One Of The Three - The James Band Archive

God Only Knows

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God Only Knows is track three on the James album Gold Mother (track four on the reissued version).

God Only Knows is an attack on evangelism, in particular Jimmy Swaggart and religious cult leaders who had been exposed as fakes (this happened to the leader of the cult Tim was involved in during the eighties). “I understand that Christian martyrdom thing, because I had it force fed down me as a kid. Church every day. Before school. It was a very Christian school. Well, that’s God Only Knows. All the references to Christianity come out in that. And a kind of inbred anger really.”

The live performances of this song were marked by varied lyrical improvisation by Tim reflecting on the nature, the sex and the guidance of “God” and interpreting it differently dependent on the religion of the place they were playing or referring to current news events.

It has made regular appearances in the live set over the years.

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
You may say I am cynical, but I'd say man is flawed
He has a vague memory of life before some fall
Behaving like a reptile, but talks of walking tall
If god is in his image, the almighty must be small

Swaggart has been caught with his trousers round his knees
After damning me and you to hell for eternity
Sex and power and money is the prayer of these priests
They bribe their way past heaven's gates and steal a set of keys

God only, God only, God only knows (repeat 3 times)

My guru has been sleeping with adepts and with sheep
While I was fucking celibate, self-righteous in belief
Yesterday he was god, now he is a creep
We fell upon each other starving for relief

God only, God only, God only knows (repeat 3 times)

I damn you all to hell
I speak in the name of god
I know him intimately
I speak in the name of that white haired old man in the clouds
Always a man
(Blessed are the sheep, for they shall inherit the grass)
Dispensing lightning justice from his fingertips
As self-righteous and vengeful as those who created him
(You were born sinful and then things get worse)
A cruel desert god with absolutely no sense of humour
(You must believe)
How do you feel old man?
How do you feel?
With these self-righteous fanatics speaking for you
(The desert can do some awful strange things to a man)
Is heaven full, oh lord, of these babbling preachers and God-fearing bigots
Well I know where I'd rather be
Away from this cacophony

Do you feel abused?
Do you feel abused?
Do you feel abused?
God only knows
God only knows
God only knows

Open in Spotify

Song:God Only Knows
Released:4th June 1990
Main Associated Album (or Single):Gold Mother
First Heard Live:Liverpool Royal Court – 16th June 1989
Played at:
James - God Only Knows

Taken from the album Gold Mother

Written and performed by James

Main Riff:

e----------------------------------------------------5--------
B--7----5-7----5-7----5-------5-7----5-7----5-7----5---7-5----
G----7------7------7------4-7-----7------7------7----------7--
D-----------------------7-------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------

Verse "Riff":

e------------------ e-----------------------------------
B------------------ B-----------------------------------
G--7-7--7-7-7------ x 3 G--7-7--7-7-7-----------------------
D--7-7--7-7-7------ D--5-5--5-5-5-----------------------
A------------------ A-----------------------------------
E------------------ E-----------------------------------

Song Structure:

A kind of "Riff" is played throughout the verses, which I've tabbed, along with the Main Riff and many of the variations that come along with it. At all other times the guitars play the chords (unless there aren't any guitars playing, in which case they can't be, duh!).

Lyrics/Chords:

D G
You may say I'm cynical, but I'd say man is flawed

D G
He has a vague memory of life before some fall

D G
Behaving like a reptile, that talks of walking tall

D G
If god is in his image, the almighty must be small


D G
Swaggart has been caught with his trousers round his knees

D G
After damning me and you to hell for eternity

D G
Sex and power and money is the prayer of these priests

D G
They drive their way past heaven's gates and steal a set of keys



God only, God only, God only knows

God only, God only, God only knows

God only, God only, God only knows



My guru has been sleeping with adepts and with sheep

While I was f***ing celibate, self-righteous in belief

Yesterday he was god, now he is a creep

We fell upon each other starving for relief


God only, God only, God only knows

God only, God only, God only knows

God only, God only, God only knows



I damn you all to hell

I speak in the name of god

I know him intimately

I speak in the name of that white haired old man in the clouds

Always a man

(Blessed are the sheep, for they shall inherit the grass)

Dispensing lightning justice from his fingertips

As self-righteous and vengeful as those who created him

(You were born sinful and then things get worse)

A cruel desert god with absolutely no sense of humour

(You must believe)

How do you feel old man?

How do you feel?

With these self-righteous fanatics speaking for you

(The desert can do some awful strange things to a man)

Is heaven full, oh lord, of these babbling preachers and God-fearing bigots

Well I know where I'd rather be

Away from this cacophony



Do you feel abused?

Do you feel abused?

Do you feel abused?

God only knows

God only knows

God only knows




Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.

alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk
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