It is the seventh track from Lana Del Rey's sixth studio album, Norman Fucking Rockwell!
How to disappear
Lana Del Rey Lyrics
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Cry on his shoulder 'cause life is hard
The waves came in over my head
What you been up to, my baby?
I haven't seen you 'round here lately
All of the guys tell me lies, but you don't
You just crack another beer
And pretend that you're still here
This is how to disappear
This is how to disappear
Joe met me down at the training yard
Cuts on his face 'cause he fought too hard
I know he's in over his head
But I love that man like nobody can
He moves mountains and pounds them to ground again
I watched the guys getting high as they fight
For the things that they hold dear
To forget the things they fear
This is how to disappear
This is how to disappear
Now it's been years since I left New York
And I've got a kid and two cats in the yard
The California sun and the movie stars
And I watched the skies getting light as I write
As I think about those years
As I whisper in your ear
I'm always going to be right here
No one's going anywhere
The lyrics to Lana Del Rey's song "How to disappear" describe two separate encounters with two men: John and Joe. In the first verse, John is described as a support system for the singer during difficult times. She confides in him, seeking comfort and perhaps a respite from reality. The waves in the lines "The waves came in over my head / Cry on his shoulder 'cause life is hard" could symbolize the overwhelming nature of the struggles in her life. Despite all this, she notes that he is honest and doesn't lie to her like other guys she knows who drink and pretend they're still present in the moment. The chorus then suggests that disappearing is a solution to these hardships - when these difficulties arise, or when the world is too much to bear, disappearing or removing oneself from the situation can seem like a solution.
In the second verse of the song, the singer describes Joe, someone that she loves dearly. However, he bears evidence of fighting a battle that may be too much for him to handle, a result of his commitment to his beliefs. The chorus once again espouses the idea of disappearing when life is too much to handle, but this verse can also be interpreted as a tribute to those who are fighting for their beliefs in the face of opposition.
In the final verse, the singer muses on her past and present, and what she has gained or lost. She reflects on her life in Los Angeles, and how her life has changed since leaving New York. However, what has remained consistent is her love for someone, past or present. The final lines, "I'm always going to be right here / No one's going anywhere," suggest a desire for stability and groundedness in life, even as the singer acknowledges the various challenges that arise with the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
John met me down on the boulevard
I met up with a close male friend of mine on the busy main street of the city
Cry on his shoulder 'cause life is hard
I confided in him and shed tears due to the difficulties of life
The waves came in over my head
I felt completely overwhelmed and out of my depth
What you been up to, my baby?
I asked my friend what he's been doing lately while addressing him affectionately
I haven't seen you 'round here lately
I expressed that I haven't seen him around recently
All of the guys tell me lies, but you don't
I acknowledged that my male friend is honest with me, unlike other males I've interacted with
You just crack another beer
He casually opens another bottle of beer
And pretend that you're still here
He tries to pretend that nothing has changed and he's still living in the current moment
This is how to disappear
The song's chorus indicating that this is how to forget one's troubles and move on
Joe met me down at the training yard
I met another close male friend named Joe at the physical training facility
Cuts on his face 'cause he fought too hard
Joe got injured while fighting too hard at the training facility
I know he's in over his head
I am aware that my friend may be in a difficult and complex situation
But I love that man like nobody can
I expressed my affectionate and strong feelings towards Joe
He moves mountains and pounds them to ground again
Joe is capable of tackling and overcoming great challenges
I watched the guys getting high as they fight
I observed other men getting high on drugs while they engaged in fighting
For the things that they hold dear
Their fights were for things that they held close to their hearts
To forget the things they fear
They fought to distract themselves from things they feared
Now it's been years since I left New York
Time has passed since I lived in New York
And I've got a kid and two cats in the yard
I have a child and two cats in my home
The California sun and the movie stars
I am now living in California and enjoying the glitz and glamour of Hollywood
And I watched the skies getting light as I write
I am currently watching the sunrise while writing
As I think about those years
I am reminiscing about the past
As I whisper in your ear
I am softly speaking or singing to someone
I'm always going to be right here
I will always be present and available for whoever I am addressing
No one's going anywhere
We are all grounded and not going anywhere physically or emotionally
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Elizabeth Grant, Jack Antonoff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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
ciggywater
on National Anthem
such a goddess
Abygail Fernandez Smith
on West Coast
ganda
Inside Bilderberg
on Cruel World
Love this song.
Romatizzalid Bozin Veda Loca
on West Coast
barcelona akhawa
Dawit Dawit
on Ultraviolence
nice
Dawit Dawit
on West Coast
best