Song Analysis #3 - "God's Away on Business"

“God’s Away on Business”

“God’s Away on Business” is a tune by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits. It is a bitter commentary on how society, and mankind in general, has degraded to such a despicable level. The singer delivers world-weary remarks about the absence of moral values that has led to the rise of greed and misanthropy. The resounding theme appears to be that God has forsaken man for wallowing in sin, and has abstained from intervening, viewing the earth’s perpetual state of entropy as irreversible.

In this song there is a plethora of literary devices meant to perceive the world through abstract means. Imagery is employed when Waits sings the refrain, “The ship is sinking.” This is meant to evoke a foreboding sense of dread. It relates to the decline in human nature, perhaps a harbinger of the point of no return. The singer refers to “the ones that we kept in charge” as “killers, thieves and lawyers. These labels are metaphors that represent the ruling government and its corrupt hierarchy. This harsh accusation does not specifically name the U.S. government, but there are certainly some people who could fit the bill, more or less. Another metaphor is utilized to symbolize the alluring temptation to do evil. Waits scathingly declares in an attempt at sarcasm, “There’s always free cheddar in a mousetrap, baby.” This slogan implies that leading sinful lives has its consequences, but the deviant pleasures that go with them are more than worth it.

A deftly-placed allusion to Hamlet is also found in the lyrics of “God’s Away on Business.” During one of the verses the main character laments, “Digging up the dead with a shovel and a pick, it’s a job.” This alludes to the graveyard scene in Hamlet when the two apathetic clowns calmly talk about death and mortality, having been numbed by their exposure to such subjects. These characters perfectly embody the attitude of the singer, who feels so forlorn and without hope. Any optimism he previously had for the future was blown away with the ashes of the dead by the wind.

The tone of the song begins as being palpably despondent beyond comprehension to becoming even more woebegone with no hope for salvation. Waits displays shockingly listless apathy for the wellbeing of his fellowman. A general urgency of ‘every man for himself’ permeates through every line. The singer has been disillusioned through experience; his faith in mankind and in himself has been shattered. Embodying this lack of morality is the singer’s cold condescension, “I’d sell your heart to the junkman, baby, for a buck.” Through these stinging remarks Waits tries to inject his pessimism into the mind of the listener. In the middle of the song he intones, “It’s all over, it’s all over,” to squash any remaining faith or optimism. One last stab at the dignity of mankind is released when the singer snarls, “I narrow my eyes like a coin slot, baby,” presumably toward the plight of any suffering human being. He is consumed with greed and repulsed by the thought of philanthropy, a most petty waste of time for someone like him.

“God’s Away on Business” is a medium for Tom Waits to mercilessly pass judgment on those who commit atrocious deeds. It seems that he has searched far and wide for a redeeming trait of humanity, and has come up empty. With the banality of evil and the lack of preventive measures, it appears that God has gone away on a business trip to shield his eyes from the depravity of his children.

Lyrics

I'd sell your heart to the junkman baby/ For a buck, for a buck / If you're looking for someone to pull you out of that ditch / You're out of luck, you're out of luck

Ship is sinking / The ship is sinking / The ship is sinking

Bridge
There's a leak, there's a leak in the boiler room / The poor, the lame, the blind / Who are the ones that we kept in charge? / Killers, thieves and lawyers

Chorus
God's away, God's away, God's away on business, business
God's away, God's away, God's away on business, business

Digging up the dead with a shovel and a pick / It's a job, it's a job / Bloody moon rising with a plague and a flood / Join the mob, join the mob

It's all over, it's all over, It's all over

Bridge

Chorus

Godddamn there's always such a big temptation / To be good, to be good / There's always free cheddar in a mousetrap, baby / It's a deal, it's a deal

Chorus
I narrow my eyes like a coin slot baby/Let her ring, let her ring
Chorus