Judah Smith Interlude by Lana Del Rey Lyrics Meaning – Peeling Back the Layers of Spiritual Introspection
Lyrics
It means quit lusting after your neighbor
That’s a heck of a life
You get to love your children in front of you
You get to love, you have to talk to somebody about a new life
I don’t love my wife anymore, I don’t love my kids anymore
Missin’ out on life, they’re usually my age
Does that sound like love?
It’s a life dominated with lust
And for too long, they’ve been holding on
And finally, they just get weak and they say
It doesn’t matter anymore
And the Spirit of God says
I’ll infuse you with desires
With what you have and what’s in front of you (yeah, yeah)
(Desires for what you have, okay)
So, as He works deep in your heart
As you call out to Him, and say
I’m here doin’ it, man
Help me want what I got
Help me love what’s in front of me
Help me want more of my wife and more of my friends
And help me serve the city I live in
And not wish it away and hope I can move
Help me, God
I wanna be a man of love
Not a man in lust
But you gotta do that
And so I bring you to this verse, and I’m done, I’m done
Psalms Chapter 8
And do you know where I got this verse?
This is gonna sound crazy to you, but I’m gonna tell you the absolute truth
It’s gonna make me sound so superior to us all
I’m looking forward to it
I woke up this morning and God said, “Check the Bible”
I don’t know if it was God, but it felt like God
I thought the thought in my head, “Check the Bible”
I’m gonna speak to you from the verse of the day
That means I don’t have to do anything, I don’t have to look anywhere
Just look at the verse of the day
So I get to the verse of the day and here’s the verse of the day
Today, in the Bible
Look at this (that’s cool)
Look at the splendor of the skies
You creative genius glowing in the Heavens
When I gaze, when I gaze at Your moon and Your stars
Mounted like jewels in their setting
I know You are the fascinating artist who fashioned it all
When I look up and I see such wonder and workmanship above
I have to ask this question
I gotta ask this question
Compared to all this cosmic glory
Why would you ever bother with puny, mortal man or be
Ooh, don’t get me started
I could read you another hour on infatuated
Or be infatuated with Adam’s son?
Why are you so infatuated with me?
You’re the star reader, You’re the ocean maker (yeah, yeah)
You’re the whale creator, you’re the rhino designer
Who do, are you man? (Rhino designer)
And then it goes on in verse 5
And it says, “Yet what honor you have given to me
Created only a little lower than Elohim
Which is the name of Creator God
Artist God”
You wanna call God “Artist?”
At some point tonight before you go to bed, be like
“Yo, Elohim,” and He’ll hear, “You’re the best artist ever”
Below Elohim, crowned like kings and queens with glory and magnificence
You have delighted, You have delegated to them mastery over all you have made
You’ve made me a partner with you
I wish to think my preaching was mostly about you
And you’re not gonna like this but I’m gonna to tell you the truth
I’ve discovered my preaching is mostly about me
In the elusive tapestry of Lana Del Rey’s discography, a new thread appears, weaving spiritual contours into her already rich musical narrative. The ‘Judah Smith Interlude,’ far from being a mere segue, is an introspective deep dive into the struggle between earthly desires and divine aspirations, set against the backdrop of contemporary malaise.
The song is a departure from Del Rey’s typical languorous melodies and storied lyrics; it signals an exploration of personal faith, as she samples a sermon by Pastor Judah Smith. This uncommon inclusion prompts a dissecting of secular and sacred motifs within the context of a singularly raw and existential contemplation.
Decoding Lust vs Love: A Society at Crossroads
Del Rey chooses Judah Smith’s compelling oration as a spotlight to illuminate the dichotomy between lust and love – a recurring motif that has pervaded human behavior through the ages. At its core, the passage resonates with the biblical commandment to ‘love thy neighbor,’ yet is reframed in the stark realism of someone admitting detachment from their immediate family and life.
As Smith speaks of this detachment, he references a ‘life dominated with lust,’ a powerful indictment of modern societal currents where the endless pursuit of desires often leads to a void, a lack of genuine connection. Del Rey’s pick reflects this tug-of-war within the human soul, echoing her own artistic journey and the collective quest for meaning.
Unpacking the Pulpit: An Artist’s Spiritual Purity
Much like a sculptor chiseling away at hardened stone, Del Rey, using Smith’s sermon, chips at the notion of longing for what one does not possess. In her portrayal, there’s an overt longing for simplicity and pure-hearted existence, urging listeners to appreciate and love what is right before them.
It’s a simple yet profound appeal: ‘Help me want what I got. Help me love what’s in front of me.’ This sentiment becomes the ticket to redemption – an ardor for authentic life beyond the façade of materialistic and temporal cravings, and Del Rey positions herself as a seeker on this same journey.
The Hidden Meaning: A Celestial Perspective on Human Worth
The song then soars above, taking an astronomical turn as Smith narrates his awe of the heavens. It switches stance from a critique of earthly failings to a eulogizing of humanity’s place in the universe, as ordained by a divine Creator.
Herein lies the hidden meaning: despite the vastness of the cosmos and the intricate wonders within it, humanity is not only noticed but cherished. Del Rey’s curation seems to suggest that within this cosmic view lies a call to remember our inherent value and, by extension, the value of those around us.
Memorable Lines: An Artistic God and Human Divinity
‘You wanna call God
“Artist?
At some point tonight before you go to bed, be like,
“Yo, Elohim,
he’ll hear, ‘You’re the best artist ever'” Smith speaks. In these lines, Del Rey presents a tender narrative of how the artist, be it God or human, shares in creating beauty and meaning, be it through celestial bodies or the intangible nature of music and emotion. It denotes an elevation of human potential to a divine parallel, highlighting an innate responsibility to steward well the creative powers bestowed.
The passage serves to remind that each individual is ‘crowned like kings and queens,’ emphasizing a latent nobility that demands recognition and respect. Briody viewed the pairing of Del Rey’s artistry with Smith’s spiritual exhortation as not just another interlude but a profound revision of her anthology.
The Power of Surrendering Desire: Embracing Divine Intervention
In pursuing desire over the divinely given, one becomes ensnared in a cycle of fleeting satisfactions. The ‘Judah Smith Interlude’ confronts this cycle, ultimately advocating for the surrendering of personal will to a higher power. The acknowledgment of this need for help—’Help me, God’—becomes the pathway to transcend lust and embrace an elevated form of love.
Lana Del Rey, through this interlude, ushers the listener into a sanctuary of contemplation. It’s a call to action, not only to appreciate the present and what one possesses but to actively seek a transformed mindset aligned with a greater good. She reveals through this philosophical alliance with Judah Smith that perhaps the greatest love is one that is rooted in and nurtured by a higher calling.
