'Jesus Loves Me' by Dierks Bentley - Lyrics & Meaning

With his 11th studio album in tow, Dierks Bentley has added a new slate of classic breakup anthems to his impressive repertoire, including the lonesome 'Jesus Loves Me.'

Featured as part of the 11-song Broken Branches collection, and marking the ‘Drunk On A Plane’ hitmaker's first solo record since 2023's Gravel & Gold, 'Jesus Loves Me' serves as the second track on the album and follows the familiar message in lead single, 'She Hates Me,' which was released just ahead of Valentine's Day.

An outside cut written by the trio of Adam James, Ben Stennis & Allison Veltz Cruz, 'Jesus Loves Me' takes on a grungy, alt-country sound as Bentley laments on his failed relationship.

The heavy, swampy production, helmed by Jon Randall & Ross Copperman, finds Bentley leaning into sultry guitar licks and delicate acoustic picking in equal measure as arena-ready drums build into the second verse.

"Tonight I’m dusting off the Bible instead of leaning on the bottle like I do
Just might trade that ‘ol bar stool for a hard back ‘ol pine pew
Drown out your dear John
With some Mathew Mark and Luke
Tonight I’m dusting off the Bible stead of leaning on the bottle like I do"

We find our narrator at a critical crossroads. He can either crack open his old, unused Bible or twist off the top to another bottle and drown his sorrows. Choosing the former, we quickly understand that this is a new behavior from him as he usually sets up camp on any given barstool, but is instead choosing to find solace in something a little holier this time around.

Our narrator references "your dear John," as in the infamous Dear John letters that originated during World War II when women wrote to their partners, typically service members deployed overseas, telling them that their relationship was ending.

From this, we can quickly deduce that our main character is going through a breakup, but maybe this time he'll choose a healthier means of coping.

"But yeah that 100 proof
Gospel truth is she’s goodbye gone
Yeah ‘tween red word lines
And them red taillights
All I know is
Yeah Jesus loves me
Yeah Jesus loves me
Yeah Jesus loves me
But she don’t"

Drawing a bevy of comparisons between alcohol, scripture and her leaving, the chorus essentially just affirms that his beloved has left him in the dust as he clutches on to whatever will bring him comfort.

Borrowing the key melody from the classic children's hymn of the same name, the narrator assures himself over and over that even though she doesn't love him anymore, Jesus does.

"Thought maybe if I hit my knees she’d think about hitting the brakes
God knew when He made her even He couldn’t make her stay
Yeah that girl was amazing but sometimes amazing still runs out of grace
Thought maybe if I hit my knees she’d think about hitting the brakes"

As we get deeper into his grieving process, we learn that more than just needing comfort, he's simply hoping that if he leans on God, that God will bring her back to him. Yet, in the next line, he claims that even God can't make her stay.

Despite how wonderful and perfect this woman might have been, it's clear that our narrator wasn't up to scratch and likely won't ever get another chance.

"But yeah that 100 proof
Gospel truth is she’s goodbye gone
Yeah ‘tween red word lines
And them red taillights
All I know is
Yeah Jesus loves me
Yeah Jesus loves me
Yeah Jesus loves me
But she don’t"

As yet, Dierks Bentley hasn't shared much of the story behind 'Jesus Loves Me.' However, speaking ahead of the album announcement, he explained what inspired him to celebrate life's imperfections through this next chapter.

“The country music community has a lot of broken branches in it. That’s why we’re all here," Bentley shared. "We want to do something a little bit different, and I think everyone sees themselves like that–certainly in country. This is the people’s music and it represents that spirit of individuality so well–it’s just about doing it our own way.”

Reflecting on the creative process behind this new project, the ‘Beers On Me’ chart-topper added, “I think that’s what’s special about country–we’re still making music in the studio with our buddies. We’re still getting together and talking about the songs and letting the musicians have a big say. It’s a good team–maybe a little messed up–but that’s the whole idea behind broken branches, so it just works.”

Tonight I’m dusting off the Bible instead of leaning on the bottle like I do
Just might trade that ‘ol bar stool for a hard back ‘ol pine pew
Drown out your dear John
With some Mathew Mark and Luke
Tonight I’m dusting off the Bible stead of leaning on the bottle like I do

But yeah that 100 proof
Gospel truth is she’s goodbye gone
Yeah ‘tween red word lines
And them red taillights
All I know is
Yeah Jesus loves me
Yeah Jesus loves me
Yeah Jesus loves me
But she don’t

Thought maybe if I hit my knees she’d think about hitting the brakes
God knew when He made her even He couldn’t make her stay
Yeah that girl was amazing but sometimes amazing still runs out of grace
Thought maybe if I hit my knees she’d think about hitting the brakes

But yeah that 100 proof
Gospel truth is she’s goodbye gone
Yeah ‘tween red word lines
And them red taillights
All I know is
Yeah Jesus loves me
Yeah Jesus loves me
Yeah Jesus loves me
But she don’t

I turned whiskey into water
Tryna to turn this thing around
But the Highways got her now

Yeah that 100 proof
Gospel truth, she’s goodbye gone
Yeah ‘tween red word lines
And them red taillights
All I know is
Yeah Jesus loves me
Yeah Jesus loves me
Yeah Jesus loves me
But she don’t

No no no no yeah she don’t
No she don’t
Yeah Jesus loves me but she don’t

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