Raised in upstate New York, Del Rey moved to New York City in 2005 to pursue a music career. After numerous projects, including her self-titled debut studio album, Del Rey's breakthrough came in 2011 with the viral success of her single "Video Games"; she subsequently signed a recording contract with Polydor and Interscope. She achieved critical and commercial success with her second album, Born to Die (2012), which contained the sleeper hit "Summertime Sadness". Del Rey's third album, Ultraviolence (2014), featured greater use of guitar-driven instrumentation and debuted atop the U.S. Billboard 200. Her fourth and fifth albums, Honeymoon (2015) and Lust for Life (2017), saw a return to the stylistic traditions of her earlier releases, while her critically acclaimed sixth album, Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019), explored soft rock. Her next studio albums, Chemtrails Over the Country Club and Blue Banisters, followed in 2021. Her ninth studio album, “Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” was released on all platforms March 24th 2023. It includes singles like the title track - "Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd", "A&W", and "The Grants".
Del Rey has collaborated on soundtracks for visual media; in 2013, she wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed musical short Tropico and released "Young and Beautiful" for the romantic drama The Great Gatsby. In 2014, she recorded "Once Upon a Dream" for the dark fantasy adventure film Maleficent and the self-titled theme song for the biopic Big Eyes. Del Rey collaborated with Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus on "Don't Call Me Angel" for the action comedy Charlie's Angels (2019), which peaked at number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, Del Rey published the poetry and photography collection Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass (2020).
She is the recipient of various accolades, including two Brit Awards, two MTV Europe Music Awards, and a Satellite Award, in addition to nominations for six Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. Variety honored her at their Hitmakers Awards for being "one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 21st century".
Elvis
Lana Del Rey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Skim the paper for the critics
Baby's breathin' Elvis lyrics
On the cover bar
Lay in motel lounges, singin'
Spotlight on the band is swingin'
Chateau Marmont, memories fadin'
Hope is very far
Elvis, where are you when I need you most
White comp sequin jumpsuit ghost
Pick me up and make a toast
Champagne in the air
Tippin' back, his head relaxin'
Thank you very much, and I'm laughin'
All my chantilly lace is catchin'
Baby, on the chandelier
Sweepin' scents and blue hydrangea
Summer hail and summer stranger
Baby, he's in constant danger
Help is very far
You look like a Florida native
"Are you," I said "at the rate of
Slow molasses from the state of Vermont
With a southern drawl"
Elvis, where are you when I need you most
White comp sequin jumpsuit ghost
Pick me up and make a toast
Champagne in the air
Tippin' back, his head relaxin'
Thank you very much, and I'm laughin'
All my chantilly lace is catchin'
Baby, on the chandelier
He said he'd come to welcome warn me
Just your diamond to adorn me
Come to be and see the one and only
For my final year
Well, thank you
Elvis, where are you when I need you most
White comp sequin jumpsuit ghost
Pick me up and make a toast
Champagne in the air
Tippin' back, his head relaxin'
Thank you very much, and I'm laughin'
All my chantilly lace is catchin'
Baby, on the chandelier
It's catchin' on that chandelier
It's catchin' on that chandelier
Where are you when I need you most
The lyrics of Lana Del Ray's "Elvis" describe the singer's longing for the late rock star, Elvis Presley. The first verse portrays images of a low-key lifestyle of a musician, spending time in motel lounges and seeking approval from critics. The second verse talks about how Lana wants Elvis to pick her up, much like the way he used to perform onstage, and make a toast with champagne. The third verse references a conversation between Lana and the ghost of Elvis, where he promises to adorn her with diamonds and make her feel like the one and only.
The chorus of the song is a repeated plea for Elvis to show up when she needs him the most. The song is layered with symbolism and references to Elvis's persona, like the white jumpsuit he wore during performances, his signature catchphrase "Thank you very much," and his iconic style of singing. Overall, the song is a tribute to the eternal rockstar who has captivated the hearts of people with his music and charisma.
Line by Line Meaning
Platinum and vale acrylics
Lana Del Ray is likely referring to the colors of her nails which might be white/silver (platinum) and off-white (vale acrylics).
Skim the paper for the critics
Lana Del Ray is checking the newspapers to see what critics are saying about her.
Baby's breathin' Elvis lyrics
Someone (possibly a lover or Lana herself) is listening to Elvis Presley music and singing along.
On the cover bar
The lyrics imply there is a bar or counter in the room with a magazine or some sort of publication on top of it.
Lay in motel lounges, singin'
Lana Del Ray is lying down on a hotel room bed, singing along to Elvis Presley music.
Spotlight on the band is swingin'
The spotlight is directed towards the band during a performance, and they are playing a swinging melody.
Chateau Marmont, memories fadin'
Chateau Marmont is a luxurious hotel in Los Angeles, and Lana Del Ray's memories of it seem to be fading away.
Hope is very far
Lana Del Ray is feeling hopeless about something.
Elvis, where are you when I need you most
Lana Del Ray is feeling some sort of emotional pain, and she is asking Elvis Presley where he is when she needs him the most.
White comp sequin jumpsuit ghost
Elvis Presley is being imagined as wearing a white jumpsuit with sequins on it.
Pick me up and make a toast
Lana Del Ray is feeling down and wants Elvis Presley to lift her spirits and celebrate with her.
Champagne in the air
Lana Del Ray is imagining celebrating with Elvis Presley by toasting with champagne.
Tippin' back, his head relaxin'
Elvis Presley is imagined as tipping his head back and relaxing, likely while smoking a cigarette or drinking something.
Thank you very much, and I'm laughin'
This line is a common catchphrase of Elvis Presley during his performances. Lana Del Ray is imagining him saying it and laughing.
All my chantilly lace is catchin'
Lana Del Ray is wearing a chantilly lace dress or top, and it is getting caught on something (possibly the chandelier mentioned later in the song).
Baby, on the chandelier
Lana Del Ray imagines herself or someone else on a chandelier, possibly swinging from it, dancing or hanging onto it. The chantilly lace dress/top might also be getting caught on it.
Sweepin' scents and blue hydrangea
Hydrangeas are beautiful flowers known for their cluster of blooms in blue or white. Lana Del Ray imagines a beautiful and fragrant location with blue hydrangeas and scents that are being swept away by the wind.
Summer hail and summer stranger
Lana Del Ray is imagining a summer storm with a stranger who comes and goes like the storm itself. It might be a metaphor for someone who is there only for the good times and disappears during the bad times.
Baby, he's in constant danger
The subject of the song (possibly Elvis Presley) is in a perpetual state of danger or stress. It could be a reference to his tumultuous life and eventual demise.
Help is very far
Lana Del Ray feels powerless to help the subject.
You look like a Florida native
Lana Del Ray is addressing someone who looks like they are from Florida, implying they might be in Los Angeles at the time (where the song appears to take place).
"Are you," I said "at the rate of
Lana Del Ray's speech is being somewhat disrupted here, but it seems she is asking the person she is addressing if they are at the same pace as they are from Florida.
Slow molasses from the state of Vermont
Lana Del Ray is describing the way the person she is addressing is speaking as slow and sticky, like molasses. She then references Vermont, implying they might be from there instead.
With a southern drawl"
Lana Del Ray is saying the person she is speaking to has a southern accent, possibly giving away that they are not from Vermont or Florida, but perhaps from another southern state.
He said he'd come to welcome warn me
This line is slightly ambiguous, but it implies someone (likely Elvis Presley) has come to welcome and warn Lana Del Ray of something.
Just your diamond to adorn me
This line might be interpreted in different ways, but it implies someone (possibly Elvis Presley again) has given Lana Del Ray a diamond to wear.
Come to be and see the one and only
The subject (likely Elvis Presley) has come to see Lana Del Ray and is perhaps the only one of his kind.
For my final year
This line is also ambiguous but seems to imply something significant or important is happening to Lana Del Ray during her final year, possibly related to the subject or situation of the song.
It's catchin' on that chandelier
The chantilly lace mentioned earlier is still getting caught on the chandelier, repeated from an earlier line to bring the song to a close.
Where are you when I need you most
Repeating the line from earlier shows that although the song had several unrelated events, it all comes back to Lana Del Ray's need for Elvis Presley and his absence.
Contributed by Alexander A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@1708raulworld
Hola chicos
Hoy les traigo este precioso cover, definitivamente la voz de Lana me transmite a otra época. Espero que les guste
@maddie6260
i’m going
@Lms.maroc_
She was a little emotional during this specific performance because Unchained melody was the last song that Elvis preformed before he passed 🥺❤️
@flautist96
Please never take this down since NBC removed the official one. This performance means so much to me 💗💗💗
@victorchapa2853
I was just gonna look this up, why tf would they remove it 😢
@samuelschaller2837
For some reason the whole special is gone from every streaming service too... Must've been some kind of copywright issue.
@samuelschaller2837
Only other idea I'd have is that they are only going to upload the music clips & stream the special during Christmas season... Which would still be very odd.
@yalagutierrez933
Lana es tan perfecta , que magnifica interpretacion❤😢❤
@luciannelea50
i need this on spotify now
@rogeriobraga5214
Incrível ❤❤❤