Thursday, June 25, 2009

No one laughs at God when....

In an effort to broaden my horizons musically, I've begun podcasting All Songs Considered, an NPR broacasted radio show. Some dude who really likes music (probably too much) introduces about 5 or 6 new tunes, usually by obscure bands I would not find by cruising the radio dial.

One of my goals is simply to find some new music. The other goal is to listen to these bands in order to be able to relate to the people who listen exclusively to obscure music. It's always a good idea to give yourself more connecting points with the world around you. The more connecting points the merrier; you never know when they will come in handy.


Anyway, while suffering on the elliptical machine at Lifestyles I heard a fascinating song by a lass named Regina Spektor.
I think they are thoughtful as well as poetic. Some are quite biblical like her critique of treating God "like a jeanie, who does magic like Houdini...." I love that line.

I'm not sure what the song is about. Check the music out
here (the song is called "Laughing With"), and feel free to let me know what you think. The lyrics are below.

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests

No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from that party yet
No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they're mistaken

No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say "We've got some bad new, sir,"
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke
God can be funny When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
Ha ha Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they've lost all they got and they don't know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes

No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war No one's laughing at God in a hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God No one's laughing at God

We're all laughing with God

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