NF - Oh Lord Lyrics
Lyrics
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?
Video
NF - Oh Lord (Audio)
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on April 22, 2016, NF's "Oh Lord" immediately distinguishes itself through its raw honesty and introspective questioning, characteristic of the artist's unique blend of hip-hop and profound spiritual wrestling. This is not a track for casual listening; it’s an invitation to confront uncomfortable truths about faith, doubt, and human nature, all centered around a simple yet powerful plea to the divine. The song doesn't offer easy answers but rather articulates a deep longing for connection and understanding, echoing a universal human cry for God to acknowledge our presence in a world often fraught with pain and confusion.
The central narrative of "Oh Lord" revolves around the repeated, desperate question: "Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here?" This isn't necessarily a question born of outright disbelief, but rather a profound yearning for reassurance, a cry from the depths for a transcendent being to witness our struggles, our triumphs, and our very existence. It speaks to the human condition of often feeling lost or overlooked in the grand scheme of things, and the innate desire for a higher power to be intimately aware of our individual lives. This yearning is particularly poignant as NF grapples with the fleeting nature of life, expressing a disinterest in worldly accolades—like a gravestone—in favor of an ultimate concern for his soul. As Matthew 16:26 soberly reminds us, "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" This focus on the eternal over the temporal sets a crucial foundation, suggesting that mere physical existence isn't true living; genuine life, perhaps, is found in spiritual awareness and connection.
The song then pivots to a searing critique of human hypocrisy and conditional faith. NF observes that "everybody wants change, Don't nobody wanna change though" and "Don't nobody wanna pray, Till they got something to pray for." This mirrors a common human failing described in Scripture, where our pursuit of God is often transactional or reactive, rather than a consistent, loving devotion. James 4:3 speaks to this, noting that we "ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives." It's a call to genuine introspection: are we truly seeking transformation, or merely desiring different circumstances without personal accountability? The artist cleverly juxtaposes our readiness to pray only in crisis with our general apathy towards spiritual disciplines when life is comfortable.
Building on this, the third verse delivers some of the most piercing insights, directly challenging our tendency to blame God for the world's ills while simultaneously neglecting our own spiritual responsibilities. NF tackles the common refrain heard when tragedies unfold: "If God's really real, then where is He?" Yet, he quickly points out the irony: "The same God that you saying might not even exist, Becomes real to us, but only when we dying in bed." This highlights a profound spiritual inconsistency, where God is conveniently recognized in moments of extreme vulnerability but discarded when health and self-sufficiency reign. It echoes the wisdom found in Proverbs 1:28-31, which warns of a time when those who ignored wisdom will cry out but will not be heard. NF doesn't shy away from exposing the superficiality of nominal faith, critiquing those who "sleep in the pews, Then blame God for our problems like He sleeping on you." This powerful image speaks volumes about passive religiosity, where outward observance lacks inward commitment. The profound truth he then articulates—"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"—underscores God's respect for human free will and the essential role of intentional seeking in our relationship with the divine. It draws a clear parallel to 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God promises to hear and heal if "my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face." Finally, NF offers a deeply personal affirmation of faith, declaring that the very existence of the world is "a smack in the face, don't ever tell me there's no God," aligning with Romans 1:20 which states that God's invisible qualities are "clearly seen, being understood from what has been made." He concludes this verse by questioning the very purpose of life without a divine creator, revealing the existential vacuum that opens up in the absence of God.
"Oh Lord" is far more than just a song; it's a spiritual discourse, an unfiltered conversation with the divine that many are afraid to voice. It's a profound examination of human frailty, hypocrisy, and the desperate yearning for a God who sees, hears, and cares. Through his honest questioning and sharp critiques, NF doesn't just offer a melody; he provides a mirror, encouraging each of us to reflect on the authenticity of our own faith and the sincerity of our prayers. The repeated plea "Do You see us down here?" ultimately transforms from a question of doubt into a raw, earnest cry for divine communion, urging us to move beyond superficiality into a deeper, more engaged relationship with the very Lord we seek.