Dear God (Avenged Sevenfold song)

"Dear God"
"Dear God"
Single by Avenged Sevenfold
from the album Avenged Sevenfold
B-side	Afterlife (live version)
Released	June 15, 2008
Recorded	2007
Studio	Sunset Sound (Los Angeles); Eldorado (Hollywood); Burbank (Hollywood); Capitol (Hollywood);
Genre	Country
Length	6:34
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Matt Sanders, Brian Haner Jr., Jonathan Seward
Producer(s)	Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold singles chronology

"Dear God" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released as the fourth single from their self-titled fourth studio album.

Overview

"Dear God" was released as the fourth single from the album. The song was a deviation from the band's usual heavy metal style, taking on more of a country feel. Johnny Christ stated that the inspiration for the song came from the band's friendship with country act Big & Rich.^[5] Their influence can be heard in the background vocals of MuzikMafia member Shanna Crooks.^[6]

Track listing

CD^[2]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dear God"	6:34
2.	"Afterlife" (live video)

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)^[7]	3

Personnel

All credits adapted from the album's liner notes.^[8]

Avenged Sevenfold

M. Shadows – lead vocals, backing vocals
Zacky Vengeance – rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
The Rev - drums, percussion, piano, backing vocals
Synyster Gates – lead guitar, backing vocals
Johnny Christ – bass guitar, backing vocals

Session musicians

Lap, pedal steel and banjo by Greg Leisz
Additional vocals by Shanna Crooks

Production

Produced by Avenged Sevenfold
Engineered by Fred Archambault and Dave Schiffman, assisted by Clifton Allen, Chris Steffen, Robert DeLong, Aaron Walk, Mike Scielzi, and Josh Wilbur
Mixed by Andy Wallace
Mastered by Brian Gardner
Drum tech by Mike Fasano
Guitar tech by Walter Rice
'Fan Producers for a Day' (MVI) by Daniel McLaughlin and Christopher Guinn

References

^ "Dear God - Single by Avenged Sevenfold". Apple Music. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Avenged Sevenfold – Dear God". Discogs. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
^ Wedge, Dave (March 20, 2008). "Avenged Sevenfold trading in metal for irons". Boston Herald. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
^ "Credits / Avenged Sevenfold / Avenged Sevenfold". Tidal. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
^ Childers, Chad (October 30, 2022). "15 Years Ago: Avenged Sevenfold Start To Define Their Identity On Self Titled Album". Loudwire. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
^ Fuoco-Karasinski, Christina (October 23, 2007). "Avenged Sevenfold tries out new sounds". LiveDaily. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009.
^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
^ Avenged Sevenfold liner notes. Warner Brothers. 2007. p. 9.

[1] "Dear God - Single by Avenged Sevenfold". Apple Music. Retrieved July 12, 2019.

[Dear_God_Discogs-2] "Avenged Sevenfold – Dear God". Discogs. Retrieved November 7, 2022.

[3] Wedge, Dave (March 20, 2008). "Avenged Sevenfold trading in metal for irons". Boston Herald. Retrieved November 8, 2022.

[4] "Credits / Avenged Sevenfold / Avenged Sevenfold". Tidal. Retrieved September 19, 2021.

[5] Childers, Chad (October 30, 2022). "15 Years Ago: Avenged Sevenfold Start To Define Their Identity On Self Titled Album". Loudwire. Retrieved November 8, 2022.

[6] Fuoco-Karasinski, Christina (October 23, 2007). "Avenged Sevenfold tries out new sounds". LiveDaily. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009.

[sc_UKrock_Avenged_Sevenfold-7] "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.

[LinerNotes-8] Avenged Sevenfold liner notes. Warner Brothers. 2007. p. 9.

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