It was after relocating to New York City in the early '90s (to study at N.Y.U.'s film school) that Osborne began to take a singing career seriously after singing Billie Holiday's classic "God Bless the Child" at a local bar's "open mic night." In addition to Holiday, Osborne looked to such legendary vocalists as Etta James and Ray Charles as role models, as the up-and-coming singer decided not to cater to major record companies and formed her own label, Womanly Hips, which resulted in such releases as 1992's in-concert Soul Show, among others. But eventually, Osborne decided to sign on with a major label, Mercury, which in turn issued the singer's next release, 'Relish,' in March 1995. The album eventually racked up sales of three million copies and proved to have a long life, as almost a year after its initial release the track "One of Us" became a massive MTV and radio smash, camping out at the number-one spot on the U.S. singles chart for 2 weeks. Other tracks ("Right Hand Man" and "St. Teresa") failed to match the success of Osborne's first hit, but the singer still managed to connect with a large and appreciative audience, especially while touring as part of the 1997 edition of Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair tour. Osborne received numerous Grammy nominations in both 1996 and 1997.
Producing a worthy followup to Relish proved to be a time-consuming challenge for Osborne. Mercury tried to buy her some time by issuing a compilation release, 'Early Recordings' (which collected the early releases 'Live at Delta '88' and 'Blue Million Miles'). In the meantime, Osborne focused on supporting a few groups/causes she felt strongly about, such as Rock the Vote and Planned Parenthood (eventually being named an honorary member of Planned Parenthood's Board of Advocates), besides covering "I'm Just a Bill" as a duet with Isaac Hayes on the 1998 'Schoolhouse Rocks the Vote' benefit album. Osborne also studied briefly with the late Qawwali master Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and performed alongside such notables as Stevie Wonder, Melissa Etheridge, Taj Mahal, Luciano Pavarotti, Spearhead, Bob Dylan, and the Chieftains.
September 2000 finally saw the release of Osborne's second all-new studio album, titled 'Righteous Love'; but it failed to match its predecessor's commercial success and sank from sight shortly after its release. In 2002, Osborne bounced back with 'How Sweet It Is,' a collection of covers that leaned heavily on classic soul and R&B tunes from the 1960s and '70s. A career retrospective, 'One of Us,' came out in 2005.
Osborne played a prominent role in the 2002 film "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," performing with the legendary Motown house band the Funk Brothers in a concert performance segment, and appearing with several members of the group in an interview segment. She and her band accompanied the Dixie Chicks for a national tour in the summer of 2003, during which time she also joined veteran San Francisco jam-rockers the Dead as a vocalist, and released her fourth album, titled 'How Sweet It Is,' a collection of classic rock and soul covers.
During 2005 and 2006, she performed on numerous occasions with Phil Lesh and Friends. In February 2007, she appeared at the Grand Ole Opry.
In November 2006, Osborne released 'Pretty Little Stranger,' her self-described "Nashville album."
In May 2007, Osborne issued 'Breakfast in Bed,' a return to the soul music that she had covered on 'How Sweet It Is'. 'Breakfast in Bed' also featured the two songs ("Heatwave" and "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted") that she had covered for the film Standing in the Shadows of Motown.
She sings lead vocals on the cover of "Spoonful" on Vivian Campbell's solo album 'Two Sides Of If'.' Osborne also provided some vocals for "Wayfaring Stranger" on Spearhead's 1997 album 'Chocolate Supa Highway.' Joan is featured on The Holmes Brothers 2007 collection 'State of Grace' performing "Those Memories of You," an old Allan O'Bryant and Bill Monroe bluegrass tune.
Her album Bring It On Home was released on March 27, 2012. It is a collection of vintage blues and soul covers, and it received a 2013 Grammy Awards nomination for Best Blues Album.
Osborne was a member of Trigger Hippy from 2012 to 2018.
Osborne released the original album Love and Hate in 2014, and in 2017 the album Songs of Bob Dylan. A new album of original songs, Trouble and Strife, is due in September 2020.
One Of Us
Joan Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in Jesus and the Saints
And all the prophets?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Just tryin' to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope, maybe in Rome
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Just tryin' to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone?
Back up to heaven all alone
Just tryin' to make his way home
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
Joan Osborne's iconic song "One of Us" is a thought-provoking ballad that examines the relationship between humans and the divine. The song's primary focus is on how people perceive God and what they would do if they were face to face with Him. The lyrics question whether God is a human-like figure who can interact with people on a personal level or an abstract being who is beyond human understanding. The idea of God being "one of us" is a concept that troubles many people, as it suggests that the divine is more accessible than previously thought.
The song's chorus, which is repeated twice throughout the song, is a reflection on how people see and interact with God. It declares that God is great and good, and reaffirms this belief by repeating it several times. The verses, however, are much more introspective and ask difficult questions about the nature of faith. The first verse, for example, asks what God's name would be if He had one and whether people would dare to speak it to His face. The second verse explores the idea of God having a face and presenting the difficult question of whether people would be willing to believe in the divine if they could see it.
Overall, "One of Us" is a thought-provoking reflection on faith and how people interact with the divine. By posing difficult questions, Joan Osborne encourages listeners to question their relationship with God and to consider what they would do if they ever came face to face with the divine.
Line by Line Meaning
If God had a name what would it be?
If you were to give a name to the idea or belief of a higher being, what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were to meet this higher being, would you feel confident enough to address it by your given name for it?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?
If you were met with this higher being in its full form, what would be the one thing you would want to know?
What if God was one of us?
What if this higher being was not an omnipotent force beyond human understanding but rather just another human like any of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Just an average everyday human trying to navigate life, facing the same challenges and struggles as any other person?
If God had a face what would it look like?
If this higher being was a human, what would this person look like?
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in Jesus and the Saints
And all the prophets?
Would you be willing to see this human, even if it meant you had to truly believe in ideas such as heaven, Jesus, the saints, and the prophets?
Just tryin' to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope, maybe in Rome
This human is just trying to find their way back to their place of origin, to find salvation and enlightenment, with only the Pope as the possible line of communication.
Like a holy rolling stone?
Back up to heaven all alone
Just tryin' to make his way home
This human, like a blessed wanderer, is just looking to find their way back to their divine home.
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
This human is left alone in their journey, with no one reaching out to them aside from the Pope who is preoccupied in Rome.
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
Despite the possibility of this higher being being just an average human, its greatness, goodness, and ultimate existence are still extolled.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eric M. Bazilian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Thiago1816953
One Of Us
(So one of these nights and about twelve o'clock)
(This old world's going to reel and rock)
(Saints will tremble and cry for pain)
(For the Lord's gonna come in His heavenly airplane)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
If God had a name
What would it be? And would you call it to His face
If you were faced with Him in all His glory?
What would you ask if you had just one question?
Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
If God had a face
What would it look like? And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in Jesus and the saints
And all the prophets?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Just trying to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody calling on the phone
'Cept for the Pope, maybe, in Rome
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Just trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just trying to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone
'Cept for the Pope, maybe, in Rome
@lisandroisso8703
Lyrics:
If God had a name what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in Jesus and the Saints
And all the prophets?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Just tryin' to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope, maybe in Rome
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Just tryin' to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone?
Back up to heaven all alone
Just tryin' to make his way home
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
@henrylinks1087
God and religion are two different things.
one is created by man for control
and the other is the creator of man for love
free will is everything
God gave us that for a reason
use it wisely
God bless
much love
@emalehchevska6235
Lyrics
If God had a name what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in Jesus and the Saints
And all the prophets?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Just tryin' to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope, maybe in Rome
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Just tryin' to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone?
Back up to heaven all alone
Just tryin' to make his way home
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
@rafaelvieira1262
Lirics
If God had a name what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in Jesus and the Saints
And all the prophets?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Just tryin' to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope, maybe in Rome
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Just tryin' to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone?
Back up to heaven all alone
Just tryin' to make his way home
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
@ancestral64
Lyrics
If God had a name what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
And yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see if, seeing meant
That you would have to believe in things like heaven
And in Jesus and the saints, and all the prophets?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
And yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Just tryin' to make his way home
Like back up to heaven all alone
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
And yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Just tryin' to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just tryin' to make his way home
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
@kathyy4445
Lyrics:
So one of these nights and about twelve o'clock
This old world's going to reel and rock
Saints will tremble and cry for pair
For the lord's gonna come in his heavenly airplain
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
If God had a name what would it be
And would you call it to His face
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?
And yeah, yeah God is great
Yeah, yeah God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make His way home
If God had a face what would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like Heaven and in Jesus and the Saints
And all the Prophets
And yeah, yeah God is great
Yeah, yeah God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Tryin' to make his way home
Back up to Heaven all alone
Nobody callin' on the phone
Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
Yeah, yeah God is great
Yeah, yeah God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to Heaven all alone
Just tryin' to make his way home
Nobody callin' on the phone
Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
@helenaserbu
One of Us
/
Letras
Se Deus tivesse um nome qual seria?
If God had a name what would it be?
E você diria isso na cara dele?
And would you call it to his face?
Se você estivesse diante Dele em toda a Sua glória
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
O que você perguntaria se tivesse apenas uma pergunta?
What would you ask if you had just one question?
E sim, sim, Deus é grande
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Sim, sim, Deus é bom
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Sim, sim, sim-sim-sim
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
E se Deus fosse um de nós?
What if God was one of us?
Apenas um desleixado como um de nós
Just a slob like one of us
Apenas um estranho no ônibus
Just a stranger on the bus
Tentando voltar para casa?
Tryin' to make his way home?
Se Deus tivesse um rosto, como ele seria?
If God had a face what would it look like?
E você gostaria de ver
And would you want to see
Se ver significasse que você teria que acreditar
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
Em coisas como o céu e em Jesus e os santos
In things like heaven and in Jesus and the Saints
E todos os profetas?
And all the prophets?
E sim, sim, Deus é grande
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Sim, sim, Deus é bom
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Sim, sim, sim-sim-sim
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
E se Deus fosse um de nós?
What if God was one of us?
Apenas um desleixado como um de nós
Just a slob like one of us
Apenas um estranho no ônibus
Just a stranger on the bus
Tentando voltar para casa?
Tryin' to make his way home?
Apenas tentando fazer o seu caminho para casa
Just tryin' to make his way home
Voltar para o céu sozinho
Back up to heaven all alone
Ninguém ligando no telefone
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Exceto para o Papa, talvez em Roma
'Cept for the Pope, maybe in Rome
E sim, sim, Deus é grande
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Sim, sim, Deus é bom
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Sim, sim, sim-sim-sim
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
E se Deus fosse um de nós?
What if God was one of us?
Apenas um desleixado como um de nós
Just a slob like one of us
Apenas um estranho no ônibus
Just a stranger on the bus
Tentando voltar para casa?
Tryin' to make his way home?
Apenas tentando fazer o seu caminho para casa
Just tryin' to make his way home
Como uma pedra rolante sagrada?
Like a holy rolling stone?
Voltar para o céu sozinho
Back up to heaven all alone
Apenas tentando fazer o seu caminho para casa
Just tryin' to make his way home
Ninguém ligando no telefone
Nobody callin' on the phone
'Exceto para o Papa, talvez em Roma
'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
@KarlRock
It’s such a thought provoking song ❤
@Lee-wz2cz
LOVE THIS SONG............
@bennhoey1966.
@@Lee-wz2czme to. Always did.
@willritter4076
I'd be honored if some 90s fans would take a listen to my acoustic piano & vocal YouTube performances of IF GOD WAS ONE OF US by Joan Osborne and BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY by the Verve in tribute to 2 standards of the mid/late 90s era. Live acoustic with no autotune or digital editing. Peace out and stay safe in the '020s.
@hugosandoval8374
Dos cervesita
😅dos cervesitas
@GPWT-video
hi all :-)
@ryzesvillacortez6176
It's 2024. How many Legends are still Listening / watching this masterpiece. 😍 Well, you're not alone.
@aisideng1709
Me !!!
@prezzie1
Me too. An absolute masterpiece of music
@ligia8994
Me