Lyrics for Laughing With as interpreted by tinylittlewords

Laughing With Lyrics
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they're mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say "We've got some bad new, sir,"
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they've lost all they got and they don't know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one's laughing at God in a hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war

No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God



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  • 125 Comments
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shaylaaajaneee
05-08-2009

Rated 0 
This song is so wonderful!!! Ahhh, I can't wait for the new album.

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Grapple
05-08-2009

Rated 0 
Can't wait for the new album. This song is great.

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lizawithaz
05-08-2009

Rated +1 
Absolutely beautiful. The last bit to me seems to be a bit as if no one's laughing at, they're all laughing with because they're scared it'll be them next.

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1 Reply
HaverchuckTheStud
05-08-2009

Rated +2 
This song kills me, in a good way. It's a great mix of her early styles and newer styles :)

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themosthumancolor
05-08-2009

Rated +2 
I'm not really sure about the meaning yet. I think she's saying that everybody thinks God is so cruel for putting people through all these horrible things. But God can be funny and happy too, just no one remembers that in times of bad.
But that's just what I got from listening to it a few time, I might change my mind later :) But it's amazing and I'm so glad she brought back her old style a little more. It's a little bit of a mix between Songs and Soviet Kitch (Which are my two favorite albums)

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LovePeaceRachel
05-08-2009

Rated +1 
Lovee this song, so much!
I think the whole idea of God, to some people is a joke now a days.
All the Jesus and God jokes and such. And I think most of the song
is talking about how when you're put into serious situations like those,
you're not laughing anymore, what do you turn to?
But yeah I think she's also acknowledging God has a sense of humor, which is
very true.
I just loveee me some Reginaa <3

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1 Reply
lastchance1399
05-08-2009

Rated 0 
i seriously love this song.

in this chorus-ish part though i think she sings:

"God can be funny
when told they'll give you money if you'd just pray the right way
and when presented like a genie who does magic like a beanie
or conjures up jimminy cricket or santa claus
God can be so hilarious"

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LovePeaceRachel
05-08-2009

Rated 0 
Anyone know if Regina's actually religious?
Or what she is?

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1 Reply
GoodbyeGorgeous
05-08-2009

Rated 0 
She's Jewish, LovePeaceRachel.

AHHHH. This is so exciting.

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1 Reply
carbonated_pears
05-08-2009

Rated 0 
Regina is Jewish.

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Cherished
05-08-2009

Rated 0 
I think this is kind of a jab to all of us who have ever scoffed at the idea of an almighty god, then with the same breath turn around and prayed..

to God..

And it's empty, of course, but the question is what's so wrong about trying?

You can't believe and not believe, you can't choose to one minute laugh at a God existing, and then the next minute to pray to Him and hope that everything's gonna be all right.

The other part of this song, mainly the chorus, I think is Regina poking fun at all of those that find religion so materialistic...all the bible thumpers, all the people that use God as an excuse for all the wrong reasons.

I think...in total...this song could be like saying "don't become so hateful that you have no one left to turn to other than God because all you'll find is contempt."

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12 Replies
ReSpekt
05-08-2009

Rated +1 
Everyone so far is saying that they love this new song, and I am one to agree.

But there doesn't seem to be much interpretation going on! So I'll go for a try.

I see two possible major meaning themes that Regina may have had in mind for this song.

The first is something that I do not see Regina doing, based upon her previous music. It goes along the lines of we should always "laugh with g-d" (as the last line says we are), for he has the ultimate power over our lives and our decisions.

The second, and I believe more plausible option, questions the fact that we are never "laughing at g-d" when we are put into unpleasant situations. "Why not laugh?", she may be asking. Life itself is such an ephemeral thing, and many of us take it far too seriously. We see death, we see destruction, and we squirm. Why should these things matter anyway? We are all but grains of sand laying on the beach, and no matter what, at some point, we will all get stepped on, and, possibly at a separate time, we will all be washed to the sea. Regina may be questioning the fact that we look for a positive ending in others' lives, for we know that all lives end anyway. This particular interpretation is egged on by the fact that the final chord resolves in this song, unlike the rest of the song, and unlike may of Regina's other songs. She may be questioning the fact that we are all looking for a resolution: the truth is it is rather impossible for us to find one.

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2 Replies
AlecsPen
05-08-2009

Rated 0 
Damn I love Regina.

The song holds such a meaning to me already. The lyrics all relate something I've been thinking about for a while.

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crumbs
05-08-2009

Rated +2 
I'm really amazed at how salient this religious aspect is within this song. It's quite cool!! and refreshing and unexpected, when so much other stuff out there is just lust and cheapness. But this is Regina!!

I agree with LovePeaceRachel and will say I definetley thinks this song is a representation of how people mock and laugh at God, taking him and the afterlife as a joke and non existent. Until something wrong happens and we realise that we're all really so vulnerable and affected by everything.
Pretty simple reading but I reckon it's great Regina's written a song on it.
So excited for Far!!



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lovebee
05-09-2009

Rated +6 
I don't think this song is necessarily as pro-god as some people have suggested. I think it's more about human attitudes to god and religion than being about god himself.

The chorus is about the ridiculous perversions and commercialisations of religion, and how laughable the whole thing gets - all the paraphernalia, all the hatred it sparks, all the bullshit.

And then the verses are about the little jump of terror in your heart when you're staring something awful in the face and for a second you really wish someone was there to save you or help you - or you just wish that things were somehow in somebody's control, when in fact they really aren't. I think it's that primal terror in all of us that continues to give religion so much power despite all the ridiculous aspects of it.

I think that's what this song is about - what it is in people's hearts that makes them accept all the stupid parts of god, and why people just laugh at the ridiculous parts without ever rejecting religion. We'd rather be 'in on the joke', laughing with god, clinging to things that deep down we're not 100% sure are true, because the idea that we're all alone is too scary to bear.

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3 Replies
lovebee
05-09-2009

Rated 0 
Further to my post above, I'd just like to clarify that I don't think this song is anti-god. I don't think it's judgmental either way - I think it's more of a bittersweet, ambivalent observation on the human condition, like so much of Regina's work. It's beautiful.

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mli
05-09-2009

Rated 0 
I agree with some of you, and not with others.

I think people are laughing and making jokes about God. Saying he hates us and doesn't exist. Dismissing him like he was Santa Claus.
But when things in life are hard we're not laughing anymore. Then everyone go "nonono. No, we're not laughing AT you. We're laughing WITH you." You know, like everyone says even if they don't mean it. That's one of the lamest statements ever. You know, when you screw up and you know they're laughing at you and the bring on the WITH. So annoying. Just admitting it instead would be better.

I don't wanna put anything else in it; like what she thinks about it. I just think that she says that "this is the way it is, and this is how people usually react". And it's true.

I really like the first "ha ha". She sounds like she really doesn't want to laugh.

This song reminds me of Hero and Buildings, but it's darker.


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mojohojo
05-10-2009

Rated 0 
To me i thought this song was about today's society's view on religion. Many people today are not religious or ever think about God when they have a great life ie. making decent money, partying with friends, superficial activities.
but when something serious happens, a death, sadness, loneliness; only then will they think of God. isn't this how a lot of people become religious? when their life is in turmoil.

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1 Reply
midouw
05-10-2009

Rated 0 
Yeah i think it's about how some people only believe in god when they need something, but when they are ok god is not something to think about, or even take serious. I was expecting something deeper from Regina, but i still like this song. :)

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bostonrocket
05-11-2009

Rated 0 
Hmm... I have always thought that Regina is not Jewish and instead is a closet rationalist, but now I think I'm wrong. I think this because although some think it is neither pro-God/anti-God, it seems to me that this song clearly has a pro-Religious slant. Oh well... truth, logic, and rational thought could use a check and balance... maybe... I guess...

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2 Replies
saythisismine
05-13-2009

Rated 0 
I agree mostly with lovebee.

When I first heard this song, I actually interpreted it being a little bitter towards god.
I don't see this song pointing out that people turn to god when times get hard,
I see it saying that God is the one who actually causes the times to be hard, he is the one that does and allows all the things that follow the line "no one laughs at god when..."

and then the last line and chorus is just saying in exasperation that it's all just crazy.

I think she has a bit of an agnostic slant to her, and this was a way of letting out all the things she doesn't understand but she's trying to keep her chin up.


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kc155803
05-15-2009

Rated 0 
I definitely think this is about how everyone is so quick to laugh at religion and make fun of religious people and people who believe in God, but once they're in a situation where they feel like no one can help them, then their whole mindset changes.

I think the last line "We're all laughing with God" is like little kids, when they're making fun of someone and they try to cover up by saying, "we weren't laughing AT you, we were laughing WITH you."
like "Oh, God, I wasn't laughing AT you, now that I need your help and I'm scared, I was laughing WITH you."

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2 Replies
kc155803
05-15-2009

Rated +1 
I honestly started crying really hard the first time I heard this.

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1 Reply
sheela_l
05-15-2009

Rated 0 
Look at the way the chorus is placed after the verses that seem to say "there are no atheists in foxholes". It's meant to contrast. I think the "crazies are crazy" line is the one meant to be heard. The way the song is upbeat. I don't think Regina's intention was straight-forward.

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songstodiscuss
05-17-2009

Rated 0 
i think so far i disagree with lovebee and agree with kc155803 about the interpretation of this song.

gah, it is so powerful and dark and upsetting and stirring..i can hardly stand it. regina is a fabulous.

i definitely agree the childlike "we're not laughing at you..we're laughing WITH you" idea that a lot of people are bringing to the discussion. it seems like a pretty strong reason for her to name the song "laughing with"...as a clarification that, -wait a second, god, we're laughing WITH you. don't get all vengeful on us!- because people really are like little children, making games and jokes out of everything...but then when it comes down to the serious stuff of life, we're all incredibly scared of our lack of power, and the fact that there could be a god who is controlling all of this...scared of what that power could to do us. so the whole "we're only laughing WITH you" is kind of a bail out we use when we realize -uh oh...we don't have control and he does and we might need him.-

i just heard the song and read the lyrics 10 minutes ago, so these thoughts aren't developed ones in the least...but just initial reactions...

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