yungblud craft their 2020 hit Obey around the theme of the New World Order, deep-rooted political corruption and mind control that keeps modern society chained thoughtlessly to perpetual obedience.
They write their chorus from the perspective of shadowy multi-billionaires pulling the strings of the West, keeping their civilians in a subtle state of fear, emptiness and stagnation;
“Obey, we hope you have a lovely day… There’s nothing to see here, it’s under control, we’re only gambling with your soul.. Just don’t wake up and smell the corruption..”
This nu-metal style track is swarmed with addictive industrial elements mimicking the dominating mechanical nature of society, its chorus highlighted with a searing synth sound conjuring a pure sense of horror within the mix.
5. Keith Green – To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice
Keith Green’s 1978 track To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice roots its inspiration in the Bible verse 1 Samuel 15:22, whilst lending his song to a story of heartbreak.
Keith illustrates a tale of a man realising that it’s time to leave his woman behind as time tests the strength of their commitment.
However, this track is actually spoken from the perspective of God, asking mankind why he expects so much whilst believing so little in return;
“To obey is better than sacrifice, I don’t need your money, I want your life, and I hear you say that I’m coming back soon, but you act like I’ll never return … ‘cause if you can’t come to me every day, then don’t bother coming at all.”
This track draws a distinct and interesting link between the commitment of unconditional obedience and loyalty within a romantic relationship and the devout, unfaltering loyalty expected within religion.
6. Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Tyga – Loyal
Chris Brown’s 2014 hit, Loyal, twists the obedience concept inside out, demonstrating his perceived lack of loyalty in the women he’s around.
His iconic chorus, “These hoes ain’t loyal” comes padded with lucid descriptions of unfaithfulness, painting women in the same sleazy light they often display men in, “Why give a bitch your heart when she’d rather have a purse? Why give a bitch an inch when she’d rather have nine?”
Chris hilariously and unwittingly summons pure Dr Seuss energy in his resounding verse, “Just got rich, took a broke n****’s bitch, I can make a broke bitch rich, but I don’t f*** with broke bitches.”
7. Duke Dumont – Obey
Duke Dumont’s 2020 track Obey is an obscure club anthem centred around themes of tyrannical control and the escapist society we are compelled to enjoy.
Duke Dumont’s synth hook is absolutely wild and infectious, creating an ambience which is as artfully suffocating as the oppression their lyrics imply.
Obey holds a simple but magnificent verse, echoing with a plethora of strange frequencies like a mantra of mind control, backlit by a commanding voice reminiscent of a disco dictator; “We sleep, we dream, they hear everything, don’t think, just buy, obey, obey.”
8. Sage Francis – Civil Obedience
This hip hop track by Sage Francis has a hypnotic flow and a strangely peaceful, melodic atmosphere which evolves beautifully beneath its hurtling lyrics.
Interwoven with theatricality, Civil Obedience is more than your average rap track, harbouring a multitude of quirky inspirations within its captivating soundscape.
Civil Obedience details the lifestyle of a man, taking it in completely the opposite direction to what is usually portrayed in rap music.
The narrator is a guinea pig of the system, working a menial job and thriving in his tunnel-vision mindset of obedience to societal expectations, rather than breaking away from the system, using the rapper’ common technique of turning to fame and luxury.
Between work, the narrator sinks desperately into sexual escapism as if it will break the monotony and ceaseless agony of the truth of his situation; a bold contrast to the track’s infectious groove.