Tonight’s song asks a bold question: what if God were an ordinary person, a stranger on the bus, trying to find his way home?
Learn from Songs · Unit 9b: Second conditional · B1–B2
One of Us
Joan Osborne’s famous song of questions: What if…? + past simple, second conditional questions (If you could ask one question, what would it be?), and would you…?, with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
SOPHIA
PHILO
That is a question to think about carefully.
SOPHIA
It is. Some people loved the song and some were upset by it. But it is full of imaginary questions, and that makes it perfect for the second conditional.
DEMETRIA
If you could ask God one question, what would you ask?
Before you listen: the song
Philadelphia, 1995
Eric Bazilian, a guitarist and singer with the Philadelphia band the Hooters, wrote “One of Us” very quickly, he has said, almost as an experiment. He gave it to the young singer Joan Osborne, who was recording her first major album, Relish.
The song came out in 1995 and reached number four in America and the top ten in Britain. It was nominated for three Grammy Awards. Its questions made people argue: some found it disrespectful, others found it a serious song about humility, about a God who might be close to ordinary people.
In the song, she asks a series of questions. If God had a face, what would it look like? Would you want to see it? What if he were just a stranger trying to get home?
Be kind to strangers: you don’t know who they are.
Listen: the questions
PHILO
Listen once. How many questions can you count? Which one does she repeat?
SOPHIA
Then answer Section A.
🚌 Listen to the song: “One of Us” (Eric Bazilian, 1995), sung by Joan Osborne.Find the recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “One of Us”, Joan Osborne.Read the lyrics →
Second conditional
MARCOS
If I had a million drachmas, I’d buy a horse. If I were king, I’d ban homework.
SOPHIA
If + past simple, would + infinitive for imaginary or unlikely situations now or in the future. With be, If I / he / she were is best in careful English: If he were here…
Questions: What would you…?
DEMETRIA
If you could meet anyone, who would you meet? What would you say? Would you want to know?
SOPHIA
Imaginary questions: (question word) + would + subject + infinitive + if + past. If you could fly, where would you go?
What if…?
PHILO
What if he were a stranger? What if we missed the boat?
SOPHIA
What if + past simple? = imagine this situation. It can be playful or worried: What if it rained on the wedding day? (What if + present is for real possibilities: What if it rains tomorrow?)
Sophia’s comparison: guests at the door
PHILO
Abraham was sitting at his tent door in the heat of the day when three strangers came by. He ran to meet them, washed their feet, and gave them bread and the best calf. Only later did he understand who they were.
SOPHIA
And the Phrygians tell of Zeus and Hermes, who walked through the villages dressed as poor travellers. Every door was closed to them except the hut of an old couple, Baucis and Philemon, who shared their last supper.
MARCOS
So be nice to everybody. Just in case.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| If + past simple, would + infinitive | imaginary present / future | If I had wings, I’d fly. |
| If I / he / she were | be in the second conditional | If he were here, he’d help. |
| What would you… if you could…? | imaginary questions | If you could fly, where would you go? |
| What if + past simple? | imagine this | What if he were a stranger? |
| What if + present? | a real possibility | What if it rains tomorrow? |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. What is the song full of?
2. Where does she imagine God might be?
3. Who wrote the song?
4. Which album is it on?
5. How many Grammy nominations did it get?
6. How did people react to the song?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. If I a million drachmas, I’d buy a horse. (have)
8. If I were king, I ban homework.
9. If he here, he would help. (be)
10. If you could fly, where you go?
11. What he were a stranger?
12. If you meet anyone, who would you meet? (can)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “If I would have money, I’d travel.”
14. “If I were you, I’d ask.”
15. “What would you do if you won?”
16. “If he has wings, he would fly.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Imaginary interview. Write five questions beginning If you could… or What would you do if… and ask a partner. Report the most surprising answer to the class.
Discuss. 1. Why do you think the song upset some people? 2. How do you treat strangers? 3. If you could ask one big question and get a true answer, what would it be?
Write (120–150 words). A stranger at the door. Write about what you would do if a tired stranger knocked on your door tonight. Use the second conditional and What if…?
Now play the gamebook: three strangers, a poor widow, and a supper to share.Play the gamebook →