"Video Games" has received several accolades from critics since its release. The song has been considered Del Rey's "breakthrough hit" and was a commercial success, peaking at number one in Germany, Iceland and Luxembourg, reaching a top ten position in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and peaked at 91 on Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Gold. The song's accompanying music video was directed and edited by Del Rey herself, combining scenes of her performing the song filmed on a webcam with clips of archive footage. The song won an Ivor Novello Award for "Best Contemporary Song" in 2012 and was nominated for several other awards shortly after release. In the Q Awards 2019, the song has been named as the song of the decade.
"Video Games" was also included in the book 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die.
Video Games
Lana Del Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pull up in your fast car
Whistling my name
Open up a beer
And you say, Get over here
And play a video game
I'm in his favourite sun dress
Take that body downtown
I say you the bestest
Lean in for a big kiss
Put his favourite perfume on
Go play a video game
It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you want to do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
Baby, now you do
Singing in the old bars
Swinging with the old stars
Living for the fame
Kissing in the blue dark
Playing pool and wild darts
Video games
He holds me in his big arms
Drunk and I am seeing stars
This is all I think of
Watching all our friends fall
In and out of Old Paul's
This is my idea of fun
Playing video games
It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you want to do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
Baby, now you do
Now you do, now you do, now you do
Now you do, now you do, now you do
It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you want to do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
Baby, now you do
Now you do, now you do, now you do
Now you do
Now you do, now you do, now you do
In "Video Games," Lana Del Rey lays out a picture of a relationship thatโs not quite as idyllic as it might appear at first glance. The song begins with a description of a simple, carefree summer day, with Del Rey swinging in the backyard and her boyfriend arriving in a fast car, ready to spend a relaxing afternoon playing video games and drinking beer. Del Rey sings about the little glimpses of passion and romance that she sees throughout the day, like her boyfriend whistling her name and leaning in for a big kiss. But thereโs always a sense of melancholy and detachment lingering underneath it all, as she sings about watching herself get undressed and feeling like she needs to put on perfume to be desirable to her partner. She also asks him if he likes โthe bad girlsโ and wonders whether heโs staying with her because he actually loves her or just because he wants someone to be there with him.
As the song progresses, Del Rey delves deeper into the complicated emotions that are always lurking just beneath the surface of this relationship. She sings about going out to old bars and swinging with the old stars, all while living for the fame that she craves. She and her boyfriend play pool and wild darts, but thereโs always a hint of sadness and desperation in the air. Del Rey sings about having to hold onto her boyfriend for dear life as she watches their friends fall in and out of Old Paulโs, and she wonders whether life is only worth living if someone is loving you.
Through it all, the music itself is just as dreamy and melancholic as the lyrics. The slow, hypnotic melody perfectly captures the feeling of being stuck in a relationship thatโs not all itโs cracked up to be. At the same time, though, thereโs a sense of warmth and nostalgia in the music, as if Del Rey is holding onto this relationship because itโs the only thing that connects her to a simpler, happier time.
Line by Line Meaning
Swinging in the backyard
I am enjoying an innocent and carefree moment in the outdoors
Pull up in your fast car
You arrive in your luxury vehicle with a sense of status and power
Whistling my name
You are showing affection for me and catching my attention in a charming way
Open up a beer
We are settling into a relaxed and comfortable mood
And you say, Get over here
You are asking me to join you and engage with you
And play a video game
We are using this playful activity to bond and connect with each other
I'm in his favourite sun dress
I am wearing something that makes me feel desirable and attractive to him
Watching me get undressed
He is admiring and enjoying the sight of me taking off my clothes
Take that body downtown
We are going out to a public place where we can show off and be seen together
I say you the bestest
I am expressing my affection and admiration for him
Lean in for a big kiss
We are sharing a passionate and intimate moment
Put his favourite perfume on
I am trying to please him by wearing something that he likes
Go play a video game
We are using this activity as a way to continue our bonding and connection in a fun and carefree way
It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do, say, and feel is centered around you and your love
Everything I do
All of my actions and thoughts revolve around pleasing and impressing you
I tell you all the time
I constantly express my affection and devotion to you
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Being with you is the most blissful and perfect experience I can imagine
Tell me all the things you want to do
I am interested in your desires and fantasies, and want to fulfill them with you
I heard that you like the bad girls
I am inquiring about your attraction to women who are edgy and unconventional
Honey, is that true?
I want to understand your preferences and tastes so I can better please you
It's better than I ever even knew
Being with you and experiencing your love is more wonderful than I could have ever imagined
They say that the world was built for two
There is a common belief that life is most fulfilling and meaningful when shared with a romantic partner
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
Love is the most important and valuable experience in life
Baby, now you do
Now that you love me, my life is complete and worthwhile
Singing in the old bars
We are enjoying the nostalgic and romantic atmosphere of older, traditional places
Swinging with the old stars
We are appreciating the glamour and mystique of bygone eras and icons
Living for the fame
We are enjoying the attention and adoration that comes with being in the public eye
Kissing in the blue dark
We are sharing a secret and intimate moment, hidden away from public view
Playing pool and wild darts
We are engaging in fun and exciting activities that bring us closer together
Video games
We continue to use this recreational activity as a way to bond and connect with each other
He holds me in his big arms
He is providing me with comfort, safety, and affection
Drunk and I am seeing stars
We are under the influence, and experiencing intense feelings of euphoria and enchantment
This is all I think of
I am constantly consumed with thoughts of him, our love, and our shared experiences
Watching all our friends fall
We are witnessing the pitfalls and challenges of romantic relationships among our peers
In and out of Old Paul's
We are observing the ups and downs of romantic affairs among people we know
This is my idea of fun
I find happiness, excitement, and fulfillment in being with him and experiencing our love
Now you do
Now that we are in love, you understand and share my perspective on life and relationships
Contributed by Wyatt J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Clauder.
A mรบsica "Video Games" de Lana Del Rey รฉ uma canรงรฃo que explora temas de amor, perda e nostalgia. A letra รฉ narrada por uma mulher que estรก apaixonada por um homem que nรฃo a ama de volta. Ela se apega aos momentos que eles passaram juntos, mesmo que eles tenham sido breves e fugazes.
A mรบsica comeรงa com a mulher descrevendo o homem que ela ama. Ele รฉ um "bad boy" que vive uma vida de glamour e excesso. Ela se sente atraรญda por sua beleza e seu estilo de vida, mas tambรฉm sabe que ele รฉ perigoso.
A mulher canta sobre os momentos que eles passaram juntos. Ela se lembra de quando ele a pegou no carro e a levou para um passeio. Eles passearam pela cidade, e ela se sentiu como se estivesse em um videogame.
Mas a felicidade da mulher nรฃo dura muito. O homem a deixa, e ela se sente perdida e sozinha. Ela canta sobre como ele a fez se sentir, e como ela estรก tentando esquecer o que aconteceu.
No refrรฃo, a mulher repete a frase "Nรณs nascemos para morrer". Essa frase รฉ uma reflexรฃo sobre a natureza fugaz da vida. A mulher sabe que o amor dela pelo homem รฉ impossรญvel, mas ela nรฃo consegue desistir dele.
A mรบsica termina com a mulher cantando sobre como ela estรก tentando seguir em frente. Ela diz que vai se divertir e aproveitar a vida, mesmo que esteja sofrendo.
A mรบsica "Video Games" รฉ uma canรงรฃo melancรณlica e bela que explora temas universais de amor e perda. A voz de Lana Del Rey รฉ um complemento perfeito para a letra, e a mรบsica tem uma atmosfera nostรกlgica que a torna ainda mais envolvente.
Aqui estรฃo algumas interpretaรงรตes especรญficas da mรบsica:
Amor fatalista:ย A mรบsica pode ser vista como uma histรณria de amor condenado. O homem que a mulher ama รฉ um bad boy, e ela sabe que ele nรฃo รฉ confiรกvel. No entanto, ela se apega a ele, mesmo sabendo que ele vai acabar a magoando.
Escapismo:ย A mรบsica tambรฉm pode ser vista como uma forma de escapismo. A mulher estรก vivendo uma vida difรญcil, e ela se apega aos momentos que passou com o homem como uma forma de esquecer seus problemas.
Autodescoberta:ย A mรบsica tambรฉm pode ser interpretada como uma jornada de autodescoberta. A mulher estรก aprendendo sobre si mesma e sobre o que ela quer da vida. Ela estรก percebendo que nรฃo precisa depender de um homem para ser feliz.
Em รบltima anรกlise, o significado da mรบsica รฉ subjetivo e depende da interpretaรงรฃo do ouvinte. No entanto, รฉ uma mรบsica que ressoa com muitas pessoas, pois explora temas que sรฃo universais e atemporais.
Espero que aprecie esta interpretaรงรฃo, que tem como objetivo o processo de desvendar o significado da mรบsica, levando a vocรช uma compreensรฃo mais profunda da obra.
@bibic6015
Swinging in the backyard
Pull up in your fast car
Whistling my name
Open up a beer
And you say, "Get over here
And play a video game."
I'm in his favorite sun dress
Watching me get undressed
Take that body downtown
I say, "You the bestest."
Lean in for a big kiss
Put his favorite perfume on
Go play a video game
It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you wanna do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
Baby, now you do
Singing in the old bars
Swinging with the old stars
Living for the fame
Kissing in the blue dark
Playing pool and wild darts
Video games
He holds me in his big arms
Drunk and I am seeing stars
This is all I think of
Watching all our friends fall
In and out of Old Paul's
This is my idea of fun
Playing video games
It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you wanna do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
Baby, now you do
Now you do
It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you wanna do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
Baby, now you do
Now, Now you do
@1337NinjaSakura
3 Body Problem brought me here
@richardewing8506
You are late! I play blues and rock guitar , and I went through a patch I couldnโt connect the notes right! Then I heard this and my go to album to get ready to play! She is an outlaw , take a body downtownโ๐ธโ ๏ธ๐ธ
@Patricia_WON
Me too ๐ข
@ABC-ed8cg
Is it the first you hear of this song? Iโm proud to say I heard it since I saw the CD cover in a CD shop when the first album came out. i didnโt buy the CD, but immediately came on YouTube to check out her songs then cos I love the aesthetics of the CD & the intriguing song titles as Iโve always been an indie song lover..๐๐ Thatโs how artists starve lol! All of us listening for free on YouTube. ๐คญ
Iโm in love with most of her songs in the first album and โThunderโ & โRideโ from subsequent albums.
โThunderโ is an unknown song from her which i love a lot & listen to a lot. Youโre welcome! It may become your favorite song too. I actually donโt feel like sharing cos I want to have a song that is special to me that nobody knows but at the same time I feel she deserves more recognition:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TNuf0YbIim0&pp=ygUUbGFuYSBkZWwgcmV5IHRodW5kZXI%3D
@pramabanerjee2767
Samee.. โค
@NamNguyen-gc7iy
Me too...๐๐
@Deadrack1
Let me guess, you're on a Lana Del Rey marathon right now.
@AS-ne5wu
im always on it tho
@Eb-yi6wj
no
@TheUnidentificated
๐ญ so true