Chelsea Hotel No 2
Lana Del Rey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were talking so brave and so sweet
Giving me head on the unmade bed
While the limousines wait in the street
Those were the reasons and that was New York
We were running for the money and the flesh
And that was called love for the workers in song
Ah, but you got away, didn’t you babe
You just turned your back on the crowd
You got away, I never once heard you say
I need you, I don’t need you
I need you, I don’t need you
And all of that jiving around
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
You were famous, your heart was a legend
You told me again you preferred handsome men
But for me you would make an exception
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
Who are oppressed by the figures of beauty
You fixed yourself and said, “Well, never mind
We are ugly but we have the music”
And then you got away, yeah, didn’t you babe
You just turned your back on the crowd
You got away, I never once heard you say
I need you, I don’t need you
I need you, I don’t need you
And all of that jiving around
I don’t mean to suggest that I loved you the best
I can’t keep track of each fallen robin
I remember you well at the Chelsea Hotel
That’s all, I don’t even think of you that often
Lana Del Rey's song "Chelsea Hotel No. 2" is a tribute to the legendary New York venue of the same name, where many famous writers, musicians, and artists have lived or stayed. In the song, the singer reminisces about a past lover, whom they met at the hotel. The singer remembers the lover being very bold and charming and how they had intimate moments on the unmade bed with the sound of limousines waiting outside. The song explores the reasons why they both stayed in the hotel, running after money, flesh, and love. This love, the singer observes, was relatable to the working class, as most of them were left searching for it.
The singer also talks about the lover leaving them after turning their back on the crowd. While the singer admits that they didn't love the lover the best, they only remember them at the Chelsea Hotel. The song is melancholy, as it captures the feeling of being left behind by someone, which is entwined with the bittersweet memories of the past.
In conclusion, "Chelsea Hotel No. 2" is a nostalgic song that captures the essence of New York City while telling a story of lost love. The song shows how the Chelsea Hotel played a critical role in fostering artistic and personal connections for many people.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
I have vivid memories of you at the Chelsea Hotel
You were talking so brave and so sweet
You were confident and charming in your manner of speaking
Giving me head on the unmade bed
Engaging in oral sex on a bed that was not neatly made
While the limousines wait in the street
Luxury vehicles were waiting outside for us
Those were the reasons and that was New York
The reasons for our behavior were tied to New York City
We were running for the money and the flesh
We were chasing wealth and physical pleasure
And that was called love for the workers in song
For those who make music, this type of behavior is often referred to as love
Probably still is for those of them left
This mentality likely still exists for musicians today
Ah, but you got away, didn’t you babe
You were able to leave, weren't you?
You just turned your back on the crowd
You abandoned the fans who adored you
You got away, I never once heard you say
I never heard you express a need for me
I need you, I don’t need you
Our relationship was unstable and uncertain
And all of that jiving around
All of the back-and-forth behavior
You were famous, your heart was a legend
You were well-known and your persona was legendary
You told me again you preferred handsome men
You expressed a preference for more attractive men
But for me you would make an exception
You said you would make an exception for me, despite my looks
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
You balled up your hand in solidarity with those of us who are oppressed
Who are oppressed by the figures of beauty
We are discriminated against because we do not fit the narrow definition of beauty
You fixed yourself and said, “Well, never mind
You put yourself together and said, 'Forget about it'
We are ugly but we have the music”
We may not be physically attractive, but we have our music
I don’t mean to suggest that I loved you the best
I don't want to imply that I was your favorite
I can’t keep track of each fallen robin
I cannot remember every person with whom I have had a relationship
That’s all, I don’t even think of you that often
That is the extent of my thoughts of you; I rarely reminisce about our time together
Contributed by Maria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lojupitermoon
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
You were talking so brave and so sweet
Giving me head on the unmade bed
While the limousines wait in the street
But those were the reasons and that was New York
We were running for the money and the flesh
And that was called love for the workers in zone
Probably still is for those of them left
Ah, but you got away, didn't you, baby?
You just turned your back on the crowd
You got away, I never once heard you say
I need you, I don't need you
I need you, I don't need you
And all of that jiving around
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
You were famous, your heart was a legend
You told me, again, you preferred handsome men
But for me you would make an exception
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
Who are oppressed by the figures of beauty
You fixed yourself
You said, "Well, never mind
We are ugly, but we have the music"
Oh, but you got away, didn't you, baby?
You just turned your back on the crowd
And you got away, I never once heard you say
I need you, I don't need you
I need you, I don't need ya
And all of that jiving around
I don't mean to suggest that I loved you the best
I can't keep track of each fallen robin
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
That's all, I don't even think of you that often
@akshaykundu9999
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
You were talking so brave and so sweet
Giving me head on the unmade bed
While the limousines wait in the street
Those were the reasons and that was New York
We were running for the money and the flesh
And that was called love for the workers in song
Probably still is for those of them left
Ah, but you got away, didn't you baby
You just turned your back on the crowd
You got away, I never once heard you say
I need you, I don't need you
I need you, I don't need you
And all of that jiving around
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
You were famous, your heart was a legend
You told me again you preferred handsome men
But for me you would make an exception
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
Who are oppressed by the figures of beauty
You fixed yourself, you said, "Well never mind,
We are ugly but we have the music."
Ah, but you got away, didn't you baby
You just turned your back on the crowd
And you got away, I never once heard you say
I need you, I don't need you
I need you, I don't need you
And all of that jiving around
I don't mean to suggest that I love you the best
I can't keep track of each fallen robin
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
That's all, I don't even think of you that often
@meadowfrance
I come here when I want to cry, it hits an emotional chord in me unlike any other.
The way she sings these lines...
"Your heart was a legend"
"For the ones like us who are oppressed by the figures of beauty"
"Well nevermind, we are ugly but we have the music"
"You got away, didn't you baby? You just turned your back on the crowd"
"I don't mean to suggest that I loved you the best, I can't keep track of each fallen robin"
"That's all. I don't even think of you that often..."
And I'm a weepy mess.@endlesummer_
We are ugly but we have the music
@MisterSwaginator
ozifest123 It's a lyric from this song lol
@LaMuffin-il7ei
Wow, I read this in the exact same moment she was singing it ._.
Anyway, love that line <3
@weile4u
nono, this is perfect singing, the ideal song for Lana, no-one could do this better!
@IceCreamAndCake92
Rudolf Weiler except leonard cohen who fucking wrote it
@weile4u
... but couldn't sing it so well!
@kimmy2631
This masterpiece was released 9 years and it’s still not on spotify.
@juanadarmme
Came here 'cause I couldn't find it on spoty :(
@markunf1
IKR!!! 😢
@ananyasarkar2818
Probably because the original Leonard Cohen version is already there and isn't a cover by a racist, white supremacist.