Joan Osborne - "One of Us" (Live-1996)

This is the hit song "One of Us" from Joan Osborne's 1995 album "Relish". I have always contended that if God were to walk amongst us today; or if Jesus Christ walked into a church; both would be carted away as lunatics. Ms. Osborne was in town a few nights ago, performing at the Visulite Theatre in Charlotte. A small venue, which holds about 600 people at the most, this would have been the ideal place to see and hear her.

I have always enjoyed this song. It poses questions, which we have all asked ourselves at one time or another, concerning religion, faith and what I like to term "the human condition." The lyrics were not meant to offend, but rather to make us examine our own faith in whatever we believe. It also pointedly asks how much effort we are willing to put into our beliefs, no matter what they are. This acoustic version may lack the bite of the lead guitar on the studio track, but the message is still clear. "I am he, as you are he, as you are me, and we are all together." That about sums it up.

One Of Us by Joan Osborne

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