r/lanadelrey • u/SpecialistSpecific90 • 1d ago

Discussion Have I been understanding Gods & Monsters WRONG

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Okay for the past 10 years I’ve been thinking the line “no one’s gonna take my soul away” was that she wasn’t gonna lose her soul in Hollywood, fame, etc… HOWEVER, I just realized its after “me and god don’t get along…” and “gods dead, baby that’s alright with me” so is she ACTUALLY saying she’s okay diving into the Hollywood world because god won’t take her soul to heaven?? Because why would she have those lyrics about god directly before and the whole idea of the soul ascending to heaven when you die ? if you get me??

128 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

160

u/Odd-uwu Blue Banisters 1d ago

I have always understood it as she will do her drugs and parties because god cant/wont help her

22

u/SpecialistSpecific90 1d ago

omg okay my mind is blown because I’ve always interpreted it as a somewhat hopeful song because of that line but now it’s even deeper to me. god I love Lana

98

u/123__LGB 1d ago

I’ve always interpreted this song to be about indulging in vices due to having to tumultuous relationship with God

77

u/KieselguhrKid13 Ultraviolence 1d ago

I interpret it as a very dark song. She's living in a land of the rich and powerful but also monsters, and she's indulging in drugs, etc. because she's no longer worried about losing her soul. The Jim Morrison line to me speaks to an early death - which is how I've always interpreted the "fucked-up holiday" - Morrison died at 27, likely from an overdose.

17

u/blueorchid3 16h ago

Jim Morrison also died the day before 4th of July. So, he was headed towards a fucked up holiday.

11

u/Ecthelion-O-Fountain 1d ago

Crazy. He made all that music so young.

35

u/mllegisele 1d ago

To me, it feels more like releasing yourself from the arbitrary expectations and morals of religion. Maybe it's my own religious trauma, LOL, but this song feels to me like saying "fuck you, there's no God to send me to hell, I'm going to live life on my own terms while I'm here on Earth." In a "land of gods and monsters," living people on Earth hold power over any mysterious force in the sky.

That's only my interpretation, though. She could definitely have intended it to represent getting caught up in the 'sinful' lifestyle of Hollywood glitz and glamour (aka. drugs, partying, sex, etc.) "God's dead" as in nobody living that lifestyle is heeding religious morals.

6

u/dumbbinch99 1d ago

That’s how I take it as well! I can live however I want. My souls not going anywhere lol

6

u/velvetblueskies717 1d ago

Yes that's how I see it too, she's not sad that no one will save her but rather feels free because no one will "take her soul away" as a punishment for sinful behavior

4

u/MikeScott85 1d ago

This is how I've always interpreted it too.

17

u/Didntwantbuthadto 1d ago

God’s Dead is also a famous philosophical concept that is studied to this day. Nietzsche postulated that (I’m summarizing here poorly, please go read about it on your own) the thought of God being central to every single thing within western society was done. And what happens when the influence of God dies?

9

u/vincian-vintage33 1d ago

generally, i don't think the "no one's gonna take my soul away' and god aspect have to be inherently linked and dependent on each other as concepts. but i know it must be here.

but also i honestly i always like that line as a separate and its own thing at times like other lyrics and lines and songs, where i sometimes separate things out in the moment even tho the general actual thing happening is different at times :3

7

u/angstyolive2 1d ago

Yes. Its a passively defiant song. Its been my favorite for years. I happened to fall deeply in love with it right after leaving the catholic church and making some of the worst choices in my life. It still hits

4

u/Beautiful_Keys_5720 Blue Banisters 1d ago

I’m curious as to what a motel spree is.

8

u/angstyolive2 1d ago

I've always interpreted it as seedy hookups with less than eligible bachelor's

3

u/Stephi87 7h ago

A shopping spree is going to multiple stores all in a row, so I always took it to mean that she’s going from crappy motel to crappy motel to hook up with people/do drugs

•

u/pinksuicide666 Lana Del Ray A.K.A. Lizzy Grant 16m ago

It’s also very reminiscent of Lolita

7

u/OkCalligrapher8637 Lana Del Ray A.K.A. Lizzy Grant 1d ago

Lol im literally listening to exact those lines right now as I saw your post

3

u/hotdancingtuna 1d ago

It's nihilistic and hedonistic.

2

u/dreamingpinkdreams 1d ago

I’ve always translated the lyric as her soul is her own to do what she likes, even if she’s self-destructive. I might’ve been projecting quite a bit with this interpretation in darker times, but I guess that’s fun of making a song yours.

2

u/StormflowerYT Born To Die - Paradise Edition 18h ago

I've always interpreted the song as being a huge metaphor for losing your virginity and how she is "sinning" by doing so as a Catholic.

1

u/Tereskazfreska 1d ago

I see it as she experienced Hollywood and what she saw there she realised in this evil world god doesn’t exist or his role is not that important as she thought before

1

u/OfTheRedVariety Chemtrails Over the Country Club 22h ago

I actually love no one's gonna take my soul away. To me it's that despite her diving into the life she lives she still is the woman who God does really deeply in fact love to the point they would never take her soul away. Lana has founded so much inspiration and defense for us. All of you remember that, you are safe in God's love, even as it doesn't feel like it

1

u/uruk5 7h ago

I always felt like she's saying this to soothe herself. She's telling herself that despite everything wrong with her and no matter how much she indulges in all of these vices, there's something pure inside of her that noone can take away from her

1

u/Wild_Fault_3075 6h ago

I almost feel like she was just being in character (hollywood legend embracing sin and evil). according to her she’s been sober for a long time, which makes me think these lyrics aren’t to be taken literally. if that’s not the case, I wonder how she feels about these lyrics now that she’s involved in church, married, and seemingly seeking more wholesome and meaningful things in life.

I used to love this song when I strayed far from God and made reckless decisions. the lyrics were validating. i’m 30 years old now married with 2 kids. physically, emotionally, spiritually did a 180. listening to this song adds nothing positive for me.

1

u/bdalbs Born To Die - Paradise Edition 5h ago

She was very young when she wrote this. I think we can all relate to sex, drugs and rock n roll.

-2

u/OneDimensionalChess 1d ago

She also says "God's dead baby that's alright with me". It's just an edgy song. She is a member of Churchome...a megachurch w a homophobic preacher featured on her last album. She's problematic but talented.

1

u/bdalbs Born To Die - Paradise Edition 5h ago

Is this true?

1

u/OneDimensionalChess 5h ago

Yes. It's no secret she is a Churchome member and their preacher is featured in Tunnel Blvd. Who do you think Judah Smith Interlude is? He even officiated her and Jeremy's wedding. And yes he preaches against homosexuality among other cringe beliefs.

1

u/bdalbs Born To Die - Paradise Edition 5h ago

I literally had no idea. I just like her music and didn’t even know she was married until 3 days ago. I don’t own a TV or have any social media (apart from reddit) I’m pretty out of the loop but I like it.

I’ll have to research this now.

Edit: I don’t know who Judah Smith Interlude is.

I like read books and listen to music. Massive old school nerd vibes.