Dear God (Avenged Sevenfold song)
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Dear God
| cover = DearGodCover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Avenged Sevenfold
| album = Avenged Sevenfold
| B-side = Afterlife (live version){{cite web |title=Avenged Sevenfold – Dear God |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1859919-Avenged-Sevenfold-Dear-God/image/SW1hZ2U6MTA3MDIyNzU= |publisher=Discogs |access-date=7 November 2022}}
| released = June 15, 2008{{cite web|title=Dear God - Single by Avenged Sevenfold|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/dear-god-single/284517810|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=July 12, 2019}}
| recorded = 2007
| studio = {{hlist|Sunset Sound (Los Angeles)|Eldorado (Hollywood)|Burbank (Hollywood)|Capitol (Hollywood)}}
| venue =
| genre = Country{{cite web|last=Wedge|first=Dave|date=March 20, 2008|title=Avenged Sevenfold trading in metal for irons|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2008/03/20/avenged-sevenfold-trading-in-metal-for-irons/|access-date=November 8, 2022|website=Boston Herald}}
| length = 6:34
| label = Warner Bros.
| writer = Matt Sanders, Brian Haner Jr., Jonathan Seward{{cite web|title=Credits / Avenged Sevenfold / Avenged Sevenfold|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/1205392/credits|access-date=September 19, 2021|publisher=Tidal}}
| producer = Avenged Sevenfold
| prev_title = Afterlife
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = Scream
| next_year = 2009
}}
"Dear God" is a country rock song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released as the fourth single from their self-titled fourth studio album, and is the closing track on the 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.{{cite web|last=Childers|first=Chad|date=October 30, 2022|title=15 Years Ago: Avenged Sevenfold Start To Define Their Identity On Self Titled Album|url=https://loudwire.com/avenged-sevenfold-self-titled-album-anniversary/|access-date=November 8, 2022|website=Loudwire}} Their influence can be heard in the background vocals of MuzikMafia member Shanna Crooks.{{cite web|last=Fuoco-Karasinski|first=Christina|date=October 23, 2007|title=Avenged Sevenfold tries out new sounds|url=http://www.livedaily.com/news/13028.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706051031/https://www.livedaily.com/news/13028.html|archive-date=July 6, 2009|publisher=LiveDaily}}
Track listing
{{tracklist
| title1 = Dear God
| length1 = 6:34
| title2 = Afterlife
| note2 = live video
| length2 =
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable"
! Chart (2008) ! Peak |
| {{single chart|UKrock|3|date=20080720|artist=Avenged Sevenfold|song=Dear God}} |
Personnel
All credits adapted from the album's liner notes.{{cite book|title=Avenged Sevenfold liner notes|year=2007|publisher=Warner Brothers|pages=9}}
;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