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, MTV Video Music Awards and a Satellite Award, in addition to nominations for Eleven 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".
Money and the Power
Lana Del Rey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To a land that's far away
How are we supposed to get there
With the way that we're living today?
You talk lots about God
Freedom comes from the call
But that's not what this bitch wantsNot what I want at all
I want money, power and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got, baby
The sun also rises on those who fail the call
My life, it comprises of losses and wins and fails and falls
I can do it if you really, really like that
I know what you really want, b-baby
I can do it if you think you like that
You should run, boy, run
I want money, power and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got, baby
Dope and diamonds
Dope and diamonds
Diamonds
Dope and diamonds
Dope and diamonds
That's all I am
Dope and diamonds
Diamonds
Dope and diamonds
Dope and diamonds
Diamonds
I want money, power and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got, baby
The song "Money Power Glory" by Lana Del Rey features the singer voicing her desire for material wealth and power over others. She begins the song by questioning how we can achieve a better future, as things stand today, and then directly addresses the idea of spiritual devotion, stating that while freedom may come from such a commitment, it is not what she really wants. She wants "money, power and glory" and is willing to take all of it, singing "Alleluia, I'm gonna take them for all they got." Later on, she repeats "Dope and diamonds" multiple times, further emphasizing her desire for wealth and material possessions.
In this song, Lana Del Rey seems to be questioning the meaning of success and what it means to truly "make it" in modern society. As she sings about wanting money and power, it becomes clear that she views these things as the key to success, rather than a fulfilling life or healthy relationships. The references to God and religion also highlight the conflict between spirituality and materialism that exists in modern society.
Overall, "Money Power Glory" is a commentary on the way in which materialism and the pursuit of wealth and power can corrupt individuals, leading them to forget about more important things in life like love, compassion, and true happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
You say that you wanna go
You claim you have a wish to travel somewhere far away.
To a land that's far away
You aspire to reach a distant land.
How are we supposed to get there
With the way that we're living today?
The singer questions how it's possible to achieve that distant land with the current lifestyle.
You talk lots about God
Your talk often revolves around religion and God.
Freedom comes from the call
You believe freedom is achieved through a higher calling.
But that's not what this bitch wants
No what I want at all
However, the singer doesn't desire that, and is in stark contrast to your beliefs.
I want money, power and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Alleluia, I wanna take you for all that you got
Alleluia, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
The singer expresses her true desires - a craving for wealth, influence, and admiration, even if it entails taking it all from you.
The sun also rises on those who fail to call
My life, it comprises of losses and wins and fails and falls
The artist acknowledges that success and failure are both a part of life, and that even those who don't believe or pursue a higher calling, can still find prosperity.
I can do it if you really, really like that
I know what you really want, b-baby
I can do it if you think you like that
You should run, boy, run
She taunts the listener, and boasts that she can fulfil their desires if they want her to, but warns them to flee before it's too late.
Dope and diamonds
Dope and diamonds
Diamonds
Dope and diamonds
Dope and diamonds
That's all I want
The artist reiterates exactly what she wants - opulence, wealth and material objects, without the need for anything else.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, Gregory Allen Kurstin
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