No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor
No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God
When it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from the party yet
No one laughs at God when their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they're mistaken
No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door and they say we got some bad news, sir
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine or fire or flood
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they're 'bout to choke
God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious, ha ha
Ha ha
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God
When they've lost all they've got and they don't know what for
No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they're 'bout to choke
God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughing at God in hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God, we're all laughing with God
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor
No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God
When it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from the party yet
No one laughs at God when their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they're mistaken
No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door and they say we got some bad news, sir
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine or fire or flood
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they're 'bout to choke
God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious, ha ha
Ha ha
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God
When they've lost all they've got and they don't know what for
No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they're 'bout to choke
God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughing at God in hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God, we're all laughing with God
Lyrics submitted by tinylittlewords
"Laughing With" as written by Regina Spektor
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The chorus is about the ridiculous perversions and commercialisations of religion, and how laughable the whole thing gets - all the paraphernalia, all the hatred it sparks, all the bullshit.
And then the verses are about the little jump of terror in your heart when you're staring something awful in the face and for a second you really wish someone was there to save you or help you - or you just wish that things were somehow in somebody's control, when in fact they really aren't. I think it's that primal terror in all of us that continues to give religion so much power despite all the ridiculous aspects of it.
I think that's what this song is about - what it is in people's hearts that makes them accept all the stupid parts of god, and why people just laugh at the ridiculous parts without ever rejecting religion. We'd rather be 'in on the joke', laughing with god, clinging to things that deep down we're not 100% sure are true, because the idea that we're all alone is too scary to bear.
So many people think this song seems pro-religious, and I definitely disagree. You could not have put it better, great post.
all in all, a great post to a great song.
Often times, when people's lives are going great they mock God and hate him, but suddenly when things turn terrible, they are praying for everything to be better again. Kind of like how a lot of people take God's name in vain when they don't even believe in him...it's the weirdest thing ever.
"For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute." Hebrews 6:16
Well, no one's laughing AT God when they are hoping by some divine miracle, their misery will change, because they know by no power of man could anything be done. Perhaps she's singing about how people flip and flop in their relationship towards the idea of God or with God Himself.
It reminds me of that scene in Harry Potter, which I think is one of the most brilliant answers to the religion vs logic conundrum: Harry is in like a semi-heaven purgatory, and asks Dumbledore "hey, is this, like, FOR REAL? or is it all in my head?"
to which Dumbledore retorts "OF COURSE it's in your head!...but... why should that mean that it's not real?"
I think that this song is brilliant even from a pro-religion standpoint, because it's more a commentary on the human pereception of God, and how counter-intuitive and downright weird it is if you stop and think about it. It's not pro or anti, it's just pointing out "hey, religion is actually pretty weird guys." which is a compliment IMO.
Your analysis is accurate, but there is more than one conclusion to be drawn from said analysis.
I think the whole idea of God, to some people is a joke now a days.
All the Jesus and God jokes and such. And I think most of the song
is talking about how when you're put into serious situations like those,
you're not laughing anymore, what do you turn to?
But yeah I think she's also acknowledging God has a sense of humor, which is
very true.
I just loveee me some Reginaa <3
The song doesn't really say anything about whether or not God actually exists... It's irrelevant.
I love this song... Some of the lines give me chills.
Anyway, looking at this song objectively, I don't believe Regina is trying to express any of her own religious views in this song, and if you're able to step outside of your own views then the meaning changes a little. When I first heard this song, I loved it. I'm a Christian, and I automatically took a Christian view on the meaning of the lyrics. But after actually reading them over, Regina is simply observing American society from a third person perspective. I agree with those saying it's neither pro- nor anti-God or religion, it's just a simple fact that people confidently joke about certain issues, but as soon as their faced with something that challenges them, their laughter stops and they try to cover their asses.
In Regina's own words, they laugh at people who "get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke," they laugh at people who hope God will "give you money if you just pray the right way," and they laugh at people who think God is "like a genie who does magic like Houdini."
Indeed, Rowan Atkinson's "Amazing Jesus" sketch (google it on youtube) milks the latter joke brilliantly, suggesting Jesus' miracles, such as turning water into wine, were actually just the same as modern day "magic tricks."
Regina asserts these things actually ARE funny, which suggests the perspective of an UNBELIEVER. Believers do not assert that these things ARE "hilarious!"
And yet, while Regina asserts that God jokes are funny, she suggests that death, war, starvation, loss, etc are such painful human realities, that we will forsake our dismissive rationalist jokes about believers, and briefly become wannabe believers ourselves, in desperate moments.
Such is our desire for someone, anyone, to reach out a helping hand, when times are hard, that we will play the ultimate joke on ourselves. Our rational mind falters, embracing the construct of a non-apparent, probably non-existent God, for comfort.
We laugh, in those moments, at ourselves, at our rational mind: we are "LAUGHING WITH" this God-construct at ourselves, at rationality, at the human condition, at EVERYTHING.
This and adding the thoughts I believe to be the explanation of two different meanings for the first part :
1) Someone else already said that: if God is considered to be the cause of the troubles, you have no reason to laugh at Him, cause this is not funny at all. It is pretty painful. Then He is just a sarcastic being, and we are dammed.
2) Those who will not resent at God will take Him seriously and look for "His help in time of need"
The chorus is DEFINITELY about people who believe in God but actually picture Him in a very tragicomic way - and who in a sane mind would wanna believe in such a hateful and pathetic god anyway?
And if Regina is as smart as I am thinking she is, she meant it all both ways. Dualistic, ambivalent, tricky and ironic. Don´t you think?
Too bad it is missing another point of view on God, but it comforts me that the song isn´t about God. It is about religion and how humans didn´t find yet a wise way to go about this topic, it is mostly contradictory, hateful, pathetic and shallow.
To close it, I agree with both views that say that the "we are all laughing with God" is
1) the childish excuse "we are not laughing at You God"
2) the irony of being part of the whole religion joke ourselves.
Oh, if we could all know if there is a real God indeed and who is He after all...
.
HAHA. We Christians don't believe in the 'magical man in the sky' either. We believe in God. One god. The only god. (And I would bet my life that YOU believe there may be ET life out there in the galaxy yet you don't believe there could be a god. SOOOO logical of you:) It's "wounded ex=Christians" who are the usual atheists; they were abused by parents or born with disease; challenges; etc. They are disgrungled and can't understand why God did not save them. God was VERY clear on homosexuality. The act is sinful. That is not hate on the part of God. It is what it is; those born with crosses must rise about them. Life is not fair. And although pastors should be preaching love and leaving the afterlife to God's judgment, they are not far off the mark; the bible contains few reference to homosexuality, and where it does the act is seen as unacceptable. Man with woman is the only constant through the Bible. And considering we've seen the spread of Aids mainly among homosexual men and drug abusers, I do believe God knew what He was talking about when it comes to partnering (and monogamy). So you can "laugh" at God and His teachings, but they are sound. And just because they are not easy (as talking is not easy with my gay friends and having to refrain from discussing gay rights and 'marriage'), we as Christians are STILL supposed to follow the teachings. God is not laughing when the sanctiy of marriage is violated; when the state passes laws that ridicule God's teachings; and when wayward, angry atheists mock Christianity and Christians. The song is about laughing WITH God, not at Him. But to an athesist as yourself who only stopped believing due to the hands of your born-again messed up parents, everything that comes out of your mouth is suspect (and dishonest to the core!)
Nothing personal, I am just pointing this out to make a point of what I really meant to write here: I think you misunderstood cattieloves´ comment and was a little to harsh on her.
What I like about this site is how respectful people tend to be with each other even if they totally disagree in point of views.
If you are really a Christian, please keep the standard high and be respectful.
No personal attacking here towards someone´s commentary ok? That is a very bad picture of a Christian... no atheists had that attitude here so far.
Hope you get it nicely.
I assume you are prone to accept we all make mistakes, like you probably do when assuming so many wrong things about people like on your commentary above.
We do make a lot of bad judgment and wrong assumptions. Thank God we are both Christians and understand the need of humbleness and forgiveness right?
Ps2: cattielove is obviously not an atheist. If she was, she´d never write God with capital letters. Only people who believe He is a person with a proper name do that. And her argument quoted and misunderstood by you is not defending anything you might think is wrong. It is just putting things from the perspective of these people - like yourself pointed out: very hurt people. And what do we offer for people who are hurting? Compassion. No more stones, thank you.
The only angry person in the commentaries here I´ve seen so far was you (and I´ve surely read more than 200). Not any atheist.
Please, think about it and reconsider your own prejudices in the topics you commented on. Your point of view and conclusions do not exhale the love and wisdom Jesus showed to sinner when he was on Earth. Not at all.
But we all make mistakes, don´t we?
Hope God laughs at that sometimes. We should...
Actually I am an atheist and this time I wrote God with capital G... sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, depends on the context. This time I just went with the lyrics.
But that's just what I got from listening to it a few time, I might change my mind later :) But it's amazing and I'm so glad she brought back her old style a little more. It's a little bit of a mix between Songs and Soviet Kitch (Which are my two favorite albums)
Like how "no one's laughing at God in a hospital"
this song is beautiful!!!!!!
This is what she's saying.
Good song.
I agree with LovePeaceRachel and will say I definetley thinks this song is a representation of how people mock and laugh at God, taking him and the afterlife as a joke and non existent. Until something wrong happens and we realise that we're all really so vulnerable and affected by everything.
Pretty simple reading but I reckon it's great Regina's written a song on it.
So excited for Far!!
I see it more as God being a powerful bully who starts wars, famine, fires, floods... and people not laughing at him because he put them in a situation that isn't funny.
Thanks for your post, and beautiful song, eh? ( :
When we make a punchline of someone, and realize that person is standing right behind us, we say, "we werent laughing at you!.... we were laughing *with* you!" It seems to me that the last lines mean to say that while in good times (cocktail parties), when we feel no need for a protector and guiding light, we may mistreat and devalue God by making a punchline of him, but during times of anguish and hardship (war), when we have no place to which to go and no one to whom to turn, we feel God's presence and our need for his help. Remembering or past indiscretions, we seek to cover our tracks and, in a way, ask for forgiveness and reconciliation, in order to beg for his guidance and intercession.
A song about tragedy, human vulnerability and mortality, but also, I believe, about the omnipresence of a loving benefactor, or at least, for those who don't believe, a security blanket (something which, in one form or another, we all need at some point in our lives). In beautiful contrast to the minor chord and accompanying despair throughout the bulk of the song, the final, major chord leaves me with a feeling of of hope and comfort, as if to say, "it'll all be OK."
In any event: quite a masterpiece Regina, to expand so simple an idea into a heartfelt, reflective piece such as this.