Dear God
Sarah McLachlan Lyrics

Dear God
The singer addresses God, implying a sense of familiarity and possibly comfort, but also a feeling of frustration.

Hope you got the letter and...
The singer states that they have previously communicated with God through a letter, and implies that this letter may express some of the sentiments contained in the song.

I pray you can make it better down here
The singer implores God to intervene and improve the current state of the world, suggesting that such action is needed to address various issues.

I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer
The artist humorously clarifies that their request for improvement does not extend to trivial concerns such as the cost of alcohol.

But all the people that you made in your image
The artist acknowledges that humans are seen as created in the image of God, and therefore draws attention to the inequalities and problems faced by people in the world.

See them starving on their feet
The singer describes the dire situation of people who are malnourished or starving, emphasizing the physical circumstances of their suffering.

'Cause they don't get enough to eat
This line identifies the lack of access to food as a key factor that contributes to global poverty and hunger.

From God
The artist places the blame on God for this issue, arguing that if God created humans in his image, he has failed to provide for them adequately.

I can't believe in you
The artist acknowledges that they have lost faith in God or are experiencing a crisis of faith due to the state of the world.

Sorry to disturb you but...
The artist apologizes for the interruption, reflecting a sense of deference to God's supposed authority or importance.

I feel that I should be here loud and clear
This line suggests that the singer feels a strong need to speak out against the problems they see in the world, even if it means challenging God.

We all need a big reduction
The artist identifies a need for significant changes to address widespread suffering or inequality.

In the amount of tears
This line symbolizes the emotional suffering and despair experienced by people in the world, and implies that some of this suffering could be alleviated if the world were better.

And all the people that you made in your image
Again, the singer references the idea that humans are made in God's image, and are therefore entitled to a better existence.

See them fighting in the street
The singer describes violent conflict as another negative consequence of the inequalities and injustices in the world.

'Cause they can't make opinions meet about God
This line suggests that disagreements about religion or faith have often been a source of conflict or division between groups of people.

Did you make disease
The artist poses a series of rhetorical questions that challenge God's role in creating various aspects of the world, including illness and evil.

And the diamond blue?
This line is an example of the singer's use of poetic language and metaphors to question the purpose of various aspects of the created world.

Did you make mankind
The singer rhetorically asks God if he created humanity, but also implies that humans may have a degree of agency or responsibility for their own choices and actions.

After we made you?
This line questions the narrative of God as an all-powerful creator, and suggests that the existence of God may be a product of human invention or imagination.

And the devil too?
The artist continues to challenge the traditional religious worldview, by questioning the role of the devil as a symbol of evil or temptation.

Don't know if you noticed but...
The artist adopts a tone of sarcasm as they question God's awareness of the current world situation or their own critique of religious beliefs.

Your name is on a lot of quotes in this book
This line reflects on the role of religious texts in shaping people's beliefs, but also questions the validity of these beliefs or the degree to which they are actually representative of God's will.

And as crazy humans wrote it
The artist suggests that human beings are flawed or fallible, and that religious texts may have been written from a human, rather than divine perspective.

You should take a look
The singer again addresses God directly, urging them to confront the realities of the current world situation and reflect on the religious beliefs that have contributed to this state of affairs.

Still believing that junk is true
The singer derides the persistence of religious beliefs that they see as outdated, harmful, or misleading, based on their own interpretation of the world and its problems.

Well I know it ain't and so do you, dear God
The singer asserts a certain level of confidence in their own perspective, and suggests that if God were to acknowledge the same issues, they would agree that changes need to be made.

I don't believe in
The artist repeats their earlier sentiment of disbelief or lack of faith, further emphasizing their position as an agnostic or atheist.

I won't believe in heaven and hell
The artist rejects traditional religious notions of an afterlife or a binary system of reward and punishment for good and evil behavior.

No saints no sinners no devil as well
This line again challenges established religious concepts, arguing that there are no inherently good or bad people or supernatural entities.

No pearly gate no thorny crown
The singer rejects specific religious symbols or images associated with a traditional Christian conception of the afterlife.

You're always letting us humans down
The artist personifies God as an entity that continually disappoints or fails humans, suggesting that God is either unwilling or unable to intervene in the world to solve existing problems.

The wars you bring
This line identifies war as a major problem caused or perpetuated by religious beliefs or religious conflict, depending on the interpretation.

The babes you drown
The artist references the idea of a vengeful or cruel God who would permit children to suffer or die unnecessarily.

Those lost at sea and never found
This line reflects on the idea of God's responsibility for natural disasters or other catastrophes that result in loss of life without clear explanation or resolution.

And it's all the same the whole world round
The artist suggests that suffering and despair are universal themes that affect people from all different backgrounds or perspectives, including those with religious convictions and those without.

The hurt I see helps to compound
The singer observes that the existence of pain or distress in the world only makes it more difficult to have faith or to believe in the existence of a benevolent God.

That Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
The singer references a traditional Christian understanding of God as trinitarian, or existing in three parts.

Is just somebody's unholy hoax
The final line of the song expresses a sense of disillusionment or despair about the entire concept of God or religion, implying that it is all a fabrication or a deception that cannot be trusted.