Judas by Lady Gaga Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Complex Intertwining of Betrayal and Love
Lyrics
Whoa, I’m in love with Juda-ah-as, Juda-ah-as
Judas, Juda-ah-as, Judas, Juda-ah-as
Judas, Juda-ah-as, Judas, Gaga
Judas, Juda-ah-as, Judas, Juda-ah-as
Judas, Juda-ah-as, Judas, Gaga
When he calls to me, I am ready
I’ll wash his feet with my hair if he needs
Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain
Even after three times he betrays me
Ahh-oh, ahh-oh, I’ll bring him down, bring him down, down
Ahh-oh, ahh-oh, a king with no crown, king with no crown
I’m just a Holy Fool
Oh, baby, it’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
I’m just a Holy Fool
Oh, baby, it’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
Whoa, I’m in love with Juda-ah-as, Juda-ah-as
Whoa, I’m in love with Juda-ah-as, Juda-ah-as
Judas, Juda-ah-as, Judas, Juda-ah-as
Judas, Juda-ah-as, Judas, Gaga
I couldn’t love a man so purely
Even prophets forgave his goofy way
I’ve learned love is like a brick, you can
Build a house or sink a dead body
Ahh-oh, ahh-oh, I’ll bring him down, bring him down, down
Ahh-oh, ahh-oh, a king with no crown, king with no crown
I’m just a Holy Fool
Oh, baby, it’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
I’m just a Holy Fool
Oh, baby, it’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
Whoa, I’m in love with Juda-ah-as, Juda-ah-as
Whoa, I’m in love with Juda-ah-as, Juda-ah-as
(Ew)
In the (ew) most Biblical sense
I am beyond repentance
Fame hooker, prostitute wench, vomits her mind
But in the cultural sense, I just speak in future tense
Judas, kiss me, if offenced or wear an ear condom next time
I wanna love you
But something’s pulling me away from you
Jesus is my virtue
And Judas is the demon I cling to
I cling to
Just a Holy Fool
Oh, baby, it’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
I’m just a Holy Fool
Oh, baby (just a), it’s so cruel (Holy Fool)
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
Whoa, I’m in love with Juda-ah-as, Juda-ah-as
Whoa, I’m in love with Juda-ah-as, Juda-ah-as
Judas, Juda-ah-as, Judas, Juda-ah-as
Judas, Juda-ah-as, Judas, Gaga
Bathed in a cloak of metaphors, Lady Gaga’s ‘Judas’ remains as enigmatic as it is catchy. A whirlwind of religious allegory and personal introspection, the song dives deep into the heart of a twisted love affair with betrayal itself. The track from the 2011 album ‘Born This Way’ sends listeners down a rabbit hole of Gaga’s intricate play on biblical narratives and modern fame.
On the surface, ‘Judas’ could be misconstrued as simply another pop anthem, but Lady Gaga, true to her artistic vision, embeds layers of meaning that confront the very ideas of sin, redemption, and the dichotomy between virtue and vice. Let’s peel back the sonic and lyrical layers of ‘Judas’ to uncover the nuanced messages nestled in this audacious hit.
The Duality of Gaga’s Judas: Betrayer or Beloved?
Lady Gaga’s referral to Judas is not just a catchy chorus hook; it’s a symbol of human complexity. Judas Iscariot, known notoriously as the betrayer of Christ, takes on a dual role in Gaga’s portrayal. He represents the allure of the taboo, the fascination with the flawed, and even perhaps, love in its most masochistic form.
The attraction to what we know will eventually wound us delves into a human tendency to desire the undesirable. Gaga’s confession of love towards Judas is a mirror to those real-life scenarios where we find ourselves inexplicably drawn to those who we know are destined to hurt us.
Washing Feet with Hair: Servitude or Indignation?
Gaga portrays herself as a figure willing to wash Judas’ feet with her hair, a traditional sign of humility and servitude. The biblical steep of this act serves to accentuate the depths she will go for someone unworthy, highlighting the internal struggle between head and heart.
Yet, this display of subservience belies a sense of self-aware indignation. She recognizes Judas’ failures, his ‘tongue lies,’ yet she cannot extricate herself from his grasp. The duality of servitude and self-respect wrestle within the narrative of the song, revealing the paradoxes within our own relationships.
The Ominous Chorus: Echoing Relentless Devotion
The song’s relentless chorus, with its hypnotic repetition of ‘Juda-ah-as,’ ingrains itself in the listener’s mind. This echo parallels the obsessive nature of the song’s themes and the heady intoxication of a toxic love that Gaga grapples with—embracing even the darkest parts of her desires.
By making ‘Judas’ as infectious in sound as the character is in narrative, Gaga forces the audience to understand the magnetic pull of the forbidden, the sensation of being helplessly ensnared by something—or someone—you shouldn’t adore.
Unpacking the Hidden Layers: Fame, Repentance, and Future Tense
The true genius of ‘Judas’ lies in its layered digs at the culture of fame and the future of morality. Gaga’s self-description as a ‘fame hooker’ and ‘prostitute wench’ brings her own pop stardom to trial. She critiques the superficial nature of fame and the way it compromises personal integrity, possibly echoing Judas’ thirty pieces of silver.
However, Gaga renders herself beyond traditional repentance, choosing instead to speak in a ‘future tense.’ This forward-looking view offers not an excuse, but an anticipation of an evolved cultural and moral perspective, where redemption isn’t found in penitence but in the audacity to move beyond old labels and definitions.
Memorable Lines that Haunt: ‘I’m still in love with Judas, baby’
One can’t discuss ‘Judas’ without recognizing its most haunting line: ‘I’m still in love with Judas, baby.’ The confession is raw, unsettling, and courageously honest. These words become the anthem’s heart, the mantra of the eternally conflicted; it’s the admittance of enduring love in the face of unshakable betrayal.
Gaga reaches out and touches the part of every listener that has entertained affection for what they know is wrong for them. It’s a universal experience, distilled into a phrase that resonates through its simplicity and emotional resonance. This line captures the essence of ‘Judas’—it’s not about the betrayal; it’s about the inextinguishable flame of love that persists in its shadow.
