Day 3 - “Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb” by Lowell Blanchard and the Valley Trio (1950)

Everybody’s worried, about the atomic bomb, but nobody’s worried, ‘bout the day my Lord will come…

The new-found confidence and thankfulness that followed the bomb’s arrival didn’t last for long in American circles, despite Jackie Doll’s best efforts. While it was quite possible to pretend that it wasn’t just a matter of time until the Soviets developed a nuclear weapon of their own, when the USSR tested their bomb in 1949 it soon became clear that nothing would ever be the same again. America was now vulnerable to attack. For the first time, Americans had to face the possibility of the total destruction they had once controlled being turned back against them. As today’s songs concludes, people are now “worried…just like the folks got in Japan”.

The fantastically titled “Jesus Hits Like an Atom Bomb” exhibits this fear of total destruction. The comparison between judgement day and the bomb was a common one (as we’ll see in our final “atomic” song tomorrow) but the bluegrass apocalypticism of Lowell Blanchard’s song attacks exactly this comparison. Fear of total destruction was one thing, but if that fear wasn’t channelled into the right directions, then it was fundamentally meaningless – for Christians, it had to turn individuals towards embracing Christ for their personal salvation. The song records two famous instances of God’s judgement in the Old Testament – the flood of Noah and the fire that consumed the men opposed to Elijah (2 Kings 1:10) – as well as looking forwards to the final fiery destruction of the world in 2 Peter 3: 12; “the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat”. While most in the world might be worrying about the consequences of being fried in a nuclear blast, they should instead fear meeting their maker, whose return to earth would have consequences beyond any atomic explosion.

The songs itself exists in two distinct versions, the first, recorded by Lowell Blanchard and the Valley Trio in 1950.  Blanchard himself was a well-known DJ, who continued in the industry and was inducted into the Country Music Disk Jockey Hall of Fame in 1977.  His version of the song is a slice of apocalyptic angst delivered by a snarling singer with traditional bluegrass accompaniments, including a spoken word history of the development of the bomb, and injections of “Great God Almighty!” and “Yes Lord!” As far as early 1950s evangelising songs go, it’s a classic. Contrast this to the version recorded the following year by “The Pilgrim Travelers”, a well-known gospel group who recorded from the 1930s until the late 1950s, and counted soul legend Lou Rawls amongst their numbers from the middle years of that decade. Filled with beautiful gospel harmonies, their version is significantly more peaceful (and sees a slight restructuring of the verses), but just as angry in its conclusions. It’s probably my favourite of the two, but listen to both on the playlist and make up your own mind.

Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb (L. McCollum, 1950)

Chorus: Everybody's worried 'bout the atomic bomb
But nobody's worried 'bout the day my Lord will come
When he'll hit, great God a-mighty, like an atom bomb
When he comes, when he comes

In nineteen-hundred and forty-five the atom bomb became alive
In nineteen-hundred and forty-nine the USA got very wise
It found a country had crossed the line, had an atom bomb of the very same kind
The people got worried all over the land, just like folks got in Japan

So, I say everybody's worried (yeah) 'bout the atomic bomb
But nobody's worried (no) 'bout the day my Lord will come
When he'll hit, great God a-mighty, like an atom bomb
When he comes, good Lord, when he comes

Chorus

Well now, God told Elijah, he would send down fire, send down fire from on high
He told the brother Noah by the rainbow sign, there'll be no water, but fire in the sky
Now don't get worried, just bear in mind, seek King Jesus and you shall find
Peace, happiness, and joy divine, with my Jesus in your mind

So, I say everybody's worried (yeah) 'bout the atomic bomb
But nobody's worried (no) 'bout the day my Lord will come
When he'll hit, great God a-mighty, like an atom bomb
When he comes, great God, when he comes

Chorus

Listen on Spotify: Apopalypse: Apocalyptic Advent Calendar

Listen on YouTube: 

Lowell Blanchard and the Valley Trio
  

The Pilgrim Travelers

Buy: The Lowell Blanchard version OR The Pilgrim Travelers version.