It's Tough To Be A God

[BiteUrLip]

Music: Elton John

Lyrics: Tim Rice

Piano and vocals: Elton John

Electric piano, keyboards and programming: Patrick Leonard

Nylon string guitar: Heitor Pereira

Drums: Curt Bisquera

Percussion: Luis Conte

Trumpet: Jeff Beal

Background vocals: Lynn Davis, Siedah Garrett, James Gilstrap, Dorian Holley, Kudisan Kai, Richard Page

Orchestral arrangements: Jeremy Lubbock

I hardly think I'm qualified

To come across all sanctified

I just don't cut it with the cherubim

The town's already on its knees

Being worshipped is a breeze

I barely know the words to any hymn


Listen if we don't comply

With the locals' wishes I

Can see us being sacrificed or stuffed

Let's be Gods, the perks are great

El Dorado on a plate

Local feelings should not be rebuffed


It's tough to be a God

Tread where mortals have not trod

Be deified when really you're a sham

Be an object of devotion

Be the subject of psalms

It's a terrifying notion

All those prayers and those salaams

Any normal man would bridle if he's forced to be an idol

And a normal man's exactly what I am


All the same it's pretty clear

The scoundrels don't keep much up here

They must have zillions under lock and key

But gods can force them to unleash

Enough to make us nouveau riche

Beyond our wildest dreams so follow me


Can't you see I won't relax

If religious maniacs

Tell me I'm all-powerful and sublime

How can I be their belief

When I'm lying through my teeth

Why don't we just say some other time


It's tough to be a God

But if you get the peoples' nod

Count your blessings, keep them sweet is my advice

Be nirvana be salvation

Be all things to all men

Butter up your congregation

Every Sunday score a ten

The alternative is dire

Simply frying pan to fire

So sign on two new gods for paradise

[BiteUrLip]

Never liked it.

2 stars.

[nix]

4.5
Always liked it. Brilliant and fun melody. Randy's vocal is awesome here.

[Commodore Orpington]

Randy Newman on it too I think? One of the few on Eldorado that just seemed ordinary to me.

[newloneranger]

Probably my least favorite on this album.

2 1/2 stars

[rocketman]

4 stars...a duet with Randy Newman, the song is clever lyrically and certainly fun. Not much substance to it (a few songs on this album do carry some weight, even though it's a soundtrack for an animated movie).