Another week, and we have another hit on the Billboard Country Charts for review in this series on the Top of the Country–this week, Shaboozey and Jelly Roll’s song “Amen.”
The grumpy old man in me would like to comment on the names “Shaboozey”, “Jelly Roll”, and “7Lemons” all appearing in the same video, but in an inverse Toby Keith I won’t let the old man out. Not least because Shaboozey and Jelly Roll are both fantastic performers with meaningful stories behind their stage names which you should absolutely look up (I can’t speak for 7Lemons).
Released in 2025, this song hit number 1 on the charts almost certainly because of its Grammy win bringing it wider attention (which is not to say that it doesn’t deserve the number 1 spot!).
The song is an interesting one. Without much of a plot, instead it is the scattered plea of someone in need of prayer, aware of his (almost certainly “his”) need for prayer, and unable to do much besides ask for prayer. Country music resonates with such songs–Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel” probably being the example most easily at hand.
Obviously this song is going to be of interest to Christians. We also are in need of prayer, and (should, anyway) recognize our helplessness in the face of our sin and our need of rescue by someone outside of ourselves. We have more hope than is offered in this song, but it is still a good place to start.
Dr. Coyle Neal co-hosts the City of Man Podcast and is an Amazon Associate (which is linked in this blog). He teaches Political Science, Philosophy, and History in Southwest Missouri.
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