“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
Erasure“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is the gospel song Van Go’s Mother sings at breakfast the morning after a fight with Van Go. The hymn’s brief appearance marks a return to ordinary family life and provides the setting for a practical turn in the conversation: a possible job in West Hollywood.
Appearance in the Scene
The next morning, Van Go’s Mother has forgotten the fight and is singing while Baby Girl hums along. Baby Girl asks what the song is, and Van Go’s Mother names it as “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The exchange presents the hymn as part of a shared breakfast scene rather than as a formal performance.
Narrative Function
After identifying the hymn, Van Go’s Mother turns to Van Go and says she has heard about a job he might want. She places bacon on his plate as she mentions the opportunity, which may involve driving a car for a man in West Hollywood. Van Go asks what the work entails; she can only describe it as “This and that” and admits she does not know. The song therefore immediately precedes an uncertain employment lead, linking a familiar household moment with a possible change in Van Go’s circumstances.
