Music Review: Nelly Furtado "In God's Hands/Nelly Furtado & Keith Urban "In God's Hands"

Nelly Furtado

In God’s Hands

Album: Loose

Year: 2007

          Nelly Furtado’s relationship with her boyfriend has run its course in the                    brokenhearted “In God’s Hands.”

             Teary strings open the single, setting a woeful tone.  He won’t look at her. When she is able to catch a glimpse, his keeps expression neutral. She thinks of his reason: she wasn’t there often enough. She got too caught up in her own problems. She puts her hand on his shoulder, daring him to meet her gaze. However,  he shakes it off and walks to the counter. She asks him if he has anything he needs, trying to keep her voice normal. She thinks of the times he had to stay late at work. He had been with someone else. He had told her he loved her when she talked to him. Now, he takes his bag and gives her a wave. There is no effect on him at all. (“ I looked at your face I saw that all the love had died/I saw that we had forgotten to take the time/I, I saw that you couldn't care less about what you do/Couldn't care less about the lies/You couldn't find the time to cry.”)

                In the pre-chorus, she says they became involved with themselves. They lost sight of what brought them together: their strong friendship. (“We forgot about love/We forgot about faith/We forgot about trust/We forgot about us.”)

                 In the chorus, as she watches him leave, she sees the last of their connection fade away. Whatever they had, it doesn’t exist anymore. (“Now our love's floating out the window/Our love's floating out the back door/Our love's floating up in the sky in heaven/Where it began back in God's hands.”)

               He told her a part of him will always love her. But he can’t be with her. She mentions they did try. They would would hang onto the hope that things would get better. But it never did. (“You said that you had said all that you had to say/You said baby it's the end of the day/We gave a lot but it wasn't enough/We got so tired that we just gave up.”)

          The second chorus is sung. (“Now our love's floating out the window/Our love's floating out the back door/Our love's floating up in the sky in heaven/Where it began back in God's hands, back in God's hands.”)

               In the bridge, she says they took their relationship for granted. They thought their friendship would be the same. They stopped talking and hanging out with each other. Then, they began to argue and resent each other. She thought they would work it out. But it didn’t happen. (“We didn't respect it/We went and neglected it/We didn't deserve it/But I never expected this.”)

               In the extended chorus, she adds that everything happens for a reason.  Now, he’s a part of her history, a story for her to tell. She misses him being a part of her life.  (“Our love floated out the window/Our love floated out the back door/Our love floated up in the sky to heaven/It's part of a plan/It's back in God's hands/Back in God's hands/It didn't last/It's a thing of the past/Oh we didn't understand/Just what we had/Oh I want it back/Just what we had/Oh I want it back/Oh just what we had.”)

              Furtado has lost a piece of herself with her boyfriend gone. He always has been there. Before they dated, they were best friends. She had known him forever. Now, he barely acknowledges her existence. He’s a stranger to her, which bothers her the most.

               The bereaved “In God’s Hand”  mourns what could be and what could’ve been.

Nelly Furtado & Keith Urban

In God’s Hands

Album: N/A

Year: 2008

                  Nelly Furtado and Keith Urban get through a difficult breakup in the confusing                  “In God’s Hands.”

                Introspective synths open the single, setting a hopeful tone. Furtado still has the first verse and pre-chorus. There’s an orchestral arrangement backing her, trying to cheer her up.

              Furtado sings the chorus.

              Urban takes the second verse. She has shut him out, too. Now, she’s telling him to take care. Not even a kiss on the cheek or a friendly hug. Just goodbye. (“You said that you had said all that you had to say/You said baby it's the end of the day/We gave a lot but it wasn't enough/We got so tired that we just gave up.”)

              Urban joins Furtado for the second chorus.

               Furtado mostly has the bridge with Urban’s “oohing” in the background.

                Urban joins Furtado in the final chorus.

                 Furtado’s attitude still the same. However, with addition of Urban lessens the impact. In the 2008 version, it’s Urban who is suffering the most. He doesn’t understand why she’s breaking up with him. Yet, the emphasis is on Furtado, who seems hurt but is able to move forward.

                   The   messy   “In God’s Hands” turns the breakup into a trainwreck.