Tryin' to Get to Heaven That Way : Mysticism and Eroticism in Soul Music

Abstract

The author analyzes the blending of sacred and sexual themes in the soul music of Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, and Al Green, and compares soul music to the Sufi poetry of Rumi and others to show how the erotic impulses of Soul Music and the spiritual aspects of Gospel Music can share the same transcendent, mystical elements.