Joan Osbourne

What If God Was One of Us

If God had a name, what would it be
And would you call it to his face
If you were faced with him in all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question

And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home

If God had a face what would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in jesus and the saints and all the prophets

And yeah yeah god is great yeah yeah god is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
He's trying to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody calling on the phone
Except for the pope maybe in rome

And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if god was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Just trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just trying to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone

Except for the pope maybe in rome

Questions:

1Do you think this song has appropriate subject matter? Explain your answer.

2What is a slob? Find a word of your own to replace “slob”. Which word works better in the context and why?

3If you could ask one important question what would it be?

4In the song there is a contrast between the language of the ordinary as opposed to the loftiness of God. Find examples of the language which shows this contrast.

5What would allow the voice in the song to believe in “things like heaven”?

6Why do you think no capitals are used in the lyrics?

7Who is the final stanza about? What does it tell us of the singer?

8Which condition does Joan Osborne use in her song and why?

In the song, we have just listened to Joan Osborne express a conditional question: If God were one of us, ______(Condition?) (poetic license?)

Can also use Carole King: Where You Lead