Lyrically the song is about the eternal battle between good and evil within us all. There is no preaching but just questions and speculation about the forces of good and evil, the composition of the universe, and the nature of religion. Although God is about a weighty subject matter Hunter finishes the song simply and positively "behave yourself," and in an off-hand way God appears to respond "see you around." The message seems to be that it's all going to be ok.
Great news! Advance copies of On Track Ian Hunter have reached the publisher and will be available soon!
Upcoming Podcast Appearances! More details soon:
Better To ...? Podcast, recorded a terrific conversation, due for release 2 August 2024.
In the meantime, listen to previous appearances!
Yeah Uh-Huh by Lisa and Phil https://youtu.be/r46AbOSo-MM?si=uuWy3T8rQjhnGkwS
Tell Me About Your Book, The Phenomenal Musician John Christian
https://www.facebook.com/.../pfbid09pnutefvQEpSF8uz8jMTip...
Set Lusting Bruce with Jesse Jackson https://podcasts.apple.com/.../set.../id1038228650...
HODGEPOD with Rob Fredette https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bgfx7-14962b2
Toby Gribben Show, awesome show, and live 8 February 2024!
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Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
God (Take 1)
(Ian Hunter)
God said to me "Gonna kick your ass - 'cos all you do is ask ask ask
All that energy looking for me when I'm sitting here inside you - plain to see
How I built you cell for cell gave you sights to see - gave you tales to tell
Even let you help yourself for a while - to take some weight off this busy child"
I said to God "I found you out - I know what this world is all about!"
God said "Stop - don't scramble your brain -
my opponent's been messing you around again
See him and me are enemies and we play little games for galaxies
And he's inside you - 'n I am too - so here we are - just the three of you"
"Oh we made mistakes - too many cards - but making human beings can be hard
A God gets tired of playing so much chess -
he wishes his God would get him out of his mess"
I said to God "What's it like to die" He said "It's as plain as the sea and sky
Conception was him and me and you - when your batteries fade we all just move on"
I said to God "Who's winning this game - is the devil in front"
He said "Is that his name
You know I've been so busy I never asked -
I never looked up from this awesome task"
I said to God "What's good 'n bad"
He said "It's just something you've got to have
It don't mean nothing to us up here -
but your primitive people - you gotta have fear"
I said to God "Do I think for myself"
He said I told you once you just help yourself
Don't forget you're composed of three, your thinking comes from him and me"
I said to God "How big are you, is there a religion - is it true
How big's the universe - is time - the same for you as my life is to mine"
God said "If all the things that made worlds float -
were all to part - then you would note
The size of him and the size of me - and that's how big we both shall be"
He said "The universe is small - just like some fortune-teller's ball
And we both sit down - and we play the game -
when somebody wins it all starts again"
"There's no religion - you did that - it helps to keep your little leaders fat
Like faith 'n superstition stay - to help you pass the time away
But when you talk of time and life - it makes me think of circles, heights
Expansion is the clue - your dreams - are nearer than you've ever been"
"You see my little toy to think - is from two bowls of wine to drink
Don't take too much or you may drown - behave yourself - see you around..."
Ian Hunter LP/CD: "All American Alien Boy"
Sleeve and track listing
Sony BMG 82876 769432.
Sleeve variations
The 1998 UK sleeve
The original sleeve
Review
Ian recorded his second solo album in NYC, and this finds him in an altogether softer mood - there are none of Ian's trademark rockers on this album. Management differences meant that Mick Ronson was absent ("I'll never work with Mick again so long as Tony DeFries is his manager" - Ian), so Ian brought in Chris Stainton on keyboards to act as a balancing force in the studio ("I need someone who'll argue with me").
Highlight of the album is Irene Wilde (which Ian maintains is a true story), and You Nearly Did Me In(which features Queen's Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor on backing vocals).
The 2006 reissue sees excellent sound quality, and a host of bonus tracks none of which have been released before. It also comes with an excellent booklet written by Campbell Devine. The original version of Rape has been restored, which some may see as a disappointment compared with the rare intro on the previous 1998 CD.
This is the third release of this album on CD. This album was previously available on a USA CD. Sound quality was good, considering that by all accounts the master tapes were not in good shape. No bonus tracks. In 1998 this album was issued in the UK as part of Sony's Rewind series. Sound quality was excellent, audibly better than the USA CD. The 1998 CD also came with a previously-unavailable version of Rape, which had the Singin' In The Rain intro. This version was previously available only on a few US test pressings and had never been issued officially before!
| God (Take 1) | 5:44 | Originally issued on All American Alien Boy. It can also be found on the compilation Gold. |
| (God) Advice To A Friend (Alternate Version) | 5:28 | An alternate version of God (Take 1) can be found on the compilation Once Bitten Twice Shy. |
| (God) Advice To A Friend (Session Outtake) | 5:31 | Another alternate version of God (Take 1) is on the 2006 and 2016 CD reissues of All American Alien Boy. |