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".
National Anthem Quote
Lana Del Rey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's your address?
I'm your national anthem, God, you're so handsome
Take me to the Hamptons, Bugatti Veyron
He loves to romance 'em, reckless abandon
Holdin' me for ransom, upper echelon
He says to be cool but, I don't know how yet
I said, "Can we party later on?" He said, "Yes" (yes, yes)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the reason we exist
Everybody knows it, it's a fact, kiss, kiss
I sing the national anthem
While I'm standing over your body, hold you like a python
And you can't keep your hands off me, or your pants on
See what you've done to me, King of Chevron?
He said to be cool but, I'm already coolest
I said to get real, don't you know who you're dealing with?
Um, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds?
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
It's a love story for the new age
For the six-page, we're on a quick, sick rampage
Winin' and dinin', drinkin' and drivin', excessive buyin'
Overdose and dyin' on our drugs and our love
And our dreams and our rage
Blurrin' the lines between real and the fake
Dark and lonely, I need somebody to hold me
He will do very well, I can tell, I can tell
Keep me safe in his Bell Tower Hotel
Money is the anthem of success
So put on mascara and your party dress
I'm your national anthem, boy put your hands up
Give me a standing ovation
Boy, you have landed, babe, in the land of
Sweetness and danger, queen of Saigon
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
In "National Anthem," Lana Del Rey explores themes of love, money, success, and power. The opening line "Money is the anthem, of success, so before we go out, what's your address?" sets the tone for the rest of the song. Del Rey suggests that money is the key to success and through her lyrics, it's apparent that she is seeking a relationship with someone wealthy and powerful. She positions herself as the "National Anthem," representative of American ideals and a symbol of success.
As the song progresses, Del Rey imagines a glamorous lifestyle with her wealthy partner, suggesting they go to the Hamptons in a Bugatti Veyron. She describes her lover as reckless, but also romantic, holding her for ransom in the upper echelon of society. Despite his warning to "be cool," Del Rey expresses her desire to party, suggesting she is not quite accustomed to the high life yet.
Throughout the song, Del Rey blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. She sings of a "new age love story" that is a "quick, sick rampage." Her partner is dangerous, but that only makes him more alluring. She wants him to give her a "standing ovation" and declares herself the "queen of Saigon," a symbol of exoticism and the Orient. The song ends with Del Rey repeating the phrase "Money is the anthem of success," suggesting that everything else in life is secondary to wealth and power.
Overall, "National Anthem" is a commentary on the pitfalls of American society, where money and power are the ultimate goals, even at the expense of love and genuine human connection. Del Rey's lyrics are provocative and critical, highlighting the flaws in the American Dream and the corrupting influence of wealth and material possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
Money is the anthem, of success, so before we go out
What's your address?
Money is the key to success, let's make sure we have your address before we leave.
I'm your National Anthem, God, you're so handsome
Take me to the Hamptons Bugatti Veyron
He loves to romance 'em, reckless abandon, hold me for ransom, upper echelon
He says to "Be cool" but, I don't know how yet, wind in my hair
Hand on the back of my neck
I said, "Can we party later on?" He said, "Yes"
I am your ultimate symbol of pride and love for your country, and you are extremely attractive to me. Take me to the Hamptons in your Bugatti Veyron. You are very romantic but can also be wild and reckless which attracts me even more. You want me to be cool, but I am not sure how to do that yet. You hold me tight and I feel safe. Can we party later? Yes, we can!
Tell me I'm your National Anthem (ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me so wild now)
Tell me I'm your National Anthem (sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blues in the skies, summer's in the air and baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your National Anthem
Declare that I am the only symbol of love that matters to you; this makes me wild with excitement. Let's make love and party all night. The sky is painted in the colors of our country's flag, and it feels like heaven is on earth. I am your ultimate National Anthem.
Money is the reason we exist
Everybody knows it, it's a fact, kiss-kiss
Money is the reason for our existence, and it is a universally known fact. Embrace this truth with a kiss.
I sing the National Anthem
While I'm standing over your body, hold you like a python
And you can't keep your hands off me, or your pants on
See what you've done to me give me Chevron
You said to "Be cool" but, I'm already coolest
I said to "Get real, don't you know who you're dealing with?
Um, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds
I sing the National Anthem to show you how much I love our country. I hold you tightly like a python, and you cannot resist me. You have driven me crazy, and I want to be with you all the time. Give me a Chevron as a gift for what you have done. You asked me to be cool, but I am already the coolest. Don't underestimate me, I know what I want. Will you buy me many diamonds?
It's a love story for the new age
For the six-page, we're on a quick, sick rampage
Winin' and dinin', drinkin' and drivin', excessive buyin'
Overdose and dyin' on our drugs and our love and our dreams and our rage
Blurrin' the lines between real and the fake
God can only, I need somebody to hold me
He will do very well, I can tell, I can tell
Keep me safe in his belltower hotel
Our love story is like no other, it's modern and unique with six pages filled with passion. We're living life to the fullest with partying and materialistic indulgence, which may cause harm. We have mixed our reality with fantasy, bewildering our surroundings. I can only rely on God, and I need someone who can hold me tight. You seem to fit the bill, and I know you will keep me safe in your towering hotel.
Money is the anthem of success
So put on mascara and your party dress
Money is what defines success, so, let's get dressed up and put on makeup to impress everyone.
I'm your National Anthem, boy put your hands up, give me a standing ovation
Boy, you have landed, babe, in the land of, sweetness and danger, queen of Saigon
I am your ultimate National Anthem! Put your hands in the air and give me a standing ovation. You are officially in love with me, the queen of Saigon, the place of both sweetness and danger.
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome, money is the anthem
Of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome, money is the anthem
Of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome, money is the anthem
Of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome, money is the anthem
Of success
Money represents everything; it signifies our success. Oh God, you are so handsome and alluring. Money defines our power and success. Repeat, once and again, that money is our ultimate anthem of success.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Sneddon, Justin Parker, Penny Elizabeth Foster, James Bauer-Mein, Elizabeth Grant, Lizzie Grant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bbbbbbbbb
And I remember when I met him, it was so clear that
He was the only one for me
We both knew it, right away
And as the years went on, things got more difficult
We were faced with more challenges
I begged him to stay
Try to remember what we had at the beginning
He was charismatic, magnetic, electric and everybody knew it
When he walked in every woman's head turned, everyone stood up
To talk to him
He was like this hybrid, this mix of a man who couldn't contain himself
I always got the sense that he became torn
Between being a good person and
Missing out on all of the opportunities
That life could offer a man as magnificent as him
And in that way I understood him
And I loved him
I loved him, I loved him, I loved him
And I still love him
I love him
Chloe Singleton
And I remember when I met him.
It was so clear that he was the only one for me.
We both knew right away.
And as the years went on things got more difficult,
We were faced with more challenges.
I begged him to stay,
Tried to remember what we had in the beginning.
He was charismatic, magnetic, electric, and everybody knew him
When he walked in every woman's head turned.
Everyone stood up to talk to him.
He was like this hybrid, this mix of a man who couldn't contain himself.
I always got the sense that he became torn between being a good person and missing out on all of the opportunities that life could offer a man as magnificent as him.
And in that way, I understood him.
And I loved him, I loved him, I loved him, I loved him.
And I still love him, I love him.
kj
Seriously we need more poetry, speeches and monologues with background music. This is epic
Ise Laa
Yesss😭😩😩
Devera Coffey
Look up Hotel Books, my friend.
Jessica Laffin
I wish Lana Del Rey would make a novel based on her songs.
Logan Dahlquist
YES
Kimayan Sutton
@Passportlass wow is it done
Angel E
You clearly don’t realize that her poetry is her book her albums are her books. You’re just not that patient to fish for what’s she saying. This comment is sad really.
m
Genius
Leslie A
I have a book on wattpad called born to be the other woman that was inspired by the other woman by lana. you should check it out if you have time. it
Julissa Janney
“ i begged him to say. try to remember what we had at the beginning “ ... i really felt that