The song explores themes of nostalgia, loss and change. It is a reflection on the passing of time and its effects on her life. The song starts with her reminiscing about her time spent in Long Beach and dancing with a lover. In the pre-chorus and chorus, we see her expressing her profound sadness and despair at potentially facing the greatest loss of all: the loss of innocence and familiarity that comes with growing older. The chorus also makes clear that Lana isn't sure if she's prepared for the change that's coming, thus expressing her fear about the unknown. In the second verse she references her time spent in New York and misses rock 'n' roll, signifying the nostalgia she's feeling for her past life. The outro brings her back to Long Beach and points out the changes that have occurred since she was younger, such as Kanye West going blonde and the idea of Life on Mars seeming more like a reality.
It is the eleventh track from Lana Del Rey's sixth studio album, Norman Fucking Rockwell!
The greatest
Lana Del Rey Lyrics
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I miss dancin' with you the most of all
I miss the bar where the Beach Boys would go
Dennis' last stop before Kokomo
Those nights were on fire
We couldn't get higher
We didn't know that we had it all
And I'm wasted
Don't leave, I just need a wake up call
I'm facin' the greatest
The greatest loss of them all
The culture is lit and I had a ball
I guess I'm signin' off after all
I miss New York and I miss the music
Me and my friends, we miss rock and roll
I want shit to feel just like it used to
When, baby, I was doin' nothin' the most of all
The culture is lit and if this is it, I had a ball
I guess that I'm burned out after all
I'm wasted
Don't leave, I just need a wake up call
I'm facin' the greatest
The greatest loss of them all
The culture is lit and I had a ball
I guess that I'm burned out after all
If this is it, I'm signin' off
Miss doin' nothin', the most of all
Hawaii just missed that fireball
L.A. is in flames, it's getting hot
Kanye West is blond and gone
"Life on Mars" ain't just a song
I hope the live stream's almost on
In The Greatest, Lana Del Rey contemplates the fleeting nature of life and success as she pines for the past. She reminisces about Long Beach and missing a past lover, reminiscing on the times where they would go dancing and hang out at a bar where the Beach Boys would go to before their famed hit Kokomo. The nights were on fire and they couldn't have been any happier, not realizing how much they had at the time. The chorus sees Del Rey wasted, calling out for a wake-up call as she faces the greatest loss of them all - the loss of what was once a perfect time. She misses New York and the music scene, wishing she could feel the same way she did back then, when she was "doing nothing the most of all." The song ends with Del Rey signing off, pondering whether "Life on Mars" just a song, and hoping that the live stream is almost on.
Line by Line Meaning
I miss Long Beach and I miss you, babe
I miss Long Beach, where we spent time together, and I miss you, my lover
I miss dancin' with you the most of all
Out of everything I miss about us, I miss dancing with you the most
I miss the bar where the Beach Boys would go
I miss the bar that was frequented by the Beach Boys
Dennis' last stop before Kokomo
It was the last stop that Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys made before he departed for Kokomo
Those nights were on fire
The nights we spent together were filled with passion and excitement
We couldn't get higher
It felt like we were on top of the world and nothing could bring us down
We didn't know that we had it all
At the time, we didn't realize that we had everything we needed to be happy
But nobody warns you before the fall
Unfortunately, no one tells you when things are going to fall apart
And I'm wasted
I am under the influence of something and not in the right state of mind
Don't leave, I just need a wake up call
Please don't go, I need someone to wake me up from this situation
I'm facin' the greatest
I am experiencing the worst kind of loss
The greatest loss of them all
This is the biggest loss I have ever faced
The culture is lit and I had a ball
I enjoyed being part of the exciting and vibrant culture surrounding me
I guess I'm signin' off after all
I suppose I am leaving this situation behind and moving on
I miss New York and I miss the music
I miss the city of New York and the music scene it has to offer
Me and my friends, we miss rock and roll
I and my friends miss the good old days when we used to enjoy rock and roll music
I want shit to feel just like it used to
I wish things could go back to how they were before
When, baby, I was doin' nothin' the most of all
The time when I did nothing at all was the most peaceful time of my life
I guess that I'm burned out after all
I realize that I am exhausted and need to take a break
Hawaii just missed that fireball
Hawaii was lucky to have avoided a serious disaster
L.A. is in flames, it's getting hot
Los Angeles is undergoing a crisis with a lot of destruction and chaos taking place
Kanye West is blond and gone
The once well-known Kanye West has changed and seems to have disappeared from the public eye
"Life on Mars" ain't just a song
The idea of life existing on Mars is no longer just a theoretical concept, it could be a reality
I hope the live stream's almost on
I am looking forward to watching a live stream of something that is about to start
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, Jack Antonoff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Cochran
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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
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such a goddess
Abygail Fernandez Smith
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ganda
Inside Bilderberg
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Love this song.
Romatizzalid Bozin Veda Loca
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barcelona akhawa
Dawit Dawit
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nice
Dawit Dawit
on West Coast
best