What would you ask God if you had to narrow it down to one question? There’s so many things he needs to explain. Suffering. Human misery. Why he doesn’t do more for us. Which question would you put to him?
Would things suck as much as they do if God had to walk a mile in our shoes? What if HE had to ride the bus to his little apartment and sit there all alone like an old man. Would life be the way that it is if God had to be just a slob like the rest of us?
In an interview, Joan Osborne stated that the song was less about religion and how we view God, and more about how we see each other. She, in my opinion, is able to convincingly show us how poorly we treat each other by using disguising God in a human form.
This song is about the death of authority. People feel secure if there is some higher power informing them of their place in the world. If god is one of us he is no wiser than we are. We are alone in the world with no authority to guide us. With no higher power we must make our own choices. Not to be too Freudian, but this song is about reaching the age when our parents aren’t gods to us and we must find our own path. And the sadness the loss of absolute certainty entails.
I’ve always viewed this song as self-evident. Indeed God WAS one of us, he walked more than a mile in our shoes, he’s nearer than we perceive, and in touch, and understands our day-to-day joys and pains.
Enjoy a good song 
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Comments ( 4 )
this joan osborne completely disappeared after this song
Hareega added these pithy words on
Sep 20 08 at
7:07 pm
I like your point, and I agree that this song is not about dissing out religion but in a way to make the society a better place!!
But honestly my mama would kick my bum with her shibshib if she heard me playing this song haha.
Suha added these pithy words on
Sep 20 08 at
7:56 pm
dude, haven’t you noticed? god doesn’t exist!
majdal added these pithy words on
Sep 23 08 at
12:25 am
ohh,well alot first I know he exist..He loves us..K I know it’s hard to believe 4 some people sometimes! But it’s true..Jesus died on the cross 4 OUR sins! So STOP SINNING! We all need to.. i meen what if God was one of us 4real,our not for real just an ex: I was God I don’t like this and nether would he!
Heather added these pithy words on
May 10 09 at
2:04 am
