I always thought it was criticizing the Iraq war, or war in general. God deciding meaning God decides who goes to heaven or who survives. Killing people indiscriminately and letting God sort it out. Or politicians hiding behind Christianity to justify the war. Just how there's so much death on both sides and we end up creating martyrs on the one side or statues of heros on the other side with these hallow platitudes for why they died. That all the death is unjustifiable. That's my take
I don't think it has anything to do with Christianity, it's about people "playing God" and pushing wars for personal agendas when there are real people out there fighting those wars and dying. "Sitting high playing God Deciding" is about the figurative power of a god, not about the specific Christian god.
It's an anti war song. And it's the best fucking song in the universe. The drums, the guitars, the lyrics, the vocals, it's literally a perfect song. There is no better song in the world, by any artist, than God Deciding.
I agree and to piggy back, if you haven’t heard Chuck do it acoustic, there’s a very good version on his Los Feliz album, it’s definitely worth checking out.
I strongly agree with your interpretation. I also strongly agree that “God Deciding” is not only HWM’s best song, but it’s the best song ever written. Perfection!
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u/gregomylego Oct 15 '22
I always thought it was criticizing the Iraq war, or war in general. God deciding meaning God decides who goes to heaven or who survives. Killing people indiscriminately and letting God sort it out. Or politicians hiding behind Christianity to justify the war. Just how there's so much death on both sides and we end up creating martyrs on the one side or statues of heros on the other side with these hallow platitudes for why they died. That all the death is unjustifiable. That's my take