Carmen
Lana Del Rey Lyrics

Darlin', darlin', doesn't have a problem
The girl Carmen appears to be charming and carefree, but is actually dealing with inner turmoil.

Lying to herself 'cause her liquor's top-shelf
Carmen is using alcohol as a coping mechanism to hide from her problems.

It's alarming, honestly, how charming she can be
Despite her issues, Carmen has a magnetic quality that attracts people to her.

Fooling everyone, telling 'em she's having fun
Carmen masks her unhappiness by pretending to enjoy herself.

She says, "you don't want to be like me"
Carmen warns others not to follow in her troubled footsteps.

"Don't wanna see all the things I've seen"
She has experienced things that have caused her pain and does not want others to go through the same.

I'm dying, I'm dying
Carmen's internal struggles are causing her great distress.

She says, "you don't want to get this way"
Carmen warns against falling to the same lows she has reached.

"Famous and dumb at an early age"
She regrets becoming famous and losing her way while still young.

Lying, I'm lying
Carmen admits to lying to herself and others about her true state of mind.

The boys, the girls
Carmen is popular among both genders.

They all like Carmen
Carmen's charm appeals to everyone.

She gives them butterflies, bats her cartoon eyes
Carmen flirts and teases, eliciting strong emotions from those around her.

She laughs like God
Carmen's laugh is infectious and larger than life.

Her mind's like a diamond
Carmen is intelligent and sharp-minded.

Audiotune lies
Carmen may use auto-tune, a tool used to enhance vocals, to make her voice sound better, but it's not genuine.

She's still shining
Despite her issues, Carmen's aura continues to draw people in.

Like lightning, whoa-whoa
Carmen has an electric, undeniable presence.

Carmen, Carmen, staying up 'til morning
Carmen leads a fast-paced and reckless lifestyle that involves staying up all night.

Only seventeen, but she walks the streets so mean
Carmen's age does not stop her from engaging in potentially dangerous situations.

It's alarming, truly, how disarming you can be
Carmen's beauty and charm can be manipulative and deceptive.

Eating soft ice cream, Coney Island queen"
Carmen indulges in a simple pleasure, but retains her sense of being a queen.

Looking for fun, get me high for free
Carmen seeks out pleasure and escape through drugs and other means without consequence.

It's tiring, tiring
Carmen's lifestyle and way of coping are exhausting and unsustainable.

Baby's all dressed up with nowhere to go
Carmen may present herself in a certain way, but she has no true direction or purpose.

That's the little story of the girl you know
Carmen's life may seem glamorous from the outside, but it is actually full of turmoil.

Relying on the kindness of strangers
Carmen must rely on others to help her navigate her troubled existence.

Tyin' cherry knots, smilin', doin' party favors
Carmen engages in risky and self-destructive behaviors in order to keep up appearances and fit in with her peers.

Put your red dress on, put your lipstick on
Carmen is telling the listener to put on a brave face and keep up appearances, regardless of the internal pain.

Sing your song, song, now, the camera's on
Carmen encourages the listener to fake it and perform for the camera, even if it's not genuine.

And you're alive again
Putting on a façade can give the illusion of being alive and vibrant, despite the internal turmoil.

Mon amour, je sais que tu m'aimes aussi Tu as besoin de moi Tu as besoin de moi dans ta vie Tu ne peux vivre sans moi Et je mourrais sans toi Je tuerais pour toi
Carmen speaks in French, telling her lover that they need each other desperately and that she would do anything for them.

Like lightning, whoa-whoa
Carmen has an electric, undeniable presence.