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".
West Coast
Lana Del Rey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"If you're not drinking then you're not playing"
But you've got the music, you've got the music in you, don't you?
Down on the West Coast I get this feeling like
It all could happen that's why I'm leaving you for the music
You for the music it's true, it's true
I'm feeling like there's no one else that brings me higher than higher
Te deseo, cariño, boy it's you I desire
Your love, your love, your love
I can see my baby swinging
His Parliament's on fire and his hands are up
On the balcony and I'm singing
Ooh baby, ooh baby, I'm in love
I can see my sweet boy swaying
He's crazy y Cubano como yo, la la
On the balcony and I'm sayin
Move baby, move baby, I'm in love
I'm in love, I'm in love (I'm in love, I'm in love)
Down on the West Coast, they got their icons
Their silver starlets, their queens of Saigons
But you've got the music, you've got the music in you
Don't you
You pull me close, I push away, I'm feeling hot to the touch
You say you miss me and I wanna say I miss you so much
But something keeps me really quiet, I'm alive, I'm a lush
Hold me close and you say, hush baby, hush
I can see my baby swinging
His Parliament's on fire and his hands are up
On the balcony and I'm singing
Ooh baby, ooh baby. I'm in love
I can see my sweet boy swaying
He's crazy y Cubano como yo, la la
On the balcony and I'm saying
Move baby, move baby, I'm in love
I can see my baby swinging
His Parliament's on fire and his hands are up
On the balcony and I'm singing
Ooh baby, ooh baby, I'm in love
I can see my sweet boy swaying
He's crazy y Cubano como yo, la la
On the balcony and I'm saying
Move baby, move baby, I'm in love
I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love
The song “West Coast” by Lana Del Rey is an expression of love towards music and the West Coast. It talks about the West Coast’s culture, the kind of music, and the energy and feeling that one experiences while out in the area. She starts by saying that they have a saying on the West Coast, “if you’re not drinking, then you’re not playing.” This indicates the level of party and fun one expects in the West Coast. However, she adds that if you have music, you can still have fun even if you’re not drinking. She then expresses her love for music and her need to leave her partner for it.
The chorus talks about her partner and the passion they share, and how they are both in love. She continues to describe how their love brings out the best in them, with her being the push while he pulls back. Lana expresses her love once more and how she never wants to let her partner go even though they have their differences.
Overall, “West Coast” is an ode to music and the West Coast. It expresses the experience of feeling, passion, and love that one enjoys while in the area. It describes the feeling of freedom that one experiences and how music makes you feel alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Down on the West Coast they got a saying
"If you're not drinking then you're not playing"
But you've got the music, you've got the music in you, don't you?
On the West Coast, people believe that if you're not drinking, you're not having fun. But since you have music in your life, you're already having a great time, right?
Down on the West Coast I get this feeling like
It all could happen that's why I'm leaving you for the music
You for the music it's true, it's true
When I'm on the West Coast, I feel like anything could happen, which is why I'm choosing to pursue my music career instead of staying with you. My passion for music is real.
I push it hard, you pull away, I'm feeling hotter than fire
I'm feeling like there's no one else that brings me higher than higher
Te deseo, cariño, boy it's you I desire
Your love, your love, your love
I'm trying to make this relationship work, but it feels like we're going in different directions. However, I still desire you more than anyone else. I want your love and affection.
I can see my baby swinging
His Parliament's on fire and his hands are up
On the balcony and I'm singing
Ooh baby, ooh baby, I'm in love
I can see my sweet boy swaying
He's crazy y Cubano como yo, la la
On the balcony and I'm sayin
Move baby, move baby, I'm in love
I'm in love, I'm in love (I'm in love, I'm in love)
As I watch my lover dance on the balcony with a cigarette in his hand, I realize how much I love him. His Latin flair and carefree attitude make me fall for him even more. I'm completely in love with him.
Down on the West Coast, they got their icons
Their silver starlets, their queens of Saigons
But you've got the music, you've got the music in you
Don't you
The West Coast has its own set of celebrities and famous people, but you have something special that they don't: you have music in your soul. That's something truly unique to you.
You pull me close, I push away, I'm feeling hot to the touch
You say you miss me and I wanna say I miss you so much
But something keeps me really quiet, I'm alive, I'm a lush
Hold me close and you say, hush baby, hush
Even though we're physically close, emotionally we seem to be drifting apart. You express your feelings for me, but I struggle to reciprocate. There's something holding me back that I can't quite explain. But in your arms, I feel safe and comforted.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Elizabeth Grant, Rick Nowels
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leoromaao
This is one of the most intelligents videos I've ever seen from an artist. I love analysing videos like that, and Lana certainly nailed it... I personally see herself shared in 2 Lana's: The one that follows love and the one that follows power.
When she starts singing until the chorus, it looks like the "happy lana", having fun in simple places with the man she loves.
When it hits the chorus, you see her smoking cigarretes with this old guy she clearly doesn't love. You see the changes in her voice. She sings beautifully, but she seems sorrow, unhappy, sad. And when the chorus ends, she comes back to be the happy lana.
By the end of the song, she is consumed by fire. It is like she chose to lose her soul to the unhappy Lana, who's losing herself to the fires, and while that happens, her soul dances among power and her pride. Like she's not regretted.
It's BRILLIANT. If you read this, pleaaaaaaaase watch the video with that in mind and comment here what you think!
I had to get high on weed to understand that. Lana is a Genius!!!!!!!
@ameliepoulain1598
THE SLOW PART WILL ALWAYS BE MY FAVORITE THING IN THIS WORLD
@chouchan8192
And that weird sound at the end though
@starlinggilrivas5395
it's like a motherfucking drug
@Superwhyville
+amélie poulain YEEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@DainTheDarkness
+amélie poulain YES
@niallragnarsson
+amélie poulain I will always LIVE for that part, feels like time slows down and a trip sets in and you just feel great
@tiff42069
imagine in 30 years when this song is considered vintage, that'll be wild
@NOPANCAKESONMONDAYS
tiff :/ omg fr Im scared
@StefiSandra
I think it's already considered that. At least i do
@brandonthomas7059
tiff :/ ewww we will all be old and gross in 30 years. Lol