Oh Lord
Voltaire Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You better look down and shake your head
Look down and shake your head
Get down and shake a leg
Get down and shake a leg
Jump down and wake the dead
Jump down and wake them
Oh Lord! Oh Lord!
(2x)

Oh Lord! Can it be true?
These things they say about you
Oh what am I to do?
Oh Lord
When I look out of my window
Everything I see
Is hate and murder, stabbin',
Stealin', rape and larceny
Well I heard that you can stop it Lord
But you just let it be
It make you look down and shake your head
They act like rabid monkeys
Chained up in a zoo
And the Bible says that each of us
Is modeled after you
Well hell, that should offend you Lord
If it does, here's what you do

You ought to look down and shake your head
Look down and shake your head
Get down and shake a leg
Get down and shake a leg
Jump down and wake the dead
Jump down and wake them
Oh Lord! Oh Lord!

Oh Lord, can't you see?
What this has done to me?
I've lost my faith in thee
Woes me.
Well the preacher on the TV
He tells me if I'm poor
I should give him all my money
Cause the Lord will give me more
Well I saw him wink and
Drag a sack of cash on out the door
Well, he bought himself a Cadillac
And now I got less than before!
Oh!

Look down and shake your head
Look down and shake your head
Get down and shake a leg
Get down and shake a leg
You better jump down and wake the dead
Jump down and wake them
Oh Lord! Oh Lord!
(2x)

They say you'll bring down Armageddon
They say you'll break the Seventh Seal
Well I hope you bring down Armageddon
Cause through the fire and the brimstone
At least I'll finally know you're real
Real, real, real! Oh!

Oh Lord! How can it be?
That you won't talk to me?
Oh woe, woe's me, poor me

Look down and shake your head
Look down and shake your head
Get down and shake a leg
Get down and shake a leg
You better jump down and wake the dead
Jump down and wake them
Oh Lord! Oh Lord!
(2x)

People on the street, they're ugly, mean and rude
They're bumping into me, they're bumping into you
They never say "excuse me" or "how do you do".
Oh lord
Oh lord

I swear to you the next fool who come shootin' his mouth off
'Bout his almighty friend up in the sky
He's gonna get a mighty load of me when I sound off
In the way of kick right in his eye

You're like my landlord in this hovel where I sit
I always pay my rent but you ain't never fixing shit (shut yo' mouth!)




You should take a look around Lord, your world is just the pits
Oh Lord, Woooaaaah Looord

Overall Meaning

The song Oh Lord by Voltaire is a commentary on the state of the world, and the role of organized religion in it. The lyrics tell of an individual questioning the existence and power of a higher power - God - as he sees nothing but chaos, violence and corruption around him. He wonders why God allows these things to happen and doesn't intervene to stop them. The refrain "Oh Lord!" serves as both a plea for help and an expression of exasperation and despair.


The lyrics suggest that the individual has lost faith in both God and organized religion because of the negative actions of its representatives, such as televangelists who exploit their followers for their own financial gain. The song urges God to look down and take action, to "wake the dead" and bring an end to the senseless violence and suffering.


At its core, "Oh Lord" is a song about the human condition, and the hopelessness that can come from feeling powerless in the face of overwhelming problems. It prompts the listener to reflect on their own beliefs and consider what they can do to make the world a better place.


Line by Line Meaning

You better look down and shake your head
You should be disappointed and disheartened by the actions of people and their bad behavior, and shake your head in solemn disapproval.


Look down and shake your head
Look down and show disapproval or disappointment with what you see.


Get down and shake a leg
Move to the rhythm of the music and dance, in order to express your frustration with the world.


Jump down and wake the dead
Take action and do something to change things, even if it means waking up everyone from their old ways of thinking and living.


Oh Lord! Can it be true?
Expressions of surprise and bewilderment that someone like you might exist in a world that is so full of hate and chaos.


These things they say about you
Referring to the accounts of acts and miracles attributed to you in religious texts as well as hearsay.


Oh what am I to do?
A question directed to you about what how one should respond to the suffering and evil present in the world.


Oh Lord
A call to action for you to assist and change the world.


When I look out of my window
When exploring the world and the actions of its inhabitants.


Everything I see
The bleak and unsatisfactory state of society and its ongoing crimes.


Is hate and murder, stabbin', Stealin', rape and larceny
The observable acts of violence, transgression, and cruelty in the world.


Well I heard that you can stop it Lord
A call to action challenging you to intervene and stop the cycle of suffering.


But you just let it be
The disappointment that so many terrible things can continue to happen and one is unsure if anything can truly prevent this.


It make you look down and shake your head
Your obvious sorrow for the way the world is and an expression of dismay at the continued indifference.


They act like rabid monkeys
A symbol of their ignorance and their animalistic behaviour as compared to what is expected of humans.


Chained up in a zoo
A reflection on the subjugation of human beings and their oppression by some other group or authority.


And the Bible says that each of us
Drawing a reference to the Bible, which considers every individual to be considered divine and that every person should be considered as such.


Is modeled after you
Every human being is an image of you and inherits traits befitting of you.


Well hell, that should offend you Lord
A call to you to take offense to the evils that are being committed in your name.


If it does, here's what you do
What follows is a set of suggestions on how you might express your displeasure with the way the world is progressing.


Oh Lord, can't you see?
A rhetorical query on whether you are aware of the atrocities around us?


What this has done to me?
A grieving lamentation that the existence of evil can cause suffering to those around it.


I've lost my faith in thee
The frustration and doubt that exists when one feels their faith being tested.


Well the preacher on the TV
A critique against television evangelists or religious speakers who provide incomplete or one-sided messages to the masses.


He tells me if I'm poor
Some pastors use fear tactics on their followers, through telling them that their poverty is a curse from you and that only by giving away their wealth to church will they be blessed by you.


I should give him all my money
A promise of wealth and prosperity is offered when people give away their money to religious leaders


Cause the Lord will give me more
A declaration that the religious leaders are the ones who will mediate the transmission of blessings to those in attendance


Well I saw him wink and Drag a sack of cash on out the door
A scam perpetuated upon the poor people who are told to donate money, as religious leaders become wealthier at the expense of their followers.


Well, he bought himself a Cadillac
The preacher used the ill-gotten gains to buy himself luxury goods, shining white Cadillacs.


And now I got less than before
The hard earned money that common people sent to the church is not being used for any good deed, and is being spent for personal gains.


They say you'll bring down Armageddon
The belief that you would unite nations and people according to a divine plan that would put an end to all conflicts and achieve a perfect world state.


They say you'll break the Seventh Seal
A reference to the book of Revelation, which details how the seven seals will be broken and the world will end with an apocalypse.


Well I hope you bring down Armageddon
A comment on the unfathomable amount of pain and suffering that exists in the world and the prayer that the apocalypse would end it.


Cause through the fire and the brimstone
A metaphorical representation of destruction and wrath that might come when the world comes to an end.


At least I'll finally know you're real
The restlessness created by the continuing question whether the divine being really exists or not, The final apocalypse would answer this question for good.


Oh Lord! How can it be?
A rhetorical question to indicate disbelief that the divine power would not communicate with humanity.


That you won't talk to me?
The request to existent to clarify the ways in which they communicate and interact with the world of humans.


People on the street, they're ugly, mean and rude
A reflection on human nature and its barbarous traits that are not deserving of a species that claims to be intelligent and capable of higher thinking.


They're bumping into me, they're bumping into you
Metaphor for the flawed selfish nature of people in general that does not take into account others' needs or makes amends for the wrongs they do.


They never say "excuse me" or "how do you do". Oh lord
A reflection on how people have become inconsiderate and careless in their behavior towards others and society as a whole.


I swear to you the next fool who come shootin' his mouth off
An expression of intention to call out the next arrogant person who claims to have a close relationship with the divine and start preaching in public.


'Bout his almighty friend up in the sky
The next person claiming to have an unshakeable bond with the divine or claiming their instructions are derived directly from you.


He's gonna get a mighty load of me when I sound off
An assertion that the person's talk would not go unchallenged and he would be called out and rebuked.


In the way of kick right in his eye
An expression indicating harsh retaliation, aimed at those who distort your teachings and spread falsehoods in your name.


You're like my landlord in this hovel where I sit
A reference to how you can act at times like a landlord who is supposed to maintain the property yet never makes any improvements or takes care of the tenants.


I always pay my rent but you ain't never fixing shit (shut yo' mouth!)
The anger and frustration arising from the realization that certain aspects of existence do not improve despite working hard towards it.


You should take a look around Lord, your world is just the pits
An observation that the current state of affairs is not acceptable and change is required to bring about a better world.


Oh Lord, Woooaaaah Looord
Restating the original line for effect and emphasis.




Contributed by Peyton W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Conformist138

Voltaire--13 years ago I was a teenager with nutty Christian parents. I resorted to pirating any songs that sounded off-limits and found you. I got confused by some mislabeled Cabaret Voltaire songs and dumbly thought it a good idea to email you to ask, for the sake of piracy, which songs were yours. You were too nice! You just asked that I eventually show support if I could. I never forgot. Now, I own all your CDs. And some shirts... and books... and hot wheels... you earned a fan for life :)

K. A.

Voltaire is amazing! 😃

Vulkhard Muller

This is exactly why I like Voltaire, one of the few Real artists around any more. Money is important to him sure, but people enjoying his work is top priority.

RandomOtakuNerd

I'm sorry...He even has hot wheels?!

seamoose Flanagan

I love his music and have since I was 9

Anón

It's been 8 years. I wonder if he still loves Voltaire's songs. I know I do.

8 More Replies...

IArtGod

Voltaire, I genuinely appreciate the charismatic Disney villain sound you have to your voice (especially with lyrics a Disney film would never permit) - One can really tell that you have found your specific sound to the truest extent as it shows in every thing I've heard from you. As a vocalist I'm still trying to figure out exactly what my sound is supposed to be, so that's something to admire for musicians with any introspection.

The Lair of Voltaire

Thanks for your support! I'm glad you are enjoying it!

Arachne

I love the jazziness of this song. Makes me wanna party in New Orleans

The Lair of Voltaire

Thanks for your support. I'm really sorry to hear about the mp3 player deal. I usually create a playlist from my iTunes and burn a disc and I listen to the songs that way when I don't have my computer with me. And yes, of course you can use my music for animations. ; )

More Comments