Osborne approached the vocals with a "childlike innocence," reflecting the simplicity of the central question: "What if God was one of us?".
The song poses "what if" questions to humanize the divine, asking if you would believe in heaven or the prophets if God was just a "stranger on the bus". joan_osborne_one_of_us
Bazilian has stated the song is less about specific religion and more about the shift in worldview that occurs when something completely upends your reality—whether that be meeting God, an alien, or having a near-death experience. Critical and Commercial Success Osborne approached the vocals with a "childlike innocence,"