Blue hydrangea, cold cash divine
Cashmere, cologne, and white sunshine
Red racing cars, Sunset and Vine
The kids were young and pretty
Where have you been?
Where did you go?
Those summer nights seem long ago
And so is the girl you used to call
The queen of New York City

But if you send for me, you know I'll come
And if you call for me, you know I'll run
I'll run to you, I'll run to you
I'll run, run, run
I'll come to you, I'll come to you
I'll come, come, come
Oh-oh oh, oh-oh oh

The power of youth is on my mind
Sunsets, small town, I'm out of time
Will you still love me when I shine
From words but not from beauty
My father's love was always strong
My mother's glamour lives on and on
Yet still inside, I felt alone
For reasons unknown to me

But if you send for me, you know I'll come
And if you call for me, you know I'll run
I'll run to you, I'll run to you
I'll run, run, run
I'll come to you, I'll come to you
I'll come, come, come
Oh-oh oh, oh-oh oh

And if you call I'll run, run, run
If you change your mind, I'll come, come, come
Oh-oh oh, ah-ah ah

Blue hydrangea, cold cash divine
Cashmere, cologne and hot sunshine
Red racing cars, Sunset and Vine
And we were young and pretty

Overall Meaning

Lana Del Rey's "Old Money" tells a story of a time when "the kids were young and pretty" and life seemed full of possibilities. The first verse sets the stage with imagery of luxurious items like blue hydrangeas, cashmere, cologne, and red racing cars on Sunset and Vine. These things evoke a sense of beauty, glamour, and nostalgia for a bygone era. The singer reflects on a girl whom she used to call "the queen of New York City," but who is now gone. The lyrics have a melancholic tone, expressing a longing for something lost, a desire to go back in time to those summer nights that seem so far away.

In the second verse, the focus shifts to the singer's own life. She mentions her father's love that was always strong and her mother's glamour that still lives on in her memory. The singer admits feeling alone for reasons unknown to her, and questions whether someone will still love her when she shines "from words but not from beauty." This suggests a sense of insecurity, perhaps rooted in the need for external validation. The chorus reassures the listener that the singer will always come running if called upon, expressing loyalty and devotion.

Overall, "Old Money" is a poignant reflection on the passage of time, lost love, and the human need for connection and meaning. Through vivid descriptions of tangible items and experiences, Lana Del Rey evokes a sense of timelessness that speaks to the universal human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Blue hydrangea, cold cash divine
A beautiful flower juxtaposed with money as a powerful force

Cashmere, cologne and white sunshine
Luxury and a bright future

Red racing cars, sunset and vine
A picturesque lifestyle filled with fast cars and beautiful scenery

The kids were young and pretty
Nostalgia for a time of youth and beauty

Where have you been?
A question of where someone has been and what they have been doing

Where did you go?
Further emphasis on the absence of someone

Those summer nights seem long ago
Sorrow for the passing of time and the loss of warm memories

And so is the girl you used to call
The person being addressed is not the same as they used to be

The queen of New York City
The person being addressed was once a prominent figure in New York City

But if you send for me, you know I'll come
The person being addressed is offering to come if requested

And if you call for me, you know I'll run
The person being addressed is eager to please and will be there immediately

I'll run to you, I'll run to you
Reiteration of the offer to come

I'll run, run, run
Emphasis on the eagerness to come

I'll come to you, I'll come to you
Reiteration of the offer to come

I'll come, come, come
Emphasis on being there to help

The power of youth is on my mind
The artist is thinking about the strength and potential of being young

Sunsets, small town, I'm out of time
The beauty of small towns and sunsets, juxtaposed with a feeling of running out of time

Will you still love me when I shine
A question of whether the person being addressed will love the singer when they are successful

From words but not from beauty
The singer may have success through words, but not through their looks

My father's love was always strong
The artist's father provided love and support

My mother's glamour lives on and on
The artist's mother was glamorous and their influence is still felt

Yet still inside, I felt alone
Despite having a loving family, the artist still feels lonely

For reasons unknown to me
The singer cannot explain why they feel alone

And if you call I'll run, run, run
Reiteration of the offer to come

If you change your mind, I'll come, come, come
Emphasis on the singer being willing to offer help at any time, even if plans change

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Nino Rota, Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, Robert John Ellis Fitzsimmons, Daniel Law Heath

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Robert Cochran

on West Coast

Amazing how the film maker lifted the filming of this video directly from the Chet Baker documentary Let's Get Lost - black & white hanging at the beach and cruising in the backs of convertables