"Judas" — What It Means

In the due course of events regarding the following of Lady Gaga and the music that she releases, I've come across a plethora of videos, commentaries, articles, etc. that have attempted to demonize Gaga.  Normally, they have reasonable points that they bring up—though they still can be easily countered—but the "discussion" that outspoken people like Bill Donohue have had with the general public brings up points that are inherently wrong due to the fact that they misinterpret the lyrics of the song (or don't even look at them) to fit their purpose of making Gaga out to be a demon.  They look at the lyrics literally, and only in chunks, which drives them on to try and rid the world of Gaga's "blasphemy."  In an attempt to alleviate the anger that these people fill me with and inform them quasi-politely that they're incorrect in the information that they're spweing giving out through the media, I'll translate the lyrics of "Judas"—which happens to be one of Gaga's most straightforwardly written songs, though no less beautiful on account of it—to something plain and simple to understand.


[Post-chorus]
Oh-oh-oh-ohoo
I'm in love with Juda-as, Juda-as [x2]
(Oh, I'm in love with someone who betrays me)

[Post-chorus Hook]
Judas Juda-a-a, Judas Juda-a-a, Judas Juda-a-a, Judas GaGa [x2]
(This effectively functions as a "lover's call," something frequently used in a form of theater called Commedia dell'arte to inform one's lover that one is present, usually used in a comedy bit where the two lovers look for each other in the same room using the call to alert each other to one's location.)

[Verse 1]
When he comes to me, I am ready
(When he approaches me, I'm ready to do anything for him)
I'll wash his feet with my hair if he needs
(Even if it means washing his feet with my hair)
Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain
(I'll forgive him even when he lies)
Even after three times, he betrays me
(Even after forgiving him thrice, he betrays me; this is a reference to Judas betraying Jesus)

[Hook]
I'll bring him down, bring him down, down
(I'll conquer him, save him, fix his errors)
A king with no crown, king with no crown
(His flaws will have no hold over him; a king without a crown has no sovereign, so Gaga's lover being a king with no crown will have the status of a king, but not the power)

[Chorus]
I'm just a Holy fool, oh baby it's so cruel
(I'm just a fool, and it's so cruel that it's like this)
But I'm still in love with Judas, baby
(But I still love him, despite his betrayals)
[x2]

[Post-chorus]

[Post-chorus Hook]

[Verse 2]
I couldn't love a man so purely
(I couldn't love just anyone quite so strongly)
Even prophets forgave his crooked way
(Even the most holy and intelligent people forgave him)
I've learned love is like a brick, you can
(I've learned love has similar characteristics to a brick; you can:)
Build a house or sink a dead body
(Build up a romance with it or completely destroy one)

[Hook]

[Chorus]
[Post-chorus]

EW
(Ew)

[Bridge]
In the most Biblical sense,
(By strongly adhering to definitions put forth by the Bible)
I am beyond repentance
(I can't be redeemed for what I've done)
Fame hooker, prostitute wench, vomits her mind
(I may be seen as someone who will do anything for fame, promiscuous, someone who speaks her mind without thinking)
But in the cultural sense
(But along definitions put forth by our culture)
I just speak in future tense
(I'm only looking at what effects my actions will have on paving my future)
Judas kiss me if offensed,
(Lover, embrace me if I offend you)
Or wear ear condom next time
(Or just don't listen next time)

I wanna love you,
(I want to love you)
But something's pulling me away from you
(But something is telling me not to)
Jesus is my virtue,
(Jesus and the light are what I aim for)
Judas is the demon I cling to
(But betraying men and the dark are what I end up with)
I cling to
(I end up with)

[Chorus]

[Post-chorus]

[Post-chorus Hook]


There.  Now while what I've posted as my translation is merely an articulation of my mental interpretation of the song, it should serve well enough to ensure that those who argue against Gaga's lyrical choice for fear that its blasphemous see that they've misinterpreted the lyrics (meaning they're not to be taken literally) and see what the song is truly talking about:  being in love with someone who betrays you, knowing it, and not doing anything about it for the gravity that you feel.