Steve Martin Sings An Atheist Gospel Song (VIDEO)

Over the last few months, Steve Martin has reminded us why he's regarded as one of the most inventive and hilarious comedians of all time. He recently launched a wild and crazy Twitter account, and his recent tour (in which he's performing bluegrass on the banjo) gave him the excuse to "leak" his very specific rider.

One of the stops on that tour was the venerable live music program Austin City Limits, and Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, a vocal quartet, performed an original composition. Lamenting that religious people have the best music, they decry the fact that nonreligious people are left in the proverbial dust when it comes to music proclaiming their beliefs. Check out the performance of "Atheists Don't Have No Songs" below.

WATCH:

Comments

[AZterritory]

05:19 PM on 11/14/2010

Mmm, just found this. Terrific. Loved his last album with them "The Crow."

[natashastar]

10:22 AM on 11/14/2010

Steve Martin is just a poor little black boy with two jobs courting Roxanna and trying to get Lilly Tomlin out of a bowl into a horse while taking a Leap of Faith. Keep on clickin Stevie

[pammiethekid]

08:06 PM on 11/13/2010

what a load of nothing but pure fun! Go Steve, go Steep Canyon Rangers. Gotta love em!

[MyrtleJune]

01:21 PM on 11/13/2010

Steep Canyon Rangers are not "a vocal quartet". They ARE on of the hotest bluegrass bands out there! Their vocals are just one of their many talents. They are also one of the main reasons Steve Martin has rejoined his roots in music!

I love this song and that whole ACL show was just spectacular!

[Js420]

08:50 AM on 11/13/2010

Sundays = Football

[Sportsbabe]

09:48 PM on 11/12/2010

Brilliant!!!!!

[Angie Daniels]

04:54 PM on 11/12/2010

I love Steve Martin.

[cameron d]

12:33 PM on 11/12/2010

I'm so glad the real Steve Martin came back. I was really getting tired of that unfunny hack who kidnapped him and stole his career during the 90's and 00's.

Great to have you back, Mr. Martin. Just no more Pink Panther or Cheaper By the Dozen movies, OK?

[Herkv]

11:47 AM on 11/12/2010

It's not true, of course. Atheists have lots of songs, and a lot of songs were written by non-believers (such as White Christmas, and that lovely Over-the-River and Through-the-Woods). We have XTC's "Dear God," which includes, "I don't believe in you." Sarah Mclachlan did a cover of that one. There's Tim Minchin's "White Wine in the Sun," a beautiful song about celebrating Christmas without the superstitious parts. There are a great number of songs by Dan Barker, a former Christian singer. There are many pop songs sung by non-believers, though they may not have atheist in the lyrics, such as "Know Your Enemy." REM, "Losing My Religion."

I also sometimes interpret non-atheist songs as being potential atheist songs, such as Styx's "Show Me the Way," which certainly sounds like someone who isn't having much luck trying to be religious.

And certainly, let's not forget the beautiful "Imagine," from John Lennon.

[Angie Daniels]

04:54 PM on 11/12/2010

Uh, lighten up.

[brahdog]

03:23 AM on 11/14/2010

"i'll follow you into the dark" - beautiful atheist love song by death cab for cutie

"nothing" - depeche mode

all of bjork, really

[sandystranger]

11:33 AM on 11/12/2010

I call myself an atheist for lack of a better term. The truth is, if God actually appeared before me, it would make no difference in the way I conduct my life. I have no need for a patriarchal authority figure nor do I consider anyone my superior.

[DSOTM]

09:43 AM on 11/12/2010

Steve Martin, still funny after all these years.

[SolarArray]

01:06 AM on 11/12/2010

Being an atheist is great!

[onwisconsin]

12:19 AM on 11/12/2010

As an atheist, I find that funny. Of course, I also enjoy plenty of "religious" art and music too, from all areas of the world. My first love will always be music and much of the world's music has been written to express faith. I can see and feel the beauty in that without needing to believe in the deity. I understand what is meant by the soul without believing in an eternal soul that lives on after my death.

Too much seriousness.

Steve Martin's a hoot.

[Allez18]

10:33 PM on 11/11/2010

Steve Martin becoming a renowned musician, probably the best thing that’s happened to this country ever

[Thomas Harrison]

10:09 PM on 11/11/2010

I was in atheist church this morning. I woke up, packed a bowl of medical, put on Cee Lo Green's new song (http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/365068/november-09-2010/cee-lo-green---f--k-you), and danced around the house worshipping no God. It was a religious experience:))

[Js420]

08:55 AM on 11/13/2010

Im having a bowl for breakfast on this beautiful Sat a.m..