"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[]
- Dancing while appearing crazy or insane is a theme throughout "Cruel World".
- Fame is a recurring theme in "Gods & Monsters", "Noir" and the demo version of "The Next Best American Record".
- God is mentioned in "God Bless America - and All the Beautiful Women in It" and "Gods & Monsters", among several others.
- "Hotel California" and "Tequila Sunrise" are famous songs by the band the Eagles.
- Rain is also mentioned in "Born to Die", "Hot Hot Hot" and "Salvatore".
- The lyric "Light up my life" is similar to the lyric "Light of my life" from "Off to the Races".
- The lyric "Red, blue, and yellow skies" is similar to the lyric "Red, white, blue's in the sky" from "National Anthem".
- The phrase "God knows" also appears in "Blue Banisters", "Pawn Shop Blues", "Tulsa Jesus Freak", and "Violets for Roses".
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 knows 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 knows 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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