The True Meaning Behind Jesus Lord By Kanye West
Kanye West released his 2021 album "Donda" to huge hype and global attention, not least because of his rumored feud with Drake, whose album "Certified Lover Boy" came out only days apart. West's "Donda" is his tenth studio album and named after his late mother, Donda C. West, so the album, complete with a solid black cover, is an ongoing eulogy to her and one that draws attention to her deep absence in his life.
While "Donda" offers a poignant as well as an artistic look at death and grief, West's album also captures his ever-growing spirituality, which has been weaving its way through his career. It's not surprising that "Donda" continues with this theme, since West's ninth studio album was called "Jesus is King," and was epitomized by its Christian tone and gospel sound, as Pitchfork noted. Carrying with this idea, "Donda" featured a song called "Jesus Lord" that caught major attention. So, what's so special about that particular track?
Kanye West taps into darkness in Jesus Lord
Kanye West's "Jesus Lord" taps into his ongoing message of spirituality. He begins with, "Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord) / Now we've been through a lot of things / Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)," per Genius. West's song taps into a palpable loneliness and darkness. "Sittin' by myself, I'm just thinkin'/ About all I've been through, I wish I was dreamin'/ Man, it's hard to be an angel when you surrounded by demons," West adds.
West seems particularly focused on mind-altering substances in "Jesus Lord." He raps, "But lately, I've been losin' all my deepest friends (Lord) / And lately, I've been swimmin' on the deepest end / It's just drugs, it ain't no hugs, it ain't no love there." He later adds, "And while I introduce the party, you say it's up there / Too many pills, so much potions, so much pain, too many emotions/ And everything that you do good, it just go unnoticed (Jesus)." As Genius notes, that latter line is tied to the criticism he often receives and how "a lot of the times, the 'wrong' he has done outweighs the good."
Inside Kanye West's ongoing spiritual journey
Kanye West's song "Jesus Lord" continues the theme of his personal spiritual experience that has informed his music for the past several years. In 2019, he spoke with pastor Joel Osteen about his growth. "I know that God has been calling me for a long time and the devil has been distracting me for a long time," West explained, according to ABC News.
During the conversation, West said that the lures of superstardom dissipated for him and he is only in service of God. In "Jesus Lord," West uses biblical references to illustrate his message. "My rugged cross and thorny crowns squeeze out Christ tears / Thirty pieces of silver clout, my Pierre price tier / It's a war outside, it's a war outside (Jesus)/ It's like the last days of Sodom and Gomorrah outside (Lord)," he raps, per Genius. West certainly sees the spiritual journey as a struggle and one that he is not afraid to fight.