Verse 1
When I die, put my ashes in the trash bag
I don't care where they go
Don't waste your money on my gravestone
I'm more concerned about my soul
Everybody's gon' die
Don't everybody live though
Sometimes I look up to the sky
And wonder do You see us down here?
Hook
Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?
Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?
Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Verse 2
Listen, yeah everybody wants change
Don't nobody wanna change though
Don't nobody wanna pray
Till they got something to pray for
Now everybody's gon' die
But don't everybody live though
Sometimes I look up to the sky
And wonder do you see us down here?
Hook
Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?
Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?
Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Verse 3
It's easy to blame God but harder to fix things
We look in the sky like, "Why ain't You listening?"
Watching the news in our living rooms on the big screens
And talking 'bout "If God's really real, then where is He?"
You see the same God that you saying might not even exist
Becomes real to us, but only when we dying in bed
When ya healthy it's like, we don't really care for Him then
Leave me alone God, I'll call you when I need you again
Which is funny, everyone will sleep in the pews
Then blame God for our problems like He sleeping on you
We turn our backs on Him, what do you expect Him to do?
It's hard to answer prayers when nobody's praying to you
I look around at this world we walk on
It's a smack in the face, don't ever tell me there's no God
And if there isn't then what are we here for?
And what are y'all doing down there? I don't know Lord
Hook
Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?
Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?
Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Outro
Do You see us down here? Oh Lord
Can You see us down here? Oh Lord
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Can You see us? Can't You see us?
Oh Lord
Oh Lord Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
The song "Oh Lord" by NF presents a deeply introspective and critical look at faith, mortality, and the human condition. It opens with a striking disregard for earthly remains and possessions after death, immediately shifting focus to the paramount concern for the soul. This sets a stark contrast between the physical end and the spiritual state. The lyrics quickly pivot to a universal truth – everyone faces death – but challenge whether everyone truly lives in a meaningful sense. This introduces a foundational question that resonates throughout the song: the yearning to know if a higher power is aware of human struggles and existence, captured powerfully in the recurring hook, "Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?"
The second verse continues this exploration by highlighting a common paradox in human behavior. While there is a collective desire for change in the world or in circumstances, the personal willingness to change one's own actions or attitudes is often absent. Similarly, prayer is often neglected until a crisis or a specific need arises, revealing a transactional approach to faith rather than a consistent relationship. The repetition of the lines about mortality, the difference between dying and living, and the central question of God's observation reinforces these points, emphasizing the persistent search for divine acknowledgement amidst human inconsistency.
The third verse expands significantly on the theme of human hypocrisy in relation to God. It critiques the tendency to blame God for problems while simultaneously ignoring Him in daily life. The lyrics paint a picture of people observing suffering through media ("watching the news") and questioning God's existence or responsiveness, yet their own connection to the divine is often conditional, only becoming "real" in moments of desperation like impending death. This verse powerfully calls out the transactional nature of some faith, where God is put aside until needed, like a service one can call upon. The analogy of sleeping in pews yet blaming God for problems underscores the disconnect. The artist argues that turning away from God makes it difficult for prayers to be answered because the line of communication is effectively cut off. Ultimately, the stark reality of the world itself is presented as compelling evidence for a creator, concluding with an existential pondering on the purpose of human existence if God is absent, leaving the artist in a state of questioning towards the divine.
The repeated hook serves as the emotional core of the song, a raw plea and question directed upwards. It encapsulates the vulnerability, doubt, and longing inherent in the human experience of seeking connection with the divine. The final lines in the outro extend this, adding variations like "Can You see us down here?" and simply "Can You see us?", intensifying the yearning for recognition and understanding from a higher power. The song doesn't offer easy answers but rather articulates the difficult questions many face about faith, life's purpose, and the nature of their relationship with God, encouraging introspection on personal responsibility and genuine spiritual engagement.
