Judas vs Jesus

In recent years, Lady Gaga has risen from relative obscurity into superstardom with the help of her unique persona and controversial music. Her latest hit music video, “Judas”, is no exception. Packed with an assortment of religious and cultural references, “Judas” raises questions about acceptance and religiosity. The lyrics contain many biblical references such as the story of Mary and Martha and, in particular, Judas’ betrayal. Using these allusions, Lady Gaga tells a story about love, forgiveness, sin, and virtue.

In the first verse, the narrator expresses that she is ready to forgive Judas despite his lies and betrayals:

When he comes to me, I am ready
I 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

Washing someone’s feet is a sign of extreme love and humility in the Christian world. In the same way, the three times Peter denied Jesus Christ was one of the most heartbreaking betrayals in the bible. Lady Gaga implemented these extreme examples to show that the narrator is ready to love and forgive Judas no matter how hard he falls.

During the second stanza introduces two new ideas to the listener. First, the narrator establishes that she is not alone in forgiving Judas. She then states that love can be either a constructive or destructive force. The verse can be interpreted as a plea for mercy on behalf of Judas and his transgressions. The dichotomy in the narrator’s feelings is fully exposed in the bridge of the song. While admitting that she is a sinner who is “beyond repentance”, the narrator is divided between the virtue of Jesus and sinful Judas:

I wanna love you,
But something's pulling me away from you
Jesus is my Virtue
And Judas is the demon I cling to

There is a strong internal opposition structured into the song which is illustrated by the narrator’s longing for both her inherent sinful nature and a life of virtue. The struggle between integrity and immortality is something that many people wrestle with. While some people find great value in trying to live a virtuous life, their selfish nature often times hinders their progress. This internal conflict destabilizes the definition of “wrong” and the boundaries of what is acceptable and unacceptable in society.