Dear God (Avenged Sevenfold song)

"Dear God"
Single by Avenged Sevenfold
from the album Avenged Sevenfold
B-side	Afterlife (live version) [1]
Released	June 15, 2008 [2]
Recorded	2007
Studio	Sunset Sound (Los Angeles) Eldorado (Hollywood) Burbank (Hollywood) Capitol (Hollywood)
Genre	Country [3]
Length	6:34
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Matt Sanders, Brian Haner Jr., Jonathan Seward [4]
Producer(s)	Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold singles chronology
"Afterlife" (2008) "Dear God" (2008) "Scream" (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. ^[5] Their influence can be heard in the background vocals of MuzikMafia member Shanna Crooks. ^[6]

Track listing

CD ^[1]

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

1. "Avenged Sevenfold – Dear God". Discogs. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
2. "Dear God - Single by Avenged Sevenfold". Apple Music . Retrieved July 12, 2019.
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.
7. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
8. Avenged Sevenfold liner notes. Warner Brothers. 2007. p. 9.