I initially heard the original version of “God Only Knows” while sobbing in my car about something. And quite frankly, I don’t remember what it was at the moment, but I remember instantly feeling better. The thing with me and worship music and I’ll admit fully, I have to be in the mood. 90% of the time if I’m not listening to a film or TV series’ original score, I’m listening to Broadway soundtracks and other genres. And while I pray every night, every now and then you just need to blast the spiritual songs outside of church services.
But this version with Dolly Parton is a beautiful anthem. It’s so unbelievably good it makes me shatter. Parton’s voice is the perfect one to fit into a song like this because there’s nothing she doesn’t sing that doesn’t make me feel. (Even when I haven’t experienced the thing itself, you still feel it.) So yes, thank you for this version that I cannot take off replay again because we were reminded of it while watching Netflix’s A Week Away.
The remix makes everything that much more evocative and extraordinary. It was already the song with tremendous depth and power, so to bring in an icon like Parton amplifies those very emotions beautifully.
As we said in our review, this is the type of song that gorgeously reminds us all of what we hope for on the nights we feel restless and alone. The hope that the God we serve knows and sees our pain. The hope that we are not alone in our darkness and suffering. The hope that God is with us—that someone’s seen us and is guiding us.
Further Recommended Singles: “I Still Have Faith in You” and “Don’t Shut Me Down” by ABBA