Now I would like friends if this evening
We should stand there with all other of god's creatures on the curbstone
And watch this march of time
Let us take our stand with them
And as we stand there I here one of them whispering
He is a Hebrew sage
He says "vanity of vanities the whole thing is a vain parade
It has no meaning"

The hand of god lays high above me
I'll be good if you really love me
Let me feel your mighty crunch
As you rub me out like water, fire, coal, etc

Let it be known today, if you got two hands? You're supposed to pray
Fingers of fire, coal, and lead
Fondly love me 'til I'm dead

The hand of god is thick and callous
Bruised and torn from stones and sticks
The hand of god has got a ring about the size of Texas
Made of sweet, smelly stuff
My fingers never smell

Let me try on your hand and see if it fits don't worry I won't touch anything unholy with it
Let it be known today, if you got two hands you're supposed to pray


Lyrics submitted by Nelly, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Hand Of God Lyrics as written by Kim A. Thayil Christopher J. Cornell

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Hand of God song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

6 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    Going just from the two verses Chris sings this is what I got. I think it has to do something with the "Hand of God" being a preacher.

    "The hand of God lays high above me" This might be the preacher pointing into a crowd which is above.

    "The hand of God is thick and callous Bruised and torn from stones and sticks" This might be how a lot of preachers are old men who have these big thick bruised up hands.

    "The hand of God has got a ring about the size of Texas" A lot of preachers have big rings.

    nirvana563on February 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    my dad has a couch he calls the hand of god. my dad is fat. like a walrus...

    wally the walruson June 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is moching religion or god. They way Chris descibes the hand makes it sound like he isn't into it. "The hand of God is thick and callous" doesn't make it sound too comforting.

    beyondthewheelon September 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Nah, I'm sure Chris believes in a God. I'm very sure. He mentions God in other songs and his parents at least, were Catholic. Still, I'm not sure about this one.

    Supah Dudeon September 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is obviously about religious hypocrites.

    Was it not religious hypocrites that handed Jesus over to the Roman Empire for execution?

    "The hand of God has a ring about the size of Texas..."

    Does God wear rings? No.

    But do people...?

    chirrhoon May 09, 2015   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    I think it has to do with how some Catholics are controlling. You know, they make Christianity look bad by hating gays, killing Arabians, and considering Christianity the superior religion. That's what this song means to me atleast.

    dednotbigsoupriceon February 16, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
The Spy
Doors, The
Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
Album art
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Album art
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines: "Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet" So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other: "I had all and then most of you" Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart "Some and now none of you" Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship. This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.