julie gold
Julie Gold never got any award for writing this song, but certainly other artists benefited with a stolen glance. First Nancy Griffith. In 1987, Julie introduced the song to her, wondering why everybody refused it. Nancy recorded it for her album "Lone Star State of Mind". Then Bette Midler did. Wow! Grammy "Song of the Year" 1991. Judy Collins covered it; so did the Byrds. Even the pathetic "Sir" Cliff Richard. During the 90's you could go nowhere for a drink or a meal without getting that "God is watching us" on your ear.
But Julie never prospected an almighty God with a long white beard looking down at His subjects from His Heavenly Home. She belives in the nature, where "God" is the immanent creating power. I do, as well. That's why I sing this song.
This one is an object lesson in how to make a classic song using few harmonies. In fact, this tune is carried by only 4 basic chords. It is the voice and the words that makes it, neigther clever and inventive playing nor fancy arrangements. I juxtapose it with Amanda McBroom's famous "The Rose", and I usually play and sing them medley. Funny and sadly enough, Bette Midler rose to fame because of *both* these songs, while the songwriters have vanished into oblivion. A shame, indeed.
from a distance the world looks blue and green
and the snow capped mountains white
from a distance the ocean meets the stream
and the eagle takes to flight
from a distance there is harmony
and it echoes through the land
it's the voice of hope : its the voice of peace
it's the voice of every man
from a distance we all have enough
and no one is in need
there are no bombs no guns no disease
no hungry mouths to feed
from a distance we are all instruments
marching in a common band
playing songs of hope : singing songs of peace
they're the songs of every man
God is watching us : God is watching us
God is watching us from a distance
from a distance you look like my friend
even though we are at war
from a distance we cant comprehend
what all this war is for
from a distance there is harmony
and it echoes through the land
it's the hope of hopes : it's the love of love
it's the heart of every man
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G C D G from a distance the world looks blue and green C D G and the snow capped mountains white G C D G from a distance the ocean meets the stream C D G and the eagle takes to flight G C D Em from a distance there is harmony C G D and it echoes through the land C G C G it's the voice of hope : its the voice of peace C D G it's the voice of every man G D Em God is watching us : God is watching us C D G God is watching us from a distance
