Xtc, "dear God" <Desktop>

: Partridge questions why a creator would allow starvation, disease, and "the babes you drown".

: Partridge initially conceived the song in a skiffle style but moved toward a sound reminiscent of the Beatles' "Rocky Raccoon". The final version features a "Gershwin-y" string section intended to evoke a bluesy, "Summertime" atmosphere. XTC, "Dear God"

Watch the official music video, which famously uses a child's perspective to frame the song's challenging questions: XTC - Dear God YouTube• 8 Jun 2018 : Partridge questions why a creator would allow

: Producer Todd Rundgren suggested having a child sing the first verse and final line to underscore the innocence of the initial inquiry before the lyrics shift into a biting adult critique. Eight-year-old Jasmine Veillette provided the vocals, though a boy was cast to lip-sync them in the music video. Lyrical Themes Watch the official music video, which famously uses

XTC 's "Dear God," written by Andy Partridge, is one of the most polarizing and enduring tracks of the 1980s. Originally released as a B-side to the single "Grass" in 1986, it was excluded from the initial pressing of the album Skylarking because Partridge felt he had "failed" to capture the vastness of human belief in such a short song. However, intense radio play in the United States—driven by its controversial lyrics—forced a re-release of the album that included the track. The Inspiration and Composition

: The title and concept were inspired by a series of children's books titled Dear God , which Partridge viewed as exploitative.