"They Say I Look Like God" Full Lyrics from The Real Ambassadors (1962)

One must admit that Dave & Iola Brubeck's 1962 musical, The Real Ambassador; is somewhat dated in it's presentation. Which is not at all their fault, as our tastes and styles have changed. But if there is one song that veritably jumps from the page and whose recording beckons to us directly from 53 years ago, it is the song "They Say I Look Like God".

From various corners, the accusation of 'Pop musican' has been leveled at both Dave Brubeck as well as Louis Armstrong, and more callously that Armstrong's smiling countenance was an example of 'shucking and jiving for the man' or 'grinning and bearing it' for popularity. This song alone should put any such charges to rest for good. Make fun of his penchant for laxative huckstering, but not his art... or his heart. Insight into the weight of what they accomplished with this piece can be found here.

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"They Say I Look Like God"
music by Dave Brubeck
lyrics by Iola Brubeck
sung by Louis Armstrong
and Lambert, Hendricks & Ross (in parenthesis)

(God created the man in his image and likeness)
They Say I look like God!
(In the image of God created he them)
Could God be black? My God!
(In the image of God created he them)
If all are made in the image of Thee,
(Male and female, created he them)
Could Thou perchance a Zebra be?
(Alleluia! In the image and likeness of God)
Can it be?
(Alleluia! Created he them)
No, not he.
(Alleluia! These are the generations of the heavens)

He's watching all the Earth.
(These are the generations of the heavens and of the Earth)
He's watched us from our birth.
(And God saw everything that he had made)
And if He cared if you're black or white,
(And behold it was very good)
He'd mixed one color, one just right.
(Alleluia! These are the generations)
Black or white…
(Alleluia! Of the heavens and of the Earth)
One just right.
(Alleluia)

Oh, Lord, please hear my plea!
(Hear my plea - Hear my plea)
Oh give me eyes to see
(Please Lord hear my plea!)
That our Creation was meant to be
(Hear my plea - Hear my plea)
An Act of God to set man free…
(Loooord…)
(Set man free - Set man free - Set maaaaaaan, freeeeee!)
Set man free.
(Set man free.)
Set man free.
(Set man, freeeeee!)

You raised us from the dust
(From the dust - From the dust)
And breathed in life with trust,
(Raised us from the dust)
And gave to Man the great choice to be
(From the dust - From the dust)
Alone on Earth, or One with Thee…
(Loooord…)
(Alleluia - Alleluia!)
One with Thee…
(One with Thee…)
One with Thee…
(One with Thee…)

(Be love - let us love one another - for love is of God)
When will that great day come?
(And everyone that loveth is born of God)
When everyone is One
(There is no fear in love - because fear has torment)
And there will be no more misery
(Perfect love casteth out all fear)
When God tells man he's really free.
(He that loveth God loveth his brother also)
Really free…
(He that loveth God)
Really free…
(Loveth his brother also)
Really free…
(Alleluia - Alleluia - Alleluia - Alleluia)

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