I Talk to Jesus (song)

Lana Del Rey
Writer(s)	Lana Del Rey Tim Larcombe
Producer(s)	Tim Larcombe
Recorded	2012
Length	5:42 (See official versions)
From

"I Talk to Jesus" (referred to as "Jesus") is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey. The song was recorded in 2012 and was produced by Tim Larcombe. The song is considered to be an outtake from Paradise and what would eventually become Ultraviolence. It was registered on PPL Repertoire sometime in either 2016 or 2017.

Background

The song was at one point considered for inclusion on Del Rey's third studio album, before it would become Ultraviolence. A shortened version of the title of the song can be seen in a January 2013 photo of Del Rey in the studio with her written notes partially visible in the background.

Two final versions of the song are known to exist. The version known as the alternate final version leaked on August 1, 2020. The final version of the song leaked on August 9 with metadata that showed it was a part of Del Rey's Tropico album. On September 2, 2022, two edited snippets of the demo of the song leaked, followed by the full laptop demo leaking the next day.

Cross-references

• Christmas lights are also mentioned in "Pin Up Galore", "Trash Magic", and "Strangelove".
• Alabama is mentioned in "Pin Up Galore", the demo of "Trash Magic", "Ave Maria", and "1949".
• References to trailer parks are also found in "Backfire" and "Yayo", among many other songs.
• The Bible is also mentioned in "Tulsa Jesus Freak" and "Cruel World".
• Jesus is also mentioned in "Tulsa Jesus Freak", "Diet Mountain Dew", and "Body Electric".
• Del Rey also mentions her boyfriend in "Brooklyn Baby" and "Tired of Singing the Blues".
• True love is also mentioned in "Ultraviolence", "Off to the Races", and "True Love on the Side".
• The post-chorus is also used in the song "American".
• The colors black and blue are both mentioned in "Get Free" and "Hundred Dollar Bill".
• A count can also be found in "My Best Days" and "California".

Official versions

• Final version — 5:42
• Alternate final version — 6:03
• Laptop demo — 3:31

Lyrics

Final version

One, two
One, two

I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
What the fuck happened here?
I guess that's what they meant when they pay the price
I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
Where are the trailer parks and where all the Christmas lights?

I had a boyfriend, he came from this town
We used to pretend we would marry and start again
He read the Bible, showed me what Jesus said
He said, "Only read the red"

I want Jesus to take me out of this life, baby
And I talk to Jesus and ask him if he'll think of saving me
Ooh, ooh, ooh

I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
Nothing looks familiar here, no one even that I like
I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
I was so much happier when I was gonna be your wife

We had a deal and I fucked it up when
I made the decision to become someone
We had the one thing that no one ever had
True love, it's true love

I ask Jesus to take me out of this life, baby
And I talk to Jesus and ask him if he'll think of saving me
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

I never meant to hurt you, baby
It's so hard to be true
In this world where everything's so black and blue
I never meant to hurt you, darling
It's so hard to be good
In this world where you do what you know you should

I want Jesus to take me out of this life, baby
And I talk to Jesus and ask him if he'll think of saving me
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

Alternate final version

I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
What the fuck happened here?
I guess that's what they meant when they pay the price
I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
Where are the trailer parks and where all the Christmas lights?

I had a boyfriend, he came from this town
We used to pretend we would marry and start again
He read the Bible, showed me what Jesus said
He said, "Only read the red"

I want Jesus to take me out of this life, baby
And I talk to Jesus and ask him if he'll think of saving me
Ooh, ooh, ooh

I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
Nothing looks familiar here, no one even that I like
I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
I was so much happier when I was gonna be your wife

We had a deal and I fucked it up when
I made the decision to become someone
We had the one thing that no one ever had
True love, it's true love

I ask Jesus to take me out of this life, baby
And I talk to Jesus and ask him if he'll think of saving me
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

I never meant to hurt you, baby
It's so hard to be true
In this world where everything's so black and blue
I never meant to hurt you, darling
It's so hard to be good
In this world where you do what you know you should

I want Jesus to take me out of this life, baby
And I talk to Jesus and ask him if he'll think of saving me
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

Laptop demo

One, two
One, two

I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
What the fuck happened here?
I guess that's what they meant when they pay the price
I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
Where are the trailer parks and where all the Christmas lights?

I had a boyfriend, he lived in this town
We used to pretend we would marry and start again
He read the Bible, showed me what Jesus said
He said, "Only read the red"

I want Jesus to take me out of this life, baby
And I talk to Jesus and ask him if he'll think of saving me
Ooh, ooh, ooh

I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
Nothing looks familiar here, no one even that I like
I go back to Alabama, take a look at my life
I was so much happier when I was gonna be your wife

We had a deal and I fucked it up when
I made the decision to become someone
We had the one thing that no one ever thought
It's true love, true love (it's true love)
True love, true love

I ask Jesus to take me out of this life, baby
And I talk to Jesus and ask him if he'll maybe save me
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh