Sunday Night Music: Randy Newman, ‘God’s Song (That’s Why I Love Mankind)’
There’s a great version of this cynically on-target song on The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1.
Cain slew Abel, Seth knew not why
If the children of Israel were supposed to multiply
Then why must any of the children die?
So he asked the Lord
And the Lord said:“Man means nothing, he means less to me
than the lowliest cactus flower
or the humblest yucca tree
he chases round this desert
cause he thinks that’s where I’ll be
that’s why I love mankindI recoil in horror from the foulness of thee
from the squalor and the filth and the misery
How we laugh up here in heaven at the prayers you offer me
That’s why I love mankind”The Christians and the Jews were having a jamboree
The Buddhists and the Hindus joined on satellite TV
They picked their four greatest priests
And they began to speak
They said “Lord the plague is on the world
Lord no man is free
The temples that we built to you
Have tumbled into the sea
Lord, if you won’t take care of us
Won’t you please please let us be?”And the Lord said
And the Lord said“I burn down your cities — how blind you must be
I take from you your children and you say how blessed are we
You all must be crazy to put your faith in me
That’s why I love mankind
You really need me
That’s why I love mankind”
Frank says: