"God Knows I Tried" (originally titled "God Knows") is a song written by Lana Del Rey and Rick Nowels that is featured on Del Rey's third major-label full-length album, Honeymoon.
Background[]
Del Rey has said that this song and "Terrence Loves You" are incredibly close to her.
A demo version of this song leaked on August 1, 2020.
Cross-references[]
- "Red, blue, and yellow skies" is similar to "red, white, blue is in the sky" from "National Anthem".
- Dancing crazy or insane is a theme throughout "Cruel World".
- Fame is a recurring theme in "Gods & Monsters", "Noir" and a demo version of "The Next Best American Record".
- "Light up my life" is a similar lyric to "light of my life" from "Off to the Races".
- "Hotel California" and "Tequila Sunrise" are famous songs by the band the Eagles.
- God is mentioned in "God Bless America - and All the Beautiful Women in It" and "Gods & Monsters", among some others.
- The phrase "God knows" also appears in "Pawn Shop Blues", "Blue Banisters", "Tulsa Jesus Freak", and "Violets for Roses".
- Rain is also mentioned in "Born to Die", "Hot Hot Hot" and "Salvatore".
Official versions[]
- Album version — 4:40
- Instrumental version — 4:43
- Demo version — 4:37
Lyrics[]
Sometimes I wake up in the morning
To red, blue and yellow skies
It's so crazy, I could drink it
Like tequila sunrise
Put on that Hotel California
Dance around like I'm insane
I feel free when I see no one
And nobody knows my name
God knows I lived
God knows I died
God knows I begged
Begged, borrowed and cried
God knows I loved
God know I lied
God knows I lost
God gave me life
And God knows I tried
God knows I tried
God knows I tried
God knows I tried
Sometimes I wake up in the morning
To red, blue and yellow lights
On Monday they destroyed me
But by Friday I'm revived
Put on that Hotel California
Wear my blinders in the rain
I've got nothing much to live for
Ever since I found my fame
God knows I lived
God knows I died
God knows I loved
God know I lied
God knows I begged
Begged, borrowed and cried
God knows I lost
But God gave me life
And God knows I tried
God knows I tried
God knows I tried
God knows I tried
So let there be light
Let there be light
Light up my life
Light up my life
Let there be light
Let there be light
Light up my life
Light up my life
God knows I tried
God knows I tried
God knows I tried
God knows I tried
God knows I tried
God knows I tried
God knows I tried
God knows I tried
Credits[]
Personnel
- Lana Del Rey – vocals, songwriting, production
- Rick Nowels – songwriting, production, electric guitar, organ, pads, electric piano, mellotron
- Kieron Menzies – production, drums, bass, samples, engineering, mixing, recording
- Patrick Warren – orchestrations
- Trevor Yasuda & Chris Garcia – engineering
- Adam Ayan – mastering
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