10/17/2010

One of us - Joan Osborne

It's a very old song, but a nice one, and good to practice second conditional and "What if".
Even though the lyrics are somewhat related to religion, you can use and debate it without really entering on the sensitive subject of religion.
I also try to connect the song with the TV show "Joan of Arcadia". It's a show from 2003, in which the character of Joan sees and speaks with God and performs tasks she is given.
Here the debate should be more controlled, so that students don't start debating differences of religion. I would have them fill in the blanks to practice the second conditional, ask what they would do in the girl's position (Joan) and what they would ask God. Then, I have them create What If questions to ask their classmates.

"One of us"
Joan Osborne

If God had a name what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?

Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah

What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?

If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see, if seeing meant
That you would have to believe in things like heaven
And in Jesus and the saints, and all the prophets?

Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah

What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?

Tryin' to make his way home?

Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody calling on the phone
'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome

Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah

What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
Like a holly rolling stone

Back up to heaven all alone
No, just tryin' to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone
Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome

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