God's Song

Written by: 
Randy Newman
23 May 1998

Cain slew Abel, Seth knew not why.
For if the children of Israel are supposed to multiply,
Why must any children die?
So he asked the Lord.
And the Lord said:

"Man means nothing, he means even less to me
Than the lowliest cactus flower,
Or the humblest Yucca tree.
Chases round the desert,
Chasing after me, thinks he might find me but,
Lord that's why I love mankind
- So stupid...
I recoil in horror at the foulness of thee,
From the squalor and the filth, your misery.
How we laugh up here in heaven at the prayers you offer me;
That is why I just love mankind."

The Christians and the Jews, they had a great big jamboree.
The Buddhists and the Hindus joined in on satellite TV.
They picked their four greatest priests;
They began to speak; they said:

"Plague is on the world;
Lord, no man is free!
The temples that we built to you,
They just tumble into the sea.
Lord, if you won't take care of us,
Please, let us be?"

And the Lord said,
And the Lord said:
"I burn down your cities; how blind you must be.
I take away your children; you say: how blessed are we.
You all must be crazy to God in there to put your faith in a man like me.
That's why I love mankind.
That is why I love;
That's why I love you mankind.

First release: