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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dancerrrbabeee
11-16-2009

Rated 0 
my thought is that she means when we are in situation..."starving, freezing, so very poor, kids not back from the party yet" we're not making jokes about god and stuff b/c we need him..."But God can be funny At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke" i think this means like, atheists are always making jokes about god and they laugh till they get really red and look like they're bout to choke. but its definitely about ppl making jokes about god then when they really need him, they like, act all opposite...beautiful song


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MyInnerDemon
11-09-2009

Rated 0 
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" yes there are the people who have lost all hope and faith are the ones laughing the hardest even when it hurst cause its the only thing that lets us know were akive


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EzFrecuencia
11-03-2009

Rated 0 
hello everybody

i think that the chorus is what gives a different sense to the song. for me, it means that facts about god are funny, but when we are in troubles, we need something bigger than us to go ahead. it's almost instintive. and when everything is under control again, we look back and laugh about what we thought.

but, this song can be interpreted in different ways. people that believes in god will see this songs as a "pro-god", and atheist will think it is a "laughing at god" song.

And that is the beautiful thing about regina's lyrics, they can be interpreted in many different ways

I hope not to offend sensibilities with my interpretation of the song


best wishes for all of you and regina!

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itsallgood1227
10-28-2009

Rated 0 
It means simply...

People are sarcastic towards God,
or "Laughing at him"...
But what about when they're in trouble,
or they need help?
No one's laughing then,
then we learn to "Laugh with God"

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midnyterain
10-26-2009

Rated 0 
I find it funny how everyone interprets this song differently depending on their religious beliefs. I feel like Regina is more of an observer than a preacher, so this song is more of an observation than a creed.
The verses are all tragedy, and about how people turn to God and take him seriously during times of hardship, danger, and illness.
But the same person can turn around and make jokes about God, laugh at religious zealots, and people believe God's like a genie or Santa (because he's not, and that should really be obvious to anyone who has ever prayed). This isn't a bad thing, she says. We aren't really laughing at God when this happens, we are laughing with God. She means that God must be laughing too, because these things that people say about him are genuinely funny. It's not offensive to make a joke about God. God doesn't mind it if we make fun of those bible thumpers who tell us we're all going to hell or people who think he's a wish-granter because they are wrong and have been mislead.
But strung throughout all of this is the tragedy of everyday life, small tragedies and big ones. Those things aren't funny, and we need to believe in God in those times.

Maybe I interpret this way because for the past 6 months I have been somewhat cynical about God and organized religion. But recently my friend had a massive heart attack (she survived and got a heart transplant) and you can bet I have started praying like nobody's business. I first heard this song after her heart attack and started to sob. Although melodically I don't think it's Regina's best, I still love this song and it makes me tear up a little bit every time.

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Gubbedigubb
10-25-2009

Rated 0 
For me this song was definitely about the psychological factors that form the basis for the belief in God. It's basically a human weakness to turn to a "higher power" when we're in unfortunate circumstances - when we're afraid. And when everything is alright, we don't care or focus about anything higher than ourselves - because we don't need it.

I don't think this says anything at all about the validity of belief in God. It says that we're most often chickens when we're pushed over the limit - and shout to God.

God doesn't exist in either situation.

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carissam
10-23-2009

Rated 0 
I think she's poking fun at secularism, emphasizing that people who have faced real pain and hardship in their lives often have (or seek) God in(to)their lives for strength, confident that together they can overcome any obstacles or burdens in this life. You and God will laugh together with joy and relief in celebration when your earthly hardships are shed and you are welcomed into Heaven.

Just my two cents, and it took a lot of listens to come up with this interpretation.

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annieegirl
10-21-2009

Rated 0 
I think this song is about how people don't really think of God until something bad happens. Like they arn't afraid until they are at his mercy. Like during a war, people are suddenly praying for things to get better. When things are great they never just pray and thank God. They just wait until something bad happens..or till they need something like money.

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sarahk41234
10-19-2009

Rated 0 
Looking at some of the comments, it seems like everyone is interpreting this song based on what their beliefs already are. I may be judging wrong, but it becomes quite apparent who the atheists and theists are. I just find it interesting.
Anyway, looking at this song objectively, I don't believe Regina is trying to express any of her own religious views in this song, and if you're able to step outside of your own views then the meaning changes a little. When I first heard this song, I loved it. I'm a Christian, and I automatically took a Christian view on the meaning of the lyrics. But after actually reading them over, Regina is simply observing American society from a third person perspective. I agree with those saying it's neither pro- nor anti-God or religion, it's just a simple fact that people confidently joke about certain issues, but as soon as their faced with something that challenges them, their laughter stops and they try to cover their asses.

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david64
10-18-2009

Rated 0 
this song is chilling

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KitKat2545
10-12-2009

Rated 0 
I think this song is about the fact that the only time people look to god is when there is something bad going on in their lives. But when their life is fine they dont even care about him and they do stuff to disappoint him.

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melodyfreak101
09-29-2009

Rated 0 
Oh, I spelled atheist wrong. :-)

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melodyfreak101
09-29-2009

Rated 0 
Oh yeah, and one time I played this song for my friend, and after two verses, she was like, "Not the best song," and I was thinking in my head, you better be damn kidding before I slap that smirk off your face. But my friend is athiest. She's also thirteen, and atheist. Yeah.

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melodyfreak101
09-29-2009

Rated 0 
I love this song, it's so amazingly true. The comments on youtube from the vid, they made me want to pull my hair out. I think the real meaning of this song is that many people doubt that God is real, that he really exists, they poke fun, and make jokes, but then he does something to show them he's really out there, and they're not laughing anymore. A lot of people think that this song is an insult to some people who don't believe in God, but I think those people should actually stop thinking about themselves, get out of their own little world, and realize that when Regina wrote this song, she probably wasn't really thinking about what other people were going to think (I'm also sure that she doesn't really care what other people think) about her music. She does it because she loves it, and she's damn good at it. I FREAKING LOVE YOU REGINA!

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Hope23
09-27-2009

Rated 0 
Its like that phrase: "I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you". Because at the end there she changes it to "we're laughing with god". saying that he is like a friend you can be close to and share some humor. Nobody likes the idea of god when their life is crappy, nobody makes fun of him though, you can laugh with him anytime.

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nxstream
09-22-2009

Rated 0 
From an interview given to Spin Magazine:

"I'm always fascinated with faith, religion, and spirituality, and what those things are to each other, or how they come together or don't come together. When I was done with this record I was like, "Whoa, I have a lot of stuff here that's just about, like, religion." Which is amazing. It wasn't planned, but it's one of those concepts that my mind is just fascinated with, and I'm always mulling over. Sometimes I'm really positive about religion, but, you know, sometimes I'm really sarcastic about it, too. Hey, that's God, that's life!"

It seems this song is mostly about her own spirituality.
She's most probably the one not laughing and turning to God when things go bad. The one telling or laughing at that God-themed joke. The one finding hilarious the way God is often pictured as interventionist... and how faith in that God is often exploited.

"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"

And she seems to think that God is smart enough to know she's not laughing at him, but she's laughing with him at what we made of him.

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Brushstroke
09-10-2009

Rated 0 
I think this song is actually quite spiritual and a very sweet song. She's not being bitter toward God at all, she's saying that we [who believe in God] need to acknowledge that God is there in the good times too.

So many people turn to God when they're in turmoil but they never give Him a passing glance when they're laughing with friends, making jokes at a party, or even when the crazy religious people start saying that He hates us or that He wants to send us to hell or when we start comparing Him to Santa Claus.

She's saying that we need to lighten up a bit and laugh at these things, and also see that God's laughing with us in the good times in our lives when we're happy, and that He's not only there when we're struggling.

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refractor82
09-09-2009

Rated 0 
I think this song is theistic if not religious.

I think she's first trying to say that no one thinks of God or such philisophical things unless there is hurt or a fundamental need.

Secondly, she seems to be saying that possibly, but not limited to, religious people, or such people who are the exception to her first idea; those who think of God or a deity really have no idea of the character or meaning of such a being.

The lyrics are a bit offensive, I think, for theists and atheists alike. Does she herself claim to understand such things? I can't complain about the music though. It's a very catchy song and I like it.

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Matt Holck
09-06-2009

Rated 0 
I think this song makes an assumption that tragedy is not laughed at

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freeasabird16
09-06-2009

Rated 0 
i think this song is about the double standard many people carry around in their hearts about God. when things are going good, we say, "haha, look how great i'm doing, i don't need God." then, when life turns sour, we think, "well, maybe the idea of God isn't so ridiculous after all."

actually, i disagree with the statement that we have no control of our lives. we DO. we have full control. God gave us the power of choice, because if we didn't, we'd start to act like toddlers and say "it's not fair! let me make some decisions for once!" so God's like, "fine. make your own decisions. eventually you'll come crawling back to me when you make the bad ones." which is exactly what happens. every bad decision we make adds a little more evil to the world, which is why we have death and kidnappings and cancer. so, really, all the bad in the world is our fault. every action has an equal reaction. so we make crappy decisions, get crappy consequences, do exactly what God said we would do, and then get the irony, just a little too late.

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DarkAngel05
09-04-2009

Rated +1 
I Think that it's a political commentary on our society and how it views God. It's saying that people have no problem mocking God when it suits them but when it comes to serious or dyer situations God's not funny any more because honestly it's just not a laughing matter when someone's hurt or missing.

God can be funny when it's convenient for you,
"God can be funny at a cocktail party with God themed jokes"

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lovelover
08-21-2009

Rated 0 
and you can get from this what you will, but in my printed lyric booklet, she word "god" is never capitalized at all, yet "Jiminy Cricket" and "Santa Claus" are, among other things. but never "god". it might not mean anything, but that's how it is.

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lovelover
08-21-2009

Rated 0 
okay no, YOU ARE ALL WRONG. she DEFINITELY says: "Or when the crazies say THEY HATE us and they get so red in the head you'd think they're about to choke."

It's THEY. I have the lyrics booklet that came with the album, so I'M RIGHT. :P


she's talking about religiously intolerant people, "crazies", that are mean, and that it's funny to watch them get angry and flustered, so much that they're about to choke. an example of why people "laugh with god"

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MusicIsLife21
08-19-2009

Rated 0 
Ok,listening to it again. I see how the "crazies who say He hates us" might be like the crazy cult-like religious folk who take things too far sometime and people kinda 'laugh' at how crazy they seem. But everything else I said, I still stand by lol

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MusicIsLife21
08-19-2009

Rated 0 
This song is open ended but I feel like some folks are projecting a bit. Like some folks with more agnostic views saying it's anti-religious & some Christian folk saying it's pro lol

I don't even see any where in the lyrics where it mentions atheists or any relgions specifically, so I'm not sure where that is coming from to be honest lol

I think the song is more of an neutral observation. Some of it actually does seem a bit straight forward though,to me. Like the "No one laughing at God in a hospital"? Those lines to me are like: when times are hard we all want some kind of comfort. the thought of God suddenly isn't so ridiculous. I don't really see that as "God made this bad thing happen and it's not funny!" but that's just me.

Also I think the "God can be funny when presented like a genie" and all that is more like how some religious people present God as just there to "grant our wishes" and "do our bidding" and that's pleasant & 'funny'. Also the "crazies that say he hates us" I don't see how that would be crazy 'bible thumping loonies' because they may be odd and yell at you on the street but for them to say "God hates us" would be kinda contradictory lol Just my opinion.

And the "God can be funny at cocktail parties" lines; I think that's more like people tend to take religion lightly sometime & it feels more 'acceptable' to poke fun in those kinda conditions. Doesn't have to be nasty crude jokes but it's not a secret that folks tend to throw around some jokes about it. But in a war or something, again; it's not so 'funny.'

I'm really not seeing the "Oh God is funny sometime when He's not causing wars & famine & making our lives hard" semi-sarcastic yet upbeat kinda vibe with this song lol

Honestly,FOR ME; I see this song as a whole as being about how some people 'laugh' at religion (not necessarily in a atheist/agnostic/negative or cruel way, just in general) until something serious happens. Just my view.

From Regina's other songs I've seen/heard; she seems pretty open-minded while still making honest observations about people in general. And with her background; I don't see her being someone who would be like outright "God is mean!" or "God is awesome!" lol

But again, music is usually pretty open ended but I personally don't see this song as being Pro OR Anti religion. I think it's just more of a general observation on how we as a society tend to see religion and react to different situations presented to us in life.

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