This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dear God, I'm trying hard to reach you
Dear God, I see your face in all I do
Sometimes it's so hard to believe it
But, God, I know you have your reasons
(Uh huh)
They said, "he's busy, hold the line, please"
Call me crazy, I thought maybe he could mind read
Who does the blind lead? Show me a sign, please
If everything is made in China, are we Chinese?
And why do haters separate us like we Siamese?
Technology turning the planet into zombies
Everybody all in everybody's dirty laundry
Acid rain, earthquakes, hurricane, tsunamis
Terrorists, crime sprees, assaults, and robberies
Cops yellin', "stop, freeze," shoot him before he try to leave
Air quality so foul, I gotta try to breathe
Endangered species and we runnin' out of trees
If I could hold the world in the palm of these
Hands, I would probably do away with these anomalies
Everybody checkin' for the new award nominee
Wars and atrocities; look at all the poverty
Ignoring the prophecies, more beef than broccoli
Corporate monopoly, weak world economy
Stock market topplin'
Mad marijuana, Oxycontin, and Klonopin
Everybody out of it?
Well, I've been thinkin' about
And I've been breakin' it down
Without an answer
I know I'm thinking out loud
But if you're lost and around
Why do we suffer?
Why do we suffer?
(Uh huh)
Yeah, it's still me, one of your biggest fans
I get off work, right back to work again
I probably need to go ahead and have my head exam
Look at how they got me on the Def Jam payment plan
Well, I'm in the world of entertainment and
Trying to keep a singing man sane for the paying fans
If I don't make it through the night, slight change of plans
Harp strings, angel wings, and praying hands
Lord, forgive me for my shortcomings
For going on tour and ignoring the court summons
All I'm trying to do is live life to the fullest
They sent my daddy to you in a barrage of bullets
Why is the world ugly when you made it in your image?
And why is livin' life such a fight to the finish?
For this high percentage when the sky's the limit
A second is a minute, every hour's infinite
Dear God, I'm trying hard to reach you
Dear God, I see your face in all I do
Sometimes it's so hard to believe it
Dear God, I see your face in all I do
Sometimes it's so hard to believe it
But, God, I know you have your reasons
(Uh huh)
They said, "he's busy, hold the line, please"
Call me crazy, I thought maybe he could mind read
Who does the blind lead? Show me a sign, please
If everything is made in China, are we Chinese?
And why do haters separate us like we Siamese?
Technology turning the planet into zombies
Everybody all in everybody's dirty laundry
Acid rain, earthquakes, hurricane, tsunamis
Terrorists, crime sprees, assaults, and robberies
Cops yellin', "stop, freeze," shoot him before he try to leave
Air quality so foul, I gotta try to breathe
Endangered species and we runnin' out of trees
If I could hold the world in the palm of these
Hands, I would probably do away with these anomalies
Everybody checkin' for the new award nominee
Wars and atrocities; look at all the poverty
Ignoring the prophecies, more beef than broccoli
Corporate monopoly, weak world economy
Stock market topplin'
Mad marijuana, Oxycontin, and Klonopin
Everybody out of it?
Well, I've been thinkin' about
And I've been breakin' it down
Without an answer
I know I'm thinking out loud
But if you're lost and around
Why do we suffer?
Why do we suffer?
(Uh huh)
Yeah, it's still me, one of your biggest fans
I get off work, right back to work again
I probably need to go ahead and have my head exam
Look at how they got me on the Def Jam payment plan
Well, I'm in the world of entertainment and
Trying to keep a singing man sane for the paying fans
If I don't make it through the night, slight change of plans
Harp strings, angel wings, and praying hands
Lord, forgive me for my shortcomings
For going on tour and ignoring the court summons
All I'm trying to do is live life to the fullest
They sent my daddy to you in a barrage of bullets
Why is the world ugly when you made it in your image?
And why is livin' life such a fight to the finish?
For this high percentage when the sky's the limit
A second is a minute, every hour's infinite
Dear God, I'm trying hard to reach you
Dear God, I see your face in all I do
Sometimes it's so hard to believe it
Lyrics submitted by splitintwo
Dear God 2.0 Lyrics as written by James Edward Jr Olliges Ahmir Thompson
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
One reason I like this song so much is that it means whatever you want it to mean. I am a believer and it is perfectly natural to have doubts about God, like, why is there suffering if God loves us? This song is about observing truths (like the fact that there is suffering, and that believers claim God is all-loving and all-knowing) but doesn't lead to one conclusion or another. To believers, this song is about staying faithful even when life gives us doubts. To Atheists, it's just reiterating the viewpoint that God doesn't exist.
And besides, the song is beautiful.
You guys are all obsessed with Conor, and sure he is cool but this band is nothing without Jim James. Conor has nothing on Jim's guitar or voice. And Conor was way better as an obnoxious Atheist.
oh, he still is.<br /> <br /> "I wish that I could touch you" doesn't seem too different from "and my absent god" way back from Waste Of Paint.<br /> you can argue that he's trying from the next line, but then he's "behind the glass again", due to his failure in believing in god and "what keeps you out it keeps me in", inconciliable ideological differences between Conor's views and the concept of god.<br /> <br /> anyway, this is a great song.<br /> conceptually, I love that the verses represent thoughts from a doubting believer (James), a doubting agnostic (Ward), and a douting atheist (Conor).<br /> And the fact that the opener for Monsters Of Folk was anything but folk.<br /> this record is quality music. haven't heard a record so well produced in quite a while.
i dont know guys. i feel like yes, they are recognizing a god, but its not in a praising kind of way. so conor's atheistic ways could still be incorporated. the song is questioning why he's even "around," if all we do is suffer.
i dunno, just how i took it.
I agree with you completely, to me this is a commentary on how man obsesses over the concept of God and how we see or precieve our own versions of what God is.
It's not a horrible song it's just not the style of music you expect out of these guys. Also I never really knew Conor to be an Atheist, maybe Agnostic. I wouldn't hold it against him if he's Atheist he's undoubtedly the greatest songwriter out there today but being Atheist and flat out not believing in any higher power what so ever is such an radical way of thinking and kind of depressing really. In the song Road to Joy he says "My parents they have there religion but sleep in separate houses" which might be thought of as Atheist but I thought of it as more of a stab against Hypocritical Evangelists. Also in the song I'll never be happy again he talks of Lions Laying down with Lambs and skeletons coming back to life which is straight from the book of revelations in the bible so he's apparently been to church or at least read some of the bible. Another lyric that i like allot is from The Mystic Valley Band's Nicorette when he says "There's nothing more sad then a lynching mob for the rational man who believes in God" which says to me it's not a black and white situation and it's okay to believe in god but not take every last word of the bible literally and still question things kind of like in the movie Dogma, after all even Mother Teresa questioned her faith at different points of her life.
Finally, a MOF song with a decent portion dedicated to Conor's hauntingly beautiful voice..
vocals are equally split between the three, haha
On second thought.. it was too short. I hope there are a couple songs with mainly conor's vocals :) Great song nonetheless.
He's the only vocal in the track 'Say Please'
No he isn't...they all vocal in "Say Please" Conor's parts in that song aren't even long... to be honest i only want to hear him lol
Agreed. Always glad to hear Conor.. Plus a song that's more thoughtful than his most recent stuff. I'm excited to hear M's stuff too, so far so good.. :)
It seems like a lot of people don't like the music to this (not on here, just in general)...I like it musically, but lyrically I think it could be better. It doesn't really compare with XTC's Dear God for me. I mean..."I know you have your reasons?"
XTC's lyrics are somewhat more pointed and complex, true. And it's a great song. But I think that this is a comparison of apples and oranges. Same title ... very different musical approaches.
i honestly was surprised to hear conor singing about god. because he used to be openly atheist and such a harsh critic of christianity. but he did have some sort of a spiritual awakening over the past few years after visiting cassadaga. :)
Well, earlier this year he said in an interview with Rolling Stone that he doesn't necessarily believe in god, and that he thought believing in Christianity/Judaism/Islam takes a huge suspension of disbelief. (That's a paraphrase, not a quote). That doesn't really make this song better though.
I don't see how this song isn't a harsh criticism of religion and/or god? More specifically the Christian god that is toted as omniscient, omnibenevolent, and omnipotent, and yet suffering exists. This is a song about the problem of evil. In that light I don't understand your objection.
the entire album is genius. i've been following Conor since A Collection of Songs and i've loved everything he's ever done. when i found out that Bright Eyes was breaking up i nearly cried but then a friend of mine told me she'd heard a rumor about Conor and Mike working on a side project with M. Ward.
i really love this song. anyone can relate to the lyrics and their voices melding together is fantastic.
:]
Does anybody hear a hint of tribute to George Harrison's My Sweet Lord? <br /> I love me some Conor... and the last time I heard him on a Supergroup track was on Jenny Lewis' Handle Me With Care (with Conor, Ben and Matt).. That was also a Harrison B-side on "This is Love", but was released by a different band.. a bunch of nobody's aka Bob, Tom, Roy and Jeff.