Thanks for this posting. First came across God's Song as the last track on RN's Sail Away album (1972). It just gets better and better, always brilliant, creative, novel, fresh. A genius artist.
I love Randy Newman, and I have ever since he took a request for "Baltimore" from a member of the audience at the Tralfamadore Cafe in about 1985. Genius.
Hes only supposed to have about 80,000 fans and I think its lower now I would say there's millions of fans of his music who have never heard of him and in a way that's great that the songs made it more famous than the writer. Its like those old folk songs nobody really knows who wrote but are great
Everyone in the comments is either an atheist praising the song or a believer hating the song, yet I just think it's a great song with a really haunting melody with lyrics about the various miseries humanity endures, and I think the lyrics portraying God as cruel and apathetic at first just seem like the song is mocking religion, but the last lines make me think the song is empathetic toward faith in a twisted kind of way. Because at the end God has this epiphany and thinks, you all must be crazy to still have faith, wow, you all must really need me. To me it's saying that life can be so unbearably bleak that faith (for many people) is a profound and necessary thing to help you endure, however illogical it may seem.
and I guess that is why it is called faith; it is the logic of sanity to refuse to believe in nothing....when there is so much evidence for 'something'.....we just cannot put a name on it...on this Sunday morning, may you enjoy all your blessings, and perhaps think of reasons to be grateful your parents loved each other..enough to have brought you into life...
Hello I really do appreciate you for being a big fan thank you for your wonderful comments on my post it really means a lot to me.I sincerely hope you never stop listening to my music…..❤️❤️❤️
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made him a little lower than the angels
Beautifully written, poetic and prophetic. "The Christians and the Jews were having a jamboree The Buddhists and the Hindus joined on satellite TV" But how did Randy Newman know about Satellite TV in 1972 when it hadn't been introduced to the US public until 1976 and not sold for home use until 1979? Mind blown...
0:10 -- The Christian equivalent to Randy Newman, with the same industry ideas, was a man named Rich Mullins. Rich Mullins started out as a small gig performer who was primarily a song writer. He wrote Amy Grant's Megahit "sing your praise to the lord" before anyone knew about him. Content to play background, and pushing songwriting and worship of God above all, Rich found he had to perform to get the message out. So he did, and became wildly successful as a result. His first breakout hit was "our God is an awesome God" in the mid to late 80's. Mullins was one of the few who actually believed in his core (aka "gun to your head, say truth ") in what he sang and taught. The proof of this includes the matter of his death. Rich died driving back to his home from a concert. He was living on an Indian Reservation in Arizona full time. He wore no shoes, took no money from the Indians, and taught music and bible lessons for free. Many Navajo and Apache today speak about his legacy... he was the only person who seemed to care about them.
I was looking for this comment! I totally see John Lennon and now that you mention it, I see Weird Al too. I had initially gone with John Lennon and David Koresh. Yours is more flattering! :D
“Lord, a plague is on the world. Lord, no man is free. The temples that we built to you have tumbled into the sea. Lord, if you won’t take care of us, won’t you please please let us be?” Really lands when you listen to that, while a pandemic is running its course on an already dying planet
Can't remember his name, but the man that introduced Mr. Newman is the music journalist who intetviewed a very young Linda Ronstadt. A snippet of it appeared in the recent documentary about her career, and the fuller interview is on CZcams. He drew so much out of her and let her talk and has such a distinctive voice himself.
LOL American Ashkenazi angst about God and the 'God is Dead' meme from post WW2. Randy takes it a few steps further: "Lord if you won't take of us won't you please just let us be"
It's funny to see this discussion about "God's Song"- justifies every little bit of the lyrics that Randy Newman put down in this profound song. His lyrical and musical genius enabled him to create a cynical yet accurate portrayal of religion in a musical form that seamlessly combines gospel and classical requiem (both associated with religion). This is not just another jab at religion- rather a sad and beautiful song about the fallacy and the delusional state humanity unfortunately lives in.
There's a deeper message you silly gooses. He was a kid at the time, but still had the soul of a true poet. The message isn't in the EXACT words.. (Towards everybody's consideration)
Christians, and indeed most world religions have had an answer for human suffering for many centuries. Besides, absence of God makes even less sense if one were to address the problem of evil as there would be no hope at all.
@jeanhartely It's not anti religion, it's anti human. In the song, he hates us because of how awful we are to each other: "I recoil in horror, at the foulness of thee."
God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind) Cain slew Abel Seth knew not why For if the children of Israel were to multiply Why must any of the children die? So he asked the Lord And the Lord said: Man means nothing he means less to me Than the lowliest cactus flower Or the humblest Yucca tree He chases round this desert Cause he thinks that's where I'll be That's why I love mankind I recoil in horror fro the foulness of thee From the squalor and the filth and the misery How we laugh up here in heaven at the prayers you offer me That's why I love mankind The Christians and the Jews were having a jamboree The Buddhists and the Hindus joined on satellite TV They picked their four greatest priests And they began to speak They said, "Lord, a plague is on the world Lord, no man is free The temples that we built to you Have tumbled into the sea Lord, if you won't take care of us Won't you please, please let us be?" And the Lord said And the Lord said I burn down your cities-how blind you must be I take from you your children and you say how blessed are we You all must be crazy to put your faith in me That's why I love mankind You really need me That's why I love mankind
A committed Christian commented on a different version of this song and said something like, "I don't believe that, Newman must be a really messed up person." I replied, "Maybe he wrote this song to give you a bit of a feeling how Jesus might have felt looking at humanity 2,000 years ago." I don't think RN or I will ever know enough to say God exists or doesn't. But if he does, this attitude of tragic sadness has a ring of truth to it.
There will always be truth in music like this. It's wrong to fully dismiss these very real questions simply because you feel you've arrived at a comfortable answer for yourself. Many still struggle.
Yes, everything that happens either happens at the will of God, or the passive observation without intervention. To say he is unable to intervene would mean he isn't omni-powerful, hence not really a God. So you must then admit that God intended all the pain and suffering. If there was a God he would more likely be as Randy Newman sees it. Or at least a divided God, with some hate and some love.
who says its negative proof. God is not negative proof.. He is positive proof. Look at what He has done through me and in my life. I am proof positive that God is real. He changed my life and gave me hope and set me free from sin...and gave me a home in heaven.
wonderful. makes one feel wee. Rasta like the entertainment value. me, I'm not sure it matters really, together, separate, as one, maybe not. it's all expression. a conduit once said to me never let a secret passed that seems to know where it's going, and that was about all it said really. thanks for posting. x
i don't have references, but a well known scientist/ psychologist said that supernatural inferences (such as ray lewis tearing his tricep and returning only ten weeks later to make a play-off run to win the super-bowl)-supernatural. are proof that god exsists Mister AtomicPianist. i do recall him giving all the glory to god.
yes I agree that the atomicpianist does sound a bit to the pro evil side. but as the saying goes, you can lead a atheist to knowledge but you can't MAKE him think.
on the human perspective man is a sinner, he is a sinner who loves to follow sin and commit sin. The only thing left that God can do is offer justice which is punishment in Hell fire for ever. Thats why Jesus came. God's plan of settling the justice problem..So,man, either takes the punishment on himself.. which is death, and hell. See, God is not the problem. Man's love of sin is. Or, man can take the punishment and put it on the cross through repentance and faith in Christ work on the cross
We are so limited and finite that we will not understand God. Here’s a young clever Randy trying to imagine what God might be thinking about us. Mankind. Yes it can be a cruel world. Very much so. But it’s all a test. We are only here temporarily and our free will is a gift we will someday comprehend. After.
Hello I really do appreciate you for being a big fan thank you for your wonderful comments on my post it really means a lot to me.I sincerely hope you never stop listening to my music…..❤️❤️❤️
@saryb4me So rue Sir. But You Know, I Thought That Surely This Rather Appathetic Take On The Lorsd Would Lower Athiesm Surely. Think About, An "Evil" Man Who Controls Us Fully. Personally, I'm A Very Religous Man And I Believe That The Lord Does "Let Us Be".
I don't believe that's what he's really saying. Like most of his songs, it's a bit more complex. Particularly, look at the last verse: "I take from you your children, and you say, 'How blessed are we.' Man, you really must be crazy to put your faith in me. That's why I love mankind. You really need me." You have a god that's cruel, but loves that mankind still worships even in hardship. And commenting that mankind needs god. It's just not so clear cut.
naw, thats not messed up... its the Father, who is just giving the sinners justice. Before there is forgive with god there must be justice... Justice was served when Christ hung and died on the man made cross. So, the choice is our.. lay it on the cross which equals punishment served or keep it on your self which means DEATH and hell. YOU pick...@wakkedout
no we choose to be ignorant, according to the bible (the ultimate handbook to peace) god says that after the crusifiction he will no longer interfere with the mortal world; like turning cities to dust or changing peoples choices/thoughts. we choose.
You can't prove a negative.. No you should say YOU guys don't have the intellegence to prove it... If you are married or have a girl friend or boyfriend or whatever.. Show me proof that YOU love YOUR wife or what ever. Show me. I want to see it. ..
lololololol... a joke??? I love it.. I love the '" Yo, momma" jokes... Aye, I asked "Yo Momma" if her son was stupid??? She said, Naw Bro, she just less than intelligent--- Dats all.... bahahahahhahaha.
yea, interesting. Since He can change the rules I bet He can also make a square circle...The bible says, " I am God and I change not" Naw, he shouldn't have to rewrite what he made just because man is sluffing off and not doing His part. Prevent needless suffering.?? Hmmmm.. I guess sin cancelled all that... Sin changed the rules. It was a perfect life and world before human rebellion messed it up. OH, but that's God's fault though right?.
These are some of the most powerful lyrics I've ever heard.
This is an underrated masterpiece.
Randy, We really need you.
This song is perfection.
Randy Newman songs are todays world on steroids.....the guy was and is a visionary.....
All of Randy’s songs are double-edged: nobody is safe from his music
Imagine Billie Holiday singing this .....
Nice observation. I get those strange fruit vibes listening to this song
Etta james does it. Thats my favorite version
Thanks for this posting. First came across God's Song as the last track on RN's Sail Away album (1972). It just gets better and better, always brilliant, creative, novel, fresh. A genius artist.
That's why I love mankind.
I love Randy Newman, and I have ever since he took a request for "Baltimore" from a member of the audience at the Tralfamadore Cafe in about 1985. Genius.
I remember the first time I heard this in 1974...It stopped me in my tracks.
He's really my very favourite songwriter
Hes only supposed to have about 80,000 fans and I think its lower now I would say there's millions of fans of his music who have never heard of him and in a way that's great that the songs made it more famous than the writer. Its like those old folk songs nobody really knows who wrote but are great
Everyone in the comments is either an atheist praising the song or a believer hating the song, yet I just think it's a great song with a really haunting melody with lyrics about the various miseries humanity endures, and I think the lyrics portraying God as cruel and apathetic at first just seem like the song is mocking religion, but the last lines make me think the song is empathetic toward faith in a twisted kind of way. Because at the end God has this epiphany and thinks, you all must be crazy to still have faith, wow, you all must really need me. To me it's saying that life can be so unbearably bleak that faith (for many people) is a profound and necessary thing to help you endure, however illogical it may seem.
and I guess that is why it is called faith; it is the logic of sanity to refuse to believe in nothing....when there is so much evidence for 'something'.....we just cannot put a name on it...on this Sunday morning, may you enjoy all your blessings, and perhaps think of reasons to be grateful your parents loved each other..enough to have brought you into life...
@@A_Pa-Plainjane false. faith is not the logic of sanity, its the mentally ill and gullible
@@A_Pa-Plainjane most parents are trash and mos babies are mistakes or accidents
Israelite... One who wrestles with God
I think he means we're damn fools - simple as that.
Oh, I love Randy Newman so. I have no words. Thank you for posting this.
Hello I really do appreciate you for being a big fan thank you for your wonderful comments on my post it really means a lot to me.I sincerely hope you never stop listening to my music…..❤️❤️❤️
Brilliant!
A song for the modern age. Thank you for posting this.
"You really need me"
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
You have made him a little lower than the angels
Beautiful.......
He articulates so beautifully pathos and futility of reality a truly brilliant inspiration, love ya Randy
I love his courage. I don't know what his personal beliefs are and it doesn't matter. He wrote those lyrics for maximum shock value. That takes guts.
spot on. boy's got some insight!
God the cosmic vivisectionist. Randy really gets in character on this one.
49 years ago this month... Crazy.
Etta James abslutely kills this with her version. Look it up.
Wow! Thanks - I will !@
It is great but nothing beats the original has a very emotional tone as if he’s one of the humans being tortured by god.
just did..., wow. fantastic. THANK U!
Beautifully written, poetic and prophetic.
"The Christians and the Jews were having a jamboree
The Buddhists and the Hindus joined on satellite TV"
But how did Randy Newman know about Satellite TV in 1972 when it hadn't been introduced to the US public until 1976 and not sold for home use until 1979?
Mind blown...
It’s called The Dish. Satellite 📡 from Straya of moon landing 1969
Satellite TV connected the world in 1967 and the Beatles played "All You Need is Love".
I always knew God loved us 😉
好棒
0:10 -- The Christian equivalent to Randy Newman, with the same industry ideas, was a man named Rich Mullins. Rich Mullins started out as a small gig performer who was primarily a song writer. He wrote Amy Grant's Megahit "sing your praise to the lord" before anyone knew about him.
Content to play background, and pushing songwriting and worship of God above all, Rich found he had to perform to get the message out. So he did, and became wildly successful as a result. His first breakout hit was "our God is an awesome God" in the mid to late 80's.
Mullins was one of the few who actually believed in his core (aka "gun to your head, say truth ") in what he sang and taught. The proof of this includes the matter of his death. Rich died driving back to his home from a concert. He was living on an Indian Reservation in Arizona full time. He wore no shoes, took no money from the Indians, and taught music and bible lessons for free. Many Navajo and Apache today speak about his legacy... he was the only person who seemed to care about them.
AMEN!
Randy Newman looks like John Lennon and Weird Al had a baby.
Ha!
I was looking for this comment! I totally see John Lennon and now that you mention it, I see Weird Al too. I had initially gone with John Lennon and David Koresh. Yours is more flattering! :D
Dude; He sounds like it also!!
😅😂 Right! 😂😂
Damn that’s a deep comment on the song. Did you get the reaction you so desperately need?
Devastating.
Damn
Trying to think of a way to describe Randy Newman.I give up.
Same.
I try to tell people about him frequently. Words fail me repeatedly.
oleole52 he is... human
@@LorchVHS Me too...
Good point big billy
Prophet
so he wears glasses like me too? wow, how great!
Timely.
“Lord, a plague is on the world. Lord, no man is free. The temples that we built to you have tumbled into the sea. Lord, if you won’t take care of us, won’t you please please let us be?”
Really lands when you listen to that, while a pandemic is running its course on an already dying planet
😢so thrue. ......💕2023.....
Love it!
Soul
Can't remember his name, but the man that introduced Mr. Newman is the music journalist who intetviewed a very young Linda Ronstadt. A snippet of it appeared in the recent documentary about her career, and the fuller interview is on CZcams. He drew so much out of her and let her talk and has such a distinctive voice himself.
That was”Whispering” Bob Harris. He used to present the BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test.
@@earlshepherd6088 Thank you so much. Did a little digging after I posted my comment, and found him. Really like his style.
Bob Harris
Iconic Bob Harris!
Nicely off-topic. Who cares?
..after decades, the paradoxes in this song still amaze me. Just sayin'.
Tom Puszewski Like what?
Such as...?
Wikamol harsh song ,but we really listen to GOD enough...
LOL American Ashkenazi angst about God and the 'God is Dead' meme from post WW2. Randy takes it a few steps further: "Lord if you won't take of us won't you please just let us be"
It's funny to see this discussion about "God's Song"- justifies every little bit of the lyrics that Randy Newman put down in this profound song. His lyrical and musical genius enabled him to create a cynical yet accurate portrayal of religion in a musical form that seamlessly combines gospel and classical requiem (both associated with religion). This is not just another jab at religion- rather a sad and beautiful song about the fallacy and the delusional state humanity unfortunately lives in.
Q
Wow.The truth is sure sounding spooky.
There's a deeper message you silly gooses. He was a kid at the time, but still had the soul of a true poet. The message isn't in the EXACT words.. (Towards everybody's consideration)
Check out the mullet!
We're just damn fools. That's it.
21 "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight." Woes and Judgments, Isaiah 5:8-23
You're point?
Who are you talking to ?
I love aggressive agreement. Lol.
NEEDED MY RANDY FIX
Christians, and indeed most world religions have had an answer for human suffering for many centuries. Besides, absence of God makes even less sense if one were to address the problem of evil as there would be no hope at all.
this is a much better billy joel song. Its real.
we can know it through doing His will. .. and following Him...
@jeanhartely It's not anti religion, it's anti human. In the song, he hates us because of how awful we are to each other:
"I recoil in horror, at the foulness of thee."
What TV special or event is this from? He’s tearing it up up there.
Puts a sobering spin on "the fear of god is the beginning of wisdom." Or rather takes the spin off, as the case may be.
@MCGrumbles Yeah, I do and i'm only sixteen.
God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)
Cain slew Abel Seth knew not why
For if the children of Israel were to multiply
Why must any of the children die?
So he asked the Lord
And the Lord said:
Man means nothing he means less to me
Than the lowliest cactus flower
Or the humblest Yucca tree
He chases round this desert
Cause he thinks that's where I'll be
That's why I love mankind
I recoil in horror fro the foulness of thee
From the squalor and the filth and the misery
How we laugh up here in heaven at the prayers you offer me
That's why I love mankind
The Christians and the Jews were having a jamboree
The Buddhists and the Hindus joined on satellite TV
They picked their four greatest priests
And they began to speak
They said, "Lord, a plague is on the world
Lord, no man is free
The temples that we built to you
Have tumbled into the sea
Lord, if you won't take care of us
Won't you please, please let us be?"
And the Lord said
And the Lord said
I burn down your cities-how blind you must be
I take from you your children and you say how blessed are we
You all must be crazy to put your faith in me
That's why I love mankind
You really need me
That's why I love mankind
A committed Christian commented on a different version of this song and said something like, "I don't believe that, Newman must be a really messed up person." I replied, "Maybe he wrote this song to give you a bit of a feeling how Jesus might have felt looking at humanity 2,000 years ago." I don't think RN or I will ever know enough to say God exists or doesn't. But if he does, this attitude of tragic sadness has a ring of truth to it.
There will always be truth in music like this. It's wrong to fully dismiss these very real questions simply because you feel you've arrived at a comfortable answer for yourself. Many still struggle.
Yes, everything that happens either happens at the will of God, or the passive observation without intervention. To say he is unable to intervene would mean he isn't omni-powerful, hence not really a God. So you must then admit that God intended all the pain and suffering. If there was a God he would more likely be as Randy Newman sees it. Or at least a divided God, with some hate and some love.
Humans cause evil not god. We have free will. Obviously his song is emotive but humans chose good or evil.
@gldmj55 HAHA THAT is effin funny!
who says its negative proof. God is not negative proof.. He is positive proof. Look at what He has done through me and in my life. I am proof positive that God is real. He changed my life and gave me hope and set me free from sin...and gave me a home in heaven.
wonderful. makes one feel wee. Rasta like the entertainment value. me, I'm not sure it matters really, together, separate, as one, maybe not. it's all expression. a conduit once said to me never let a secret passed that seems to know where it's going, and that was about all it said really. thanks for posting. x
fucking amazing
Why fucking?Its soooo durty and no in the contest.....
One of the best anti-religion songs. Mr. Newman be praised!
It takes someone with some form of Jewish origin to write this to open our eyes from 'blind' faith.
wha
i don't have references, but a well known scientist/ psychologist said that supernatural inferences (such as ray lewis tearing his tricep and returning only ten weeks later to make a play-off run to win the super-bowl)-supernatural. are proof that god exsists Mister AtomicPianist. i do recall him giving all the glory to god.
I don't understand why he seems to feel such animosity for a being he doesnt seem to believe exists. Stands for G overhead directing?
Drivel pal.
yes I agree that the atomicpianist does sound a bit to the pro evil side. but as the saying goes, you can lead a atheist to knowledge but you can't MAKE him think.
on the human perspective man is a sinner, he is a sinner who loves to follow sin and commit sin. The only thing left that God can do is offer justice which is punishment in Hell fire for ever. Thats why Jesus came. God's plan of settling the justice problem..So,man, either takes the punishment on himself.. which is death, and hell. See, God is not the problem. Man's love of sin is. Or, man can take the punishment and put it on the cross through repentance and faith in Christ work on the cross
Also, it is Toney. With an E, please.
It's not clear cut why men worship God despite so much suffering and tragedy. Nonetheless, I still love the song! It really resonates with me.
Powerful songwriter, powerful indictment of worship. Give up wandering around the desert...
Y'all must be crazy, to put your faith in me.
Are you wearing two different types of materials?
But as we say in France, isn't one period enough? (Or was that India?) Forget...
Prove it
i'm reading the book of Ezekiel, that God does not seem very kind or loving
We are so limited and finite that we will not understand God.
Here’s a young clever Randy trying to imagine what God might be thinking about us. Mankind.
Yes it can be a cruel world. Very much so. But it’s all a test. We are only here temporarily and our free will is a gift we will someday comprehend. After.
Hello I really do appreciate you for being a big fan thank you for your wonderful comments on my post it really means a lot to me.I sincerely hope you never stop listening to my music…..❤️❤️❤️
the only singer who looks like weird al yankovich
if you dont like this song, just go check out something else. WWJD?
if u like this one listen to the etta james version🤌🏻
@saryb4me So rue Sir. But You Know, I Thought That Surely This Rather Appathetic Take On The Lorsd Would Lower Athiesm Surely. Think About, An "Evil" Man Who Controls Us Fully. Personally, I'm A Very Religous Man And I Believe That The Lord Does "Let Us Be".
I don't believe that's what he's really saying. Like most of his songs, it's a bit more complex. Particularly, look at the last verse: "I take from you your children, and you say, 'How blessed are we.' Man, you really must be crazy to put your faith in me. That's why I love mankind. You really need me."
You have a god that's cruel, but loves that mankind still worships even in hardship. And commenting that mankind needs god. It's just not so clear cut.
meraviglia
naw, thats not messed up... its the Father, who is just giving the sinners justice. Before there is forgive with god there must be justice... Justice was served when Christ hung and died on the man made cross. So, the choice is our.. lay it on the cross which equals punishment served or keep it on your self which means DEATH and hell. YOU pick...@wakkedout
Weird Al in his younger, more serious days.
You give wisdom to fools but you can't make them understand.....lol...
no we choose to be ignorant, according to the bible (the ultimate handbook to peace) god says that after the crusifiction he will no longer interfere with the mortal world; like turning cities to dust or changing peoples choices/thoughts. we choose.
And “God” of course could care less. Let us take care of each other for once. Someday.
You can't prove a negative.. No you should say YOU guys don't have the intellegence to prove it... If you are married or have a girl friend or boyfriend or whatever.. Show me proof that YOU love YOUR wife or what ever. Show me. I want to see it. ..
sin divided everyone... not God
lolol... your message was funny...
lololololol... a joke??? I love it.. I love the '" Yo, momma" jokes... Aye, I asked "Yo Momma" if her son was stupid??? She said, Naw Bro, she just less than intelligent--- Dats all.... bahahahahhahaha.
An all powerful god could change the rules to prevent such needless suffering.
no and thats the only reason i still follow Him
Renske de jonge Follow who, and why ? What's your point ?
yea, interesting. Since He can change the rules I bet He can also make a square circle...The bible says, " I am God and I change not" Naw, he shouldn't have to rewrite what he made just because man is sluffing off and not doing His part. Prevent needless suffering.?? Hmmmm.. I guess sin cancelled all that... Sin changed the rules. It was a perfect life and world before human rebellion messed it up. OH, but that's God's fault though right?.
He just needed Disney/Pixar to lighten the mood.....how about you've got a friend in God?!
***** That might work as well....
Nothing makes a man feel smarter than denying the existence of God -- of course, they don't have any proof, either.