The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Where do we go nobody knows?
I've gotta say I'm on my way down
God give me style and give me grace
God put a smile upon my face
Where do we go to draw the line?
I've gotta say
I wasted all your time, honey honey
Where do I go to fall from grace?
God put a smile upon your face
Yeah
Now when you work it out I'm worse than you
Yeah when you work it out I wanted to
Now when you work out where to draw the line
Your guess is as good as mine
Where do we go nobody knows?
Don't ever say you're on your way down when
God gave you style and gave you grace
And put a smile upon your face
Ah yeah
Now when you work it out I'm worse than you
Yeah when you work it out I wanted to
Now when you work out where to draw the line
Your guess is as good as mine
It's as good as mine
It's as good as mine
It's as good as mine
As good as mine
As good as mine
As good as mine
As good as mine
Where do we go nobody knows?
Don't ever say you're on your way down when
God gave you style and gave you grace
And put a smile upon your face
I've gotta say I'm on my way down
God give me style and give me grace
God put a smile upon my face
Where do we go to draw the line?
I've gotta say
I wasted all your time, honey honey
Where do I go to fall from grace?
God put a smile upon your face
Yeah
Now when you work it out I'm worse than you
Yeah when you work it out I wanted to
Now when you work out where to draw the line
Your guess is as good as mine
Where do we go nobody knows?
Don't ever say you're on your way down when
God gave you style and gave you grace
And put a smile upon your face
Ah yeah
Now when you work it out I'm worse than you
Yeah when you work it out I wanted to
Now when you work out where to draw the line
Your guess is as good as mine
It's as good as mine
It's as good as mine
It's as good as mine
As good as mine
As good as mine
As good as mine
As good as mine
Where do we go nobody knows?
Don't ever say you're on your way down when
God gave you style and gave you grace
And put a smile upon your face
Lyrics submitted by zygoticmynci, edited by Mellow_Harsher, thecriclover99
God Put A Smile Upon Your Face Lyrics as written by Guy Rupert Berryman Christopher Anthony John Martin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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I really don't think the main theme is religion, I think it's more about the line between right and wrong. In the first stanza, the speaker made some sort of mistake. Maybe he lost his job or something... And he's asking for the strength to keep his head up on his "way down". He wants to have style and grace about it instead of being a sore loser. His situation gets him thinking about his life/opinions.
In the second stanza I get the feeling he's having a discussion with someone, and admitting that he was wrong. That his lectures about the right way to do things were a waste of time. He's realising that things aren't black and white. That sometimes there isn't a clear line between the correct way to lead your life and the incorrect one.
3rd stanza: He used to think he was better than others, perhaps because he's richer, a harder worker or more successful then them, but now he realises he might be worse off. He's fallen from grace and no longer has everything figured out. "now when we work out where to draw the line" it seems they worked it out before, and he was sure of himself, but now this confusion is a new thing.
At the end he starts to regain hope. Maybe, just like his friend, he doesn't have to have his life's plan ready. Even though sometimes you feel all is lost, you never actually know where life and God will take you.
@Natique I agree with your interpretion 100%