Hell ya, I've been in a situation recently where GOD came into it. It didn't go that well...I wanted to believe, I did. This Christian fellow just got rid of me like a hot potato even after I told him that " I was jealous of his faith, I've never known peace like that! That's when I realized, this whole religious thing is a crock of shit and God seems like a NARCISSIST! so many contradictions that don't make sense, but it also absolves people of their wrong doings!!! No wonder so many people follow it, they can do no wrong ( with Jesus, he died for their sins)!
Not sure it was banned in the USA, like a lot of British bands those days, the US version of the album had a few different songs, and some were dropped. Here in LA, radio station KROQ had it in heavy rotation. Just buy the import.
it was SO popular in the US actually, they pulled the 1st pressing of Skylarking and added Dear God to the record.. which was a B-side originally, and does not appear on the original album, but rather, a song called Mermaid Smiled does.. (which was removed to make space for Dear God) this record is MUCH harder to find now ... (thankfully i finally got my copy!) ;) recent rereleases now have both songs on the album.
I am old enough and was fortunate to see Andy Partridge fronting XTC several times before that final fear moment in L.A. when he collapsed back stage before their set and never returned to the stage again. So sad that the tours stopped. This was one of the most powerful bands ever, live. Oh well ... as Peter Green would say ... Another sad story.
Following the excellent Greg Bendian podcasts with XTC..I thought it would be interesting to check out some of their material. First impressions...excellent bass playing...great drumming from T Chambers..and Andy Partridge is very good as a live guitarist..I am reminded of Terry Reid’s failure to get really great material...
And anything that helps a single person be tolerant and not hate anyone is worth more than all of the money of the oligarchs that have bought my country and that promote hate for anyone they think is not the right color or religion. Anyone they fear will take away their ignorance and illusions.
I know Andy Partridge has paralysing stage fright to the point he physically blacks out..perhaps this was the only way he felt comfortable performing on a stage in public..who knows but this is a phenomenal song by a fabulous band!
@@vilepete those acoustic performances were basically the few legitimate live videos they did while they were not touring. music award shows are notorious for not doing actual live performances of the songs they’re showcasing.
Andy Partridge addresses someone in whom he doesn't even believe; it is a rather exquisite paradox! We could say that after all and somehow he believes in Him.... I absolutely love the song and the contradiction....
@@vilepete There is no contradiction. Andy Partridge does not believe in god and is using the trope of people praying to god to demonstrate the folly of this.
The first time I heard this it made me think that if Christianity isn't real it's the biggest joke that's ever been played on man kind. Now 45 years layer I realize how true that song is
I WAS AT THE ACTUAL AWARDS SHOW. THE REST OF US WERE HANDED AN APOLOGY LETTER COPY FROM THE BAND FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING. I HAVE THE COPY SOMEWHERE IN MY COLLECTION INSIDE AN XTC JACKET. ALOT OF PEOPLE WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT NIGHT....SO THE APOLOGY FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING MEANT LITTLE.
Per Wiki and Re: the track; Producer Todd Rundgren had a different recollection, and said that Partridge demanded that the song be pulled because "He was afraid that there would be repercussions personally for him for taking on such a thorny subject. ... What a pussy. ... I called them and said, 'This is a mistake.'"[5] The first verse and closing line are sung by eight-year-old Jasmine Veillette, the daughter of a friend of Rundgren. In the video a boy lip-syncs her vocals.[6]
The sound is almost entirely coming from one side. Can you make a mono mix or correct the stereo mix. Thanks, other than technical issues thank you for posting.
Hahaha. I was there. They moved everybody from the cheap seats to the center and only ran the cameras up that section so to appear there was a good sized crowd. XTC did not show up and the entire show was pre recorded and lip synced.
They filmed this before the show... Andy does not have stage fright. He experienced a panic attack/nervous breakdown onstage in Paris in March of 1982. Since then he decided to devote his time to making studio recordings. He’s been onstage many times over his career, and shows no signs of stage fright. But has admitted that he hates playing live and touring.
@@thorsprovoni2525 thanks for clarifying this. Some people love the whole stage fright thing. I think is because it supports the idea of the troubled artist/genius stereotype.
I'd say it isn't. Instruments identical to the studio version, vocals are artificially double tracked. The little boy nowhere near a microphone. Still. Nice to watch though. :)
More heathen tunes: Dear God - Sarah McLachlan version ruclips.net/video/HWoTET9BgF4/видео.html Duran Duran - None Of The Above ruclips.net/video/4ezrtGrpvSk/видео.html Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell ruclips.net/video/idn50Xj_CiY/видео.html Rush - Witch Hunt ruclips.net/video/YzBvA2uEjUI/видео.html Midge Ure - Answers to Nothing ruclips.net/video/-A6WCe6va_E/видео.html Frank Zappa - Dumb All Over ruclips.net/video/QTfOB_TBBew/видео.html Heavenly Bank Account ruclips.net/video/W1oXQ3BBoHs/видео.html The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing ruclips.net/video/Ck0ixmgyCQ0/видео.html Tori Amos - "God" ruclips.net/video/cN3rzi7dZVQ/видео.html Marilyn Manson - Angel With the Scabbed Wings ruclips.net/video/Am9hav-3J9E/видео.html The The - Armageddon Days (Are Here Again) ruclips.net/video/riMpAsjDQbA/видео.html Joni Mitchell - Don't Interrupt The Sorrow ruclips.net/video/h6Wsdkll5-s/видео.html
I'm not sure Andy himself entirely understood what he could or couldn't do in public, and it does feel like a certain amount of stubbornness to refuse to mime one song for the 2000 people as requested. It's not as if he'd stopped appearing in public or going on TV to promote and mime their singles
we sing the tune of irrationality, fear, resignation, or any other strong uncontrollable emotion related to inminent death if that is the moment when you think religion can become a possibility to unbelievers, in the monents of highest vulnerability, fear, devoid of any logic or reasoning, that says more about the nature of religion than of the person in his deathbed
Never really got all the hype with this song ? It's far from one of the best songs ever ! And especially XTC'S. No wonder the band dropped it from Skylarking .Listen to " This World Over " Now that's a song.
Andy has a naive world view like many on this planet have. He has taken alot of heat for this song because of the lyrics. He himself has admitted that he lacks knowledge regarding politics and philosophical questions. So the lyrcis reflects that. Even Dave Gregory had reservations about this song.
Andy had reservations about this song (didn't want to include it on Skylarking) because it didn't properly express his feelings on such a complex subject, so instead, he wrote the song from the perspective of a child, questioning God about why he included suffering in his creation; it was meant to be naive.
I think you miss the point of the song, he is saying that God and the Devil and religions are human inventions: "Did you make mankind after we made you? And the Devil too!" "Dear God don't know if you noticed but Your name is on a lot of quotes in this book And us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look" He is being ironic when he is blaming God. What he is saying is that if there is an all powerful God then why is there so much bad in the world - to him (and atheists in general) an all powerful, benevolent God creating, controlling and listening to everything doesn't make any sense when you look at how unfair life is. That is the nub of the song although Andy himself was worried that the song over simplified this. I accept you don't believe in his view which is fair enough, I just hope you can appreciate what a passionate and clever song this is just like many XTC songs.
I think you are missing the point completely. He is saying that god and the devil are human creations therefore ultimately we are responsible for everything we do.
Couldn't agree more ....Never understood why people went overboard with this song . But it was in America, which sez alot it was not released as a single here ! Andy has wrote some tremendous songs . One of his best being This World Over.
This is a fine example of songwriting. BTW - I care not for any religious beliefs that you might have, that prevents you from recognising a great song.
One of the best songs ever written
Hell ya, I've been in a situation recently where GOD came into it. It didn't go that well...I wanted to believe, I did. This Christian fellow just got rid of me like a hot potato even after I told him that " I was jealous of his faith, I've never known peace like that! That's when I realized, this whole religious thing is a crock of shit and God seems like a NARCISSIST! so many contradictions that don't make sense, but it also absolves people of their wrong doings!!! No wonder so many people follow it, they can do no wrong ( with Jesus, he died for their sins)!
Yeah, but really.... you could say that of half the XTC catalogue really.
Correct
Easily concur with that statement
Jupp
I wonder how many times I have heard this song. Probably in the 500's.
Does make one wonder...
Don't think I've ever seen this clip. Great stuff. XTC....what a group...what a sound!
LOVE this song. Changed my life.
As long as didn't get that God shape hole in your heart.
mine too.
Disturbing because it makes so much sense...Dear God...I can’t believe in you.😢
This is an incredibly brilliant song. It just seems to get better every time I hear it
LOVE THIS SONG AND XTC
i didn't feel so alone after hearing this when it came out.
Not sure it was banned in the USA, like a lot of British bands those days, the US version of the album had a few different songs, and some were dropped. Here in LA, radio station KROQ had it in heavy rotation. Just buy the import.
It was never banned in the U.S. some radio stations just refused to play it, its sad that some folks are so closed minded ... Peace
it was SO popular in the US actually, they pulled the 1st pressing of Skylarking and added Dear God to the record.. which was a B-side originally, and does not appear on the original album, but rather, a song called Mermaid Smiled does.. (which was removed to make space for Dear God)
this record is MUCH harder to find now ... (thankfully i finally got my copy!) ;)
recent rereleases now have both songs on the album.
Banjo Miner I'm proud of the comment that you made because you help people figure out what they believe in.
You will never be alone with God in your life. Only people let other people down.
Amazing... much applause
This is the new song im going to obsess over and learn note for note, thanks guys....serouisly thank you
I watched them do Jason & the Argonauts live, which confirms their magnificence live. Just seeing them on stage performing is good enough.
Nice work Andy! however you want to do it, its perfect! thanks for the rare gift of seeing you on stage (esp 29 years ago!)
I am old enough and was fortunate to see Andy Partridge fronting XTC several times before that final fear moment in L.A. when he collapsed back stage before their set and never returned to the stage again.
So sad that the tours stopped. This was one of the most powerful bands ever, live.
Oh well ... as Peter Green would say ...
Another sad story.
One of Homer P. Funslow's All Time Great Songs. Thank you XTC, egidio sabbadini,
and You Tube!
Never saw this before. Great stuff.
Gerard (Belfast)
This song sums up everything that's wrong with religion. Brilliant.
Unbelievable live wow
Andy should be put in the same frame as Lennon. Kept well under the radar for to long. This song is as as good as Imagine.
This song is much better than imagine ever was or ever could be. Realistically Lennon was hyped as being a lot better than he was
@@tailsoluv Mark David Chapman made him into a LEGEND. Nobody would give a shit about Lennon if he were still kicking around being a phoney.
This is a classic song and so well written. Lennon is overrated.
was this before milli vanilli... I forget. everyone did it, of course. Still, this is one of the greatest, most original bands of all time.
Following the excellent Greg Bendian podcasts with XTC..I thought it would be interesting to check out some of their material.
First impressions...excellent bass playing...great drumming from T Chambers..and Andy Partridge is very good as a live guitarist..I am reminded of Terry Reid’s failure to get really great material...
Anything that stops the killing and people hating each other for any reason is worth all the Angels in Heaven.
And anything that helps a single person be tolerant and not hate anyone is worth more than all of the money of the oligarchs that have bought my country and that promote hate for anyone they think is not the right color or religion. Anyone they fear will take away their ignorance and illusions.
Lyrics are so true
not really
Lovely, thanks.
Great song, great band but this is absolutely NOT live.
Luis Donado Yep, lip synced for sure, especially the child’s vocals, which was actually a girl.
So bloody what?
I know Andy Partridge has paralysing stage fright to the point he physically blacks out..perhaps this was the only way he felt comfortable performing on a stage in public..who knows but this is a phenomenal song by a fabulous band!
ruclips.net/video/buENneEy4bc/видео.html
@@vilepete those acoustic performances were basically the few legitimate live videos they did while they were not touring. music award shows are notorious for not doing actual live performances of the songs they’re showcasing.
Andy Partridge addresses someone in whom he doesn't even believe; it is a rather exquisite paradox! We could say that after all and somehow he believes in Him.... I absolutely love the song and the contradiction....
No contradiction there at all.
@@john8451 would you care to - at least - explain your point?
@@vilepete There is no contradiction. Andy Partridge does not believe in god and is using the trope of people praying to god to demonstrate the folly of this.
love this song when i herd it form the movie IT
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is the studio version
Increible tema. Pasan lo años y es actual.
Eres de Chile?
James spader sings really well.
Too bad not played live. Dear god.
Ouch!!! reality check!!! Love this song so true so true. I hope I'm right......
haha
What reality check? Blaming all bad things on one thing. Why not take responsibility for our own actions?
@@bent2 sorry for volcanoes, i take full responsability for them
He sounds good!
It’s lip-synch
either lip synced or edited in the live version
great song, lip synced though.
Nope, it’s live.
it is 💯 the album version
@@countessratzass5408 are you fucking around?
I can't hear the sound, gee I wonder why ?
I get a feeling that this is limp synced.
The boy is real..doesn't sound like video.
YEP
It’s actually sung by a girl that part not a boy
ya think?
Definitely lip synced
dear god, why they played it in playback?
...and Andy says goodbye to the stage 😢
The first time I heard this it made me think that if Christianity isn't real it's the biggest joke that's ever been played on man kind. Now 45 years layer I realize how true that song is
I’m a Christian and i fucking love this song
The Watch Tower and Bible and Tract Society could learn a lot from this song.
神などいない。XTC最高！
I WAS AT THE ACTUAL AWARDS SHOW. THE REST OF US WERE HANDED AN APOLOGY LETTER COPY FROM THE BAND FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING. I HAVE THE COPY SOMEWHERE IN MY COLLECTION INSIDE AN XTC JACKET. ALOT OF PEOPLE WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT NIGHT....SO THE APOLOGY FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING MEANT LITTLE.
It sounds like a lip sync, so while it stinks you didn't get to see them on stage, it wouldn't have been a standard performance anyways
yeah a lil girl sings this beginning. oh well done now
incorrect, its Colin's son Lee that sings on the album.. in fact this IS the album version you hear in this video... its lip-synched.
Afraid you are incorrect ... it was a girl, Jasmine Veillette, singing on the album and Lee Moulding performing the lip sync on this performance.
Per Wiki and Re: the track;
Producer Todd Rundgren had a different recollection, and said that Partridge demanded that the song be pulled because "He was afraid that there would be repercussions personally for him for taking on such a thorny subject. ... What a pussy. ... I called them and said, 'This is a mistake.'"[5] The first verse and closing line are sung by eight-year-old Jasmine Veillette, the daughter of a friend of Rundgren. In the video a boy lip-syncs her vocals.[6]
The sound is almost entirely coming from one side. Can you make a mono mix or correct the stereo mix. Thanks, other than technical issues thank you for posting.
sweeeet
why does it sound exactly the same performed live 🤯
最高！
I love so much xtc❤️❤️❤️❤️🖤🖤🖤🖤
I lived in Toronto at that time. I remember the CASBYs well. Oh to be one of those lucky fifty.
Hahaha. I was there. They moved everybody from the cheap seats to the center and only ran the cameras up that section so to appear there was a good sized crowd.
XTC did not show up and the entire show was pre recorded and lip synced.
@@brucemcdonald1114 fr?! That's terrible
Great alt band.
That was not live audio. Disappointing.
Anyone here from IT
me
Fuck off
I've gone deaf in my left ear
Did they film this to no audience because Andy was going through his stage fright period?
I was there and it was so obvious that the drummer was holding back.Drummers have more trouble lying.
They filmed this before the show... Andy does not have stage fright.
He experienced a panic attack/nervous breakdown onstage in Paris in March of 1982.
Since then he decided to devote his time to making studio recordings.
He’s been onstage many times over his career, and shows no signs of stage fright. But has admitted that he hates playing live and touring.
@@thorsprovoni2525 thanks for clarifying this. Some people love the whole stage fright thing. I think is because it supports the idea of the troubled artist/genius stereotype.
They were bigger in America than their native England at this time
funny you say that because I dont recall mtv pushing them to us. I remember Nigel and generals and majors back in the day. but thats it
sounds live to me
I'd say it isn't. Instruments identical to the studio version, vocals are artificially double tracked. The little boy nowhere near a microphone. Still. Nice to watch though. :)
@@davidsanderson5918 they were joking (at least I hope so)
Whys it in mono?
I'm only getting the right channel...
me too
Freakin Andy.
Like
More heathen tunes:
Dear God - Sarah McLachlan version
ruclips.net/video/HWoTET9BgF4/видео.html
Duran Duran - None Of The Above
ruclips.net/video/4ezrtGrpvSk/видео.html
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
ruclips.net/video/idn50Xj_CiY/видео.html
Rush - Witch Hunt
ruclips.net/video/YzBvA2uEjUI/видео.html
Midge Ure - Answers to Nothing
ruclips.net/video/-A6WCe6va_E/видео.html
Frank Zappa - Dumb All Over
ruclips.net/video/QTfOB_TBBew/видео.html
Heavenly Bank Account
ruclips.net/video/W1oXQ3BBoHs/видео.html
The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing
ruclips.net/video/Ck0ixmgyCQ0/видео.html
Tori Amos - "God"
ruclips.net/video/cN3rzi7dZVQ/видео.html
Marilyn Manson - Angel With the Scabbed Wings
ruclips.net/video/Am9hav-3J9E/видео.html
The The - Armageddon Days (Are Here Again)
ruclips.net/video/riMpAsjDQbA/видео.html
Joni Mitchell - Don't Interrupt The Sorrow
ruclips.net/video/h6Wsdkll5-s/видео.html
yes I recall a girl singing this back in the day. didnt know anything about xtc really because they werent pushed on us
playback
Such a beautifully cynical song
I am turning into an atheist. "God" knows why.
it natural to see stephen hawking singing this song.
who the fuck posts videos with the audio all in one ear.... ffs..!
SO WISH this wasn't mimed.
I HATE LIPSYNCING!!!!!!!!!!!
I like it and prefer it to live music
ruclips.net/video/buENneEy4bc/видео.html
/simps/ looking for a vibe out of creation
I'm not sure Andy himself entirely understood what he could or couldn't do in public, and it does feel like a certain amount of stubbornness to refuse to mime one song for the 2000 people as requested. It's not as if he'd stopped appearing in public or going on TV to promote and mime their singles
What does this comment mean?
Still lip syncing in ‘87, ridiculous.
Robinson Scott Rodriguez Helen Miller Scott
Sounds 100% lip synced. Incredible song, nonetheless.
ruclips.net/video/buENneEy4bc/видео.html
we all sing a different tune on our death beds
David lee Garner I'll be singing this wallpaper is hideous, one of us has to go.
we sing the tune of irrationality, fear, resignation, or any other strong uncontrollable emotion related to inminent death
if that is the moment when you think religion can become a possibility to unbelievers, in the monents of highest vulnerability, fear, devoid of any logic or reasoning, that says more about the nature of religion than of the person in his deathbed
@@rexkraft_ nicely put
Never really got all the hype with this song ? It's far from one of the best songs ever ! And especially XTC'S. No wonder the band dropped it from Skylarking .Listen to " This World Over " Now that's a song.
it was dropped for time, not so much theme
You need to seek professional help Stephen...
Actually,it was ADDED to Skylarking.
Don't blame God for what the the devil and fallen man is doing. I like XTC's music but this song is blaming the wrong person.
Andy has a naive world view like many on this planet have. He has taken alot of heat for this song because of the lyrics. He himself has admitted that he lacks knowledge regarding politics and philosophical questions. So the lyrcis reflects that. Even Dave Gregory had reservations about this song.
Oh dear
Andy had reservations about this song (didn't want to include it on Skylarking) because it didn't properly express his feelings on such a complex subject,
so instead, he wrote the song from the perspective of a child, questioning God about why he included suffering in his creation; it was meant to be naive.
I think you miss the point of the song, he is saying that God and the Devil and religions are human inventions:
"Did you make mankind after we made you? And the Devil too!"
"Dear God don't know if you noticed but
Your name is on a lot of quotes in this book
And us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look"
He is being ironic when he is blaming God. What he is saying is that if there is an all powerful God then why is there so much bad in the world - to him (and atheists in general) an all powerful, benevolent God creating, controlling and listening to everything doesn't make any sense when you look at how unfair life is. That is the nub of the song although Andy himself was worried that the song over simplified this.
I accept you don't believe in his view which is fair enough, I just hope you can appreciate what a passionate and clever song this is just like many XTC songs.
I think you are missing the point completely.
He is saying that god and the devil are human creations therefore ultimately we are responsible for everything we do.
The worst song Andy ever wrote by far. He really let himself and his fans down with this one.
Couldn't agree more ....Never understood why people went overboard with this song . But it was in America, which sez alot it was not released as a single here !
Andy has wrote some tremendous songs . One of his best being
This World Over.
This is a fine example of songwriting. BTW - I care not for any religious beliefs that you might have, that prevents you from recognising a great song.
Partridge didn't want this song. All of a sudden, a video and all the rest, no wonder XTC didn't have commercial success, it was all fake ...