[ ]      [ ]   [ ]
XTC — Dear God
Log in above to post your comment
Gajdzin
(Warsaw, Poland)
Posted: May 03, 2013 - 14:41
 
Horrible. And the girl sings out of tune. She's not the first one who can't sing, but where is the producer and recording engineer? Shame on them for allowing something like that to leave their mixing desk.

Proclivities
(Paris of the Piedmont)
Posted: Apr 02, 2013 - 11:36
 
 pegteger wrote:
Love this song, BUT  XTC ruined it completely. It now sounds like a terrible karaoke recording of someone who cannot carry any tune.
 
"XTC ruined it"?  They wrote it (well, founding member Andy Partridge did).  Is there some other version somewhere?

pegteger
Posted: Apr 02, 2013 - 11:24
 
Love this song, BUT  XTC ruined it completely. It now sounds like a terrible karaoke recording of someone who cannot carry any tune.

ziakut
(Slightly North of Obvlivion)
Posted: Apr 02, 2013 - 11:20
 
Wish I had written this amazing song!

DanO-1
(Over a mile high, New Mexico)
Posted: Dec 29, 2012 - 08:19
 
 Grammarcop wrote:
Not only do I love this song, it captures my feelings toward religion exactly.
 
I'm right there with ya.

Kanuffen
(Trelleborg, Sverige)
Posted: Nov 27, 2012 - 23:27
 


aelfheld
Posted: Jun 23, 2012 - 18:35
 
 kaybee wrote:
Oh, Puhlease!!!!  The OWSers are getting tear gassed and beaten up for peaceably demonstrating!  And they aren't even carrying guns like some of the tea partiers!
 
The OWSers are rioting: San Francisco, Oakland, Denver, Portland, Chicago, Vancouver, et al  If you think rioting and destruction qualify as 'peaceably demonstrating' your judgment is terminally and irremediably defective.

gemtag
(Texas)
Posted: Mar 20, 2012 - 12:34
 
 kaybee wrote:

Oh, Puhlease!!!!  The OWSers are getting tear gassed and beaten up for peaceably demonstrating!  And they aren't even carrying guns like some of the tea partiers!
 
HA!!! Puhlease!!! A word that unmistakably tells the intent and emotion of the writer.

btw, A 10 song, and a great rebutt. 

Grammarcop
(Upriver from Zug Island)
Posted: Mar 20, 2012 - 12:31
 
Not only do I love this song, it captures my feelings toward religion exactly.

dw
(PHill, CA)
Posted: Mar 20, 2012 - 12:30
 
Gave this a 10. One of my fav songs of all time. The words say it all — for me.

kaybee
(Lost in the Wilds of Toronto)
Posted: Feb 17, 2012 - 18:36
 
 aelfheld wrote:
 sirdroseph wrote:
Indeed perhaps you should ask the Tea Partiers that. They could use those words more than someone here making a song comment.

Ummm, why?

The Tea Partiers aren't promoting racism, nor making racist statements.  Tea Party rallies have been held around the country - they obey all the local ordinances and regulations, and clean up after themselves.

Now the #OWSers on the other hand . . .

 
Oh, Puhlease!!!!  The OWSers are getting tear gassed and beaten up for peaceably demonstrating!  And they aren't even carrying guns like some of the tea partiers!



aelfheld
Posted: Dec 16, 2011 - 07:46
 
 sirdroseph wrote:
Indeed perhaps you should ask the Tea Partiers that. They could use those words more than someone here making a song comment.

Ummm, why?

The Tea Partiers aren't promoting racism, nor making racist statements.  Tea Party rallies have been held around the country - they obey all the local ordinances and regulations, and clean up after themselves.

Now the #OWSers on the other hand . . .


krysthal
(Toronto, Canada)
Posted: Nov 14, 2011 - 15:10
 
Ah yes, the incredible Andy Partridge and XTC, always a treat to listen to! Song ranks a 10 for me.

d-don
(Oregon)
Posted: Nov 14, 2011 - 15:08
 
Dear God,

Please don't play this again.

Amen

blotto
(127.0.0.1)
Posted: Nov 14, 2011 - 15:07
 
awesome song

sirdroseph
(Yes)
Posted: Aug 12, 2011 - 04:09
 
 Businessgypsy wrote:
MinMan wrote:
Rather Contraversial for a pop song!

Maybe someone will ask a T.E.A. baggers for an opinion on this tune - should be good for a segment on The Daily Show.
I'm a conservative pragmatist. Love the song, always have. Nothing more healthy than questioning authority, real or imagined. Why are you so scared of people trying to find a practical way to live with an out of control Government? Vilifying a group of political activists isn't progressive, nor is stereotyping a large number of people to fit tidily in a mental box.

We all have to live in this country, and realize that it will take a compromising consensus to do so effectively. That starts with not telling you what to do, rather letting everyone make their own choices to rise or fall as they will. The reason for such a large pragmatic small Government moment has everything to do with personal responsibility over Government control. Racist and ignorant individuals are out there with stupid signs in every movement from Code Pink to John Birch and in between. Why not engage in discussion and solution instead of categorization and rejection? This is not a sporting event, everybody can win.
 
Indeed perhaps you should ask the Tea Partiers that. They could use those words more than someone here making a song comment.

Bargamon
(In a good place)
Posted: May 09, 2011 - 13:15
 

A great band.  I have never rated anything "GODLIKE".

This one gets it.  Got to get God's attention. 



zogma
(San Francisco, Cole Valley)
Posted: May 09, 2011 - 13:07
 
Would give it an 8, but can't resist the irony of classifying it as 'Godlike'.

ziakut
(A place with air, water and chocolate.)
Posted: Mar 07, 2011 - 11:07
 
Always wish I had written this amazing tune.

Tamster
(31)
Posted: Mar 07, 2011 - 10:26
 
I must say I like Sarah's version MUCH better,
were any animals mistreated during the taping of this ?
I am sure I heard the scream of a .....................? 

Stranglersfan
(Revelstoke, B.C.)
Posted: Jan 03, 2011 - 19:28
 
To me, this is just another fantastic XTC song........
Sometimes I wonder if The Dukes of Stratosphere follow up was kind of ...........well to take away the attention that song, (probably unintentionally),  stirred up.
I don't know if that made any sense, but I personally find most XTC songs to be so creatively written and well crafted.

floydcaveman
Posted: Dec 03, 2010 - 05:20
 
 ick wrote:
To me, this song is about a person's own struggle with faith.  He seems to be asking a very common question,"If God is so powerful, if he exists, why do such horrible things happen to us here on Earth?"  I get it....
 
Exactly...some say doubt is the essence of faith.  This song is another way of asking the question someone else once asked, "God, why have you forsaken me?"  But I guess arguing that would be intruding in a family dispute.  (1-ADAM 12, see a man...)


lemmoth
(NYC)
Posted: Nov 01, 2010 - 13:36
 
 Businessgypsy wrote:
MinMan wrote:
Rather Contraversial for a pop song!

Maybe someone will ask a T.E.A. baggers for an opinion on this tune - should be good for a segment on The Daily Show.
I'm a conservative pragmatist. Love the song, always have. Nothing more healthy than questioning authority, real or imagined. Why are you so scared of people trying to find a practical way to live with an out of control Government? Vilifying a group of political activists isn't progressive, nor is stereotyping a large number of people to fit tidily in a mental box.

We all have to live in this country, and realize that it will take a compromising consensus to do so effectively. That starts with not telling you what to do, rather letting everyone make their own choices to rise or fall as they will. The reason for such a large pragmatic small Government moment has everything to do with personal responsibility over Government control. Racist and ignorant individuals are out there with stupid signs in every movement from Code Pink to John Birch and in between. Why not engage in discussion and solution instead of categorization and rejection? This is not a sporting event, everybody can win.
 
Answer me two questions:

1. when did you first come to the realization that the "government was 'out of control'?"
2. are you ready to dismantle the two programs that have effectively ended that centuries long problem in Western Society of how to allow the elderly to live out their lives with dignity and free from economic worry?



LizK
(Houston, Texas)
Posted: Sep 30, 2010 - 21:29
 
It lacks, emmmm,  music. {#Yawn}

Panama_Floyd
(Atlanta, GA)
Posted: Aug 29, 2010 - 21:44
 
 Mikalew wrote:
Does anyone see the irony in singing to "Dear God" confessing not to believe in him. Seems rather futile.
 
First, please recall this book from 1966.

http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Letters-God-Stuart-Hample/dp/0894809997

Then read the following.
Irony:

1 : a pretense of ignorance and of willingness to learn from another assumed in order to make the other's false conceptions conspicuous by adroit questioning -called also Socratic irony

2 a : the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning b : a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony c : an ironic expression or utterance

3 a (1) : incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result

(2) : an event or result marked by such incongruity

b : incongruity between a situation developed in a drama and the accompanying words or actions that is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play -called also dramatic irony, tragic irony




OfficeUseOnly
Posted: Aug 22, 2010 - 13:03
 
 BdylanT303 wrote:
Ease up on the mushrooms dude and enroll in a writing class at your local community college ! Classic..

Laz (May 26,'06-14:18) did in fact quote from Richard Bach's,  Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

The irony behind Tomnam's (Aug 07,'06) original criticism is even richer knowing he identifies as a "Creative Director", and you as a "Publisher's Assistant" who enjoys philosophy and literature.

Perhaps you are familiar with a book by Bach called, Jonathan Livingston Seagull ? Illusions was Bach's follow up book to JLS.







Propayne
(Richmond VA)
Posted: May 26, 2010 - 05:03
 
 Shimmer wrote:
 Mikalew wrote:
One of Todd Rundgren's best productions and probably the best song from the Skylarking album.
 
I agree, but the funny thing is that it was originally left off of Skylarking. I've always wondered why the band didn't immediately recognize how good the song was. Does anyone know the story?
 
What I've read is that the prolific Andy Partridge submitted a lot of demos to Todd for consideration for the album. Todd chose which songs, the order and came up with the theme for "Skylarking" (the passage of time). Andy wasn't happy with the control that Todd is known for asserting as a producer so the whole process of putting the album together was fraught with tension, mostly between Andy and Todd.

When recording was completed they still had too many songs for an LP. Todd thought "Dear God" was the strongest track and Andy disagreed and didn't even want it included. He may have been worried about the controversial nature of the song.

Andy won out (initially, anyway) and "Dear God" was not included on the original issue of "Skylarking"."Dear God" was released as some sort of a single or EP and did very well, so on later pressings "Mermaid Smiles" was removed and "Dear God" added.

TheBorgBuilder
(Atlanta)
Posted: May 26, 2010 - 04:48
 
Well said.
Too many people make their opinions based on the media they watch or the politicians they follow. Most lack the wit to look at things objectively.
Businessgypsy wrote:
MinMan wrote:
Rather Contraversial for a pop song!

Maybe someone will ask a T.E.A. baggers for an opinion on this tune - should be good for a segment on The Daily Show.
I'm a conservative pragmatist. Love the song, always have. Nothing more healthy than questioning authority, real or imagined. Why are you so scared of people trying to find a practical way to live with an out of control Government? Vilifying a group of political activists isn't progressive, nor is stereotyping a large number of people to fit tidily in a mental box.

We all have to live in this country, and realize that it will take a compromising consensus to do so effectively. That starts with not telling you what to do, rather letting everyone make their own choices to rise or fall as they will. The reason for such a large pragmatic small Government moment has everything to do with personal responsibility over Government control. Racist and ignorant individuals are out there with stupid signs in every movement from Code Pink to John Birch and in between. Why not engage in discussion and solution instead of categorization and rejection? This is not a sporting event, everybody can win.
 



Dillinquent
(Hertford, UK)
Posted: May 26, 2010 - 04:41
 
 Businessgypsy wrote:
MinMan wrote:
Rather Contraversial for a pop song!

Maybe someone will ask a T.E.A. baggers for an opinion on this tune - should be good for a segment on The Daily Show.
I'm a conservative pragmatist. Love the song, always have. Nothing more healthy than questioning authority, real or imagined. Why are you so scared of people trying to find a practical way to live with an out of control Government? Vilifying a group of political activists isn't progressive, nor is stereotyping a large number of people to fit tidily in a mental box.

We all have to live in this country, and realize that it will take a compromising consensus to do so effectively. That starts with not telling you what to do, rather letting everyone make their own choices to rise or fall as they will. The reason for such a large pragmatic small Government moment has everything to do with personal responsibility over Government control. Racist and ignorant individuals are out there with stupid signs in every movement from Code Pink to John Birch and in between. Why not engage in discussion and solution instead of categorization and rejection? This is not a sporting event, everybody can win.
 
What's all that got to do with teabagging - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_bag_%28sexual_act%29, in fact, what's this song got to do with teabagging?


Businessgypsy
(Deepest, Darkest Florida)
Posted: Apr 24, 2010 - 11:37
 
MinMan wrote:
Rather Contraversial for a pop song!

Maybe someone will ask a T.E.A. baggers for an opinion on this tune - should be good for a segment on The Daily Show.
I'm a conservative pragmatist. Love the song, always have. Nothing more healthy than questioning authority, real or imagined. Why are you so scared of people trying to find a practical way to live with an out of control Government? Vilifying a group of political activists isn't progressive, nor is stereotyping a large number of people to fit tidily in a mental box.

We all have to live in this country, and realize that it will take a compromising consensus to do so effectively. That starts with not telling you what to do, rather letting everyone make their own choices to rise or fall as they will. The reason for such a large pragmatic small Government moment has everything to do with personal responsibility over Government control. Racist and ignorant individuals are out there with stupid signs in every movement from Code Pink to John Birch and in between. Why not engage in discussion and solution instead of categorization and rejection? This is not a sporting event, everybody can win.



rdo
(DC)
Posted: Apr 24, 2010 - 11:36
 
 bitbanger wrote:
hubris
  

Not at all. Oh ye of little faith. In Christianity it is acceptable, obligatory even, to address the deity with questions like the ones presented in this song.  You are just plain wrong there.



Giselle62
(California's Cental Coast)
Posted: Apr 24, 2010 - 11:28
 
bump it to ten.

ch83575
Posted: Apr 24, 2010 - 11:28
 
 MinMan wrote:
Rather Contraversial for a pop song!

Maybe someone will ask a T.E.A. baggers for an opinion on this tune - should be good for a segment on The Daily Show.
 
Its funny to me how we (the tea baggers that is) are the ones always being accused of being hateful.  Introspection dude... try it sometime.

bitbanger
(Upper West Side)
Posted: Apr 24, 2010 - 11:28
 
hubris

Shimmer
(Bethesda, MD)
Posted: Mar 23, 2010 - 20:40
 
 Mikalew wrote:
One of Todd Rundgren's best productions and probably the best song from the Skylarking album.
 
I agree, but the funny thing is that it was originally left off of Skylarking. I've always wondered why the band didn't immediately recognize how good the song was. Does anyone know the story?


MinMan
(Bay Area, CA)
Posted: Mar 23, 2010 - 20:37
 
Rather Contraversial for a pop song!

Maybe someone will ask a T.E.A. baggers for an opinion on this tune - should be good for a segment on The Daily Show.

Shimmer
(Bethesda, MD)
Posted: Mar 23, 2010 - 20:33
 
 LowPhreak wrote:
Obviously (or maybe not to some), he's talking to the listener of the song, not "God". Some of you aren't very bright, are you?  {#Beat} 

I think you've completely missed the point of this song. The thing that makes it so poignant is that the speaker *is* addressing God - he wants to believe, but can't.


chudd
(Birkenland)
Posted: Feb 20, 2010 - 06:36
 
I was going to rate this a 9 but couldn't resist giving it a "Godlike" 10! {#Angel}

LowPhreak
(United Corporate States of Neo-Feudal Amurika, Inc.)
Posted: Feb 20, 2010 - 06:33
 
 Mikalew wrote:
Does anyone see the irony in singing to "Dear God" confessing not to believe in him. Seems rather futile.
 

Obviously (or maybe not to some), he's talking to the listener of the song, not "God". Some of you aren't very bright, are you?  {#Beat}


Giselle62
(California's Cental Coast)
Posted: Jan 19, 2010 - 20:46
 
the last part is quite moving:
 "always letting us humans down the wars you bring the babes you drown"
i like that part in the video.
even those with a lot of faith have had to feel this way occasionally, especially around these huge disasters (the Haiti earthquake has just happened) the Tsnumai and Katrina.


(former member)
(Infinity and Beyond)
Posted: Oct 17, 2009 - 13:50
 
 Mikalew wrote:
Does anyone see the irony in singing to "Dear God" confessing not to believe in him. Seems rather futile.
 
That's the point of the songwriter. Pretty straightforward device. He's a smart guy.

However, I grow weary of "edgy" ideas like this. Can't rate it highly, although I'm a big XTC fan. 

Alafia
(A little bit further)
Posted: Oct 17, 2009 - 13:48
 
Can't believe this has a 7.5 average.

Mikalew
(SE WI USA)
Posted: Jul 14, 2009 - 21:01
 
Does anyone see the irony in singing to "Dear God" confessing not to believe in him. Seems rather futile.

fuh2
(salmon land)
Posted: Jul 14, 2009 - 20:59
 



coolpeople_rule
(Winter wonder land)
Posted: Jul 14, 2009 - 20:57
 
 Zep wrote:
I got your God for you.



Really, do tell.
 



Zep
(Home plate)
Posted: May 12, 2009 - 07:39
 
I got your God for you.



ick
(San Diego, CA)
Posted: May 12, 2009 - 07:34
 
To me, this song is about a person's own struggle with faith.  He seems to be asking a very common question,"If God is so powerful, if he exists, why do such horrible things happen to us here on Earth?"  I get it....

bitbanger
(Upper West Side)
Posted: Apr 26, 2009 - 17:25
 
There seems to be a distinct directly proportional relation between the number of gods in a religion and the level of tolerance for other belief systems on the part of the adherents of a religion. This is certainly a clear example.

 sdn wrote:
 


As an atheist who finds "In God We Trust" offensive, let me respond.

I find it offensive because it is an attempt to speak for me. The phrase is on our currency in an attempt to present the United States as a religious nation, and to say that we-as-a-whole trust in God.

Well, I don't. And I find it offensive that certain people wish to speak for me....
 


rtb
(NE corner of Work and Boredom)
Posted: Apr 10, 2009 - 17:41
 
Good God, it's Good Friday Bill - how dare you play this blasphemy!!!   {#Mrgreen}


Dakota
Posted: Apr 10, 2009 - 17:40
 
Interesting choice for Good Friday.