The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
When the President talks to God,
Are the conversations brief or long?
Does he ask to to rape our women's rights?
And send poor farm kids off to die?
Does God suggest an oil hike?
When the President talks to God?
When the President talks to God,
Are the consonants all hard or soft?
Is he resolute on down the line?
Is every issue black or white?
Does what God say ever change his mind?
When the President talks to God?
When the President talks to God,
Does he fake that drawl or merely nod?
Agree which convicts should be killed?
Where prisons should be built and filled?
Which voter fraud must be concealed?
When the President talks to God?
When the President talks to God,
I wonder which one plays the better cop?
"We should find some jobs the ghetto's broke",
"No they're lazy George I say we don't,
Just give em' more liquor stores and dirty coke",
That's what God recommends.
When the President talks to God,
Do they drink near beer and go play golf?
While they pick which countries to invade,
Which Muslim souls still can be saved?
I guess God just calls a spade a spade,
When the President talks to God?
When the President talks to God,
Does he ever think that maybe He's not?
That that voice is just inside his head?
When he kneels next to the Presidential bed,
Does he ever smell his own bullshit?
When the President talks to God?
I doubt it.
Are the conversations brief or long?
Does he ask to to rape our women's rights?
And send poor farm kids off to die?
Does God suggest an oil hike?
When the President talks to God?
When the President talks to God,
Are the consonants all hard or soft?
Is he resolute on down the line?
Is every issue black or white?
Does what God say ever change his mind?
When the President talks to God?
When the President talks to God,
Does he fake that drawl or merely nod?
Agree which convicts should be killed?
Where prisons should be built and filled?
Which voter fraud must be concealed?
When the President talks to God?
When the President talks to God,
I wonder which one plays the better cop?
"We should find some jobs the ghetto's broke",
"No they're lazy George I say we don't,
Just give em' more liquor stores and dirty coke",
That's what God recommends.
When the President talks to God,
Do they drink near beer and go play golf?
While they pick which countries to invade,
Which Muslim souls still can be saved?
I guess God just calls a spade a spade,
When the President talks to God?
When the President talks to God,
Does he ever think that maybe He's not?
That that voice is just inside his head?
When he kneels next to the Presidential bed,
Does he ever smell his own bullshit?
When the President talks to God?
I doubt it.
Lyrics submitted by black eye event
When the President Talks to God Lyrics as written by Oberst
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Well, I remember someone talking about the song's lack of interesting guitar lines or something, although I'm too lazy to recall who, exactly, I have something moderately important to say to that. Because Bright Eyes' and Conor Oberst's music is very folkish (hence why they compare him to folk legend Bob Dylan), the songs tend to be simple because that's just folk music, you know? Things are supposed to be kept simple, clean and fresh, just how folk has always been. It doesn't need fancy guitar riffs and challenging vocals because it's more poetry than anything else. I almost consider Conor Oberst as more of a writer-type icon than anything else; his music is just a nice addition to his breath taking writing.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh GWB, we won't miss you one bit.
I just saw bright eyes play this last night..amazing.
I saw Bright Eyes last night, at The Phoenix in Toronto. Conor & the band did a phenomenal job on this one.
what album is this song on?
first day of my life
i'm pretty sure it's not on an album yet. he's just playing it live for now. i can say one thing. this song fucking got to me. he sang it with so much emotion.
thanks
"will the president recommend an oil hike" is supposed to be "does god suggest an oil hike"
But either way this song is fucking amazing
PS you can download this one for free from the iTunes music store today
he sings "will the president recommend an oil hike" in the live version i have. its both i guess depending