Laughing With: the explanation to my current bizzare song addiction

I admit it: I have a serious addiction to the (500) Days of Summer soundtrack. The friends were laughing at me as we watched the movie because I kept interjecting at random places with "OH this is my favorite song in the movie!" or "This is the fourth best song from the soundtrack!" My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE song on the soundtrack, though, is sung by Regina Spektor. I had three of her songs on my ipod, and they were all spectacular. She has a really unique voice and beautiful musical ability. Since these three songs were exceptional, I rented her newest CD from the Lawrence Public Library when I got back from break. I popped it in my truck player and listened to it as I drove around. The first five tracks were alright, some majorly weirder than anything I had ever heard before, but it was oddly addicting. Then I hit Track 6, Laughing With. I listened to it all the way through, then listened to it again to make sure I was hearing it right. Even after two listenings, I still didn't know what I had heard, and I was seriously troubled about it. I had heard that Regina Spektor had a religious background, but, despite the gorgeous music, this song seemed to be bashing God and faith! It didn't make sense, and I had to know what it was talking about.

So I went to chat forums. Every single review I found discussed how powerful, beautiful, and touching the song was. I read the lyrics and ended up even more confused. But still, I had to know! Finally, in my searches, I found the true explanation for the song, and it suddenly took on a whole new meaning and became a very important song in my heart this week. I will give the explanation beneath the lyrics:


No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor
No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late
And their kid’s not back from the party yet
No one laughs at God
When their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they’re mistaken
No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news, sir
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine or fire or flood

*Chorus*But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke,
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny, When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’ve lost all they’ve got
And they don’t know what for
No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes


Okay, before you think I have lost my blessed mind and am turning into a pagan...THE EXPLANATION! I'm sure you could have your own interpretation (and probably will form your own opinion after hearing the song for yourself), but here is what the song addresses, and why it means so much to me:

So many people in today's world laugh off the existence of a God. It's amusing to tell jokes about a omniscient, omnipotent being. After all, if you joke about it, it makes the possibility of such a being less serious. And when you are only living for the world, living for yourself, it's probably best not to worry yourself with such pointless things as the existence of this so called "God". So God becomes a funny joke. You laugh at the "crazies" who rant about God. You laugh at the jokes about such a ridiculous thought as the existence of God. You laughingly refer to God when making your wishlists, hoping He will act the part of jiminy cricket or santa claus and make "all your dreams come true."

But then, inevitably...disaster strikes.

Sickness. War. Natural Disasters. Heartbreak. Death.

Suddenly, the existence of God doesn't seem so funny. And for some reason, the first response you have when faced with something out of your realm of human control is to call on this same God that you shrugged off so many times before. The reason for this is, I believe, because there is a God-shaped void within every human soul (sorry, that sounds so preacher-ish, I know). Humans try to fill that void with their own control and the assurance that if they do good, life will end up okay. But when sorrow comes into life, all the little things that we use to fill up that void are suddenly gone. We have nothing to fall back on, and in response, our basic instinct is to cry out to some spiritual being to save us.

This week has been a good example of heartache in the world. The earthquake in Haiti has destroyed millions of people's home, lives, futures. Closer to reality, people in my hometown have faced death and heartache on a different level. Pain. Confusion. We hang our heads and cry out to God asking for answers.

And, though it's hard to believe, we probably won't get the answers to these questions here on this earth. It hurts to accept this. But that's when we must do the only thing we really have the power to control: cry out to God. Accept His comfort and love. And ask Him for peace in knowing that He is in control, and He has perfect reasons for everything that occurs on this planet.

He's the perfect fit to that void. I promise.

Anyways, that's my take on this song. You should definitely go look it up, listen, and form your own opinion. Please, post your comments on this song, or any other thoughts it provokes from you! I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you have a blessed day!

In Christ