Good Times – One of Us (Joan Osborne)

One of Us, performed by Joan Osborne, is a profound reflection on divinity and its relationship with humanity. Released in 1995, the song achieved major success, in part due to its innovative and thought-provoking approach to the figure of God. The lyrics present an imaginative exercise: what if God were an ordinary person, living among us as a slob—awkward and imperfect—just trying to find His way back home?

The song opens with a series of rhetorical questions that challenge the listener to consider the nature of God in a more intimate and personal way. Questions like "If God had a name, what would it be?" and "If God had a face, what would it look like?" invite us to reflect on the possibility of God sharing human traits. The repeated lines "God is great" and "God is good" serve as a counterbalance to the questions posed, reaffirming traditional beliefs while exploring the idea of God as an accessible and relatable being.

The song also touches on themes of loneliness and disconnection, suggesting that even as one of us, God might feel isolated—with "no one calling on the phone, except maybe the Pope in Rome." This line highlights the distance between the divine and the mundane, while playfully suggesting that even in human form, God would have a special connection with religious leaders. The lyrics encourage listeners to consider how the experience of living among mortals could be both challenging and revealing for a divine figure.

One of Us challenges listeners to rethink their perceptions of God, offering a perspective that humanizes the divine and promotes deeper reflection on faith, religion, and our shared humanity. By presenting the idea of a God who shares our weaknesses and everyday experiences, the song reminds us of the complexity of belief and the fragile relationship between the sacred and the earthly.

Led by Joan Osborne's emotive voice and supported by a simple, touching melody, the song blends introspection with universality. This balance was one of the key reasons for its impact, helping it become an anthem of the 1990s that continues to echo in contemporary discussions on spirituality and existence.