The song is structured as a letter to a deity, evolving from humble requests for a "reduction in the amount of tears" to a full-scale rejection of religious dogma.
: Producer Todd Rundgren suggested having a child sing the first verse and final line to underscore the innocence of the initial inquiry before the lyrics shift into a biting adult critique. Eight-year-old Jasmine Veillette provided the vocals, though a boy was cast to lip-sync them in the music video. Lyrical Themes XTC, "Dear God"
: The title and concept were inspired by a series of children's books titled Dear God , which Partridge viewed as exploitative. The song is structured as a letter to