The chorus repeats the phrase "Hello? Can you hear me?" as if the person she is singing to is not responding to her. She claims that she will be a "china doll" who will fall apart without this person's love, and that they can see her fall if they want. She describes their love as "deadly", suggesting that it is both intoxicating and dangerous. The singer asks to be reassured that life is beautiful, as others believe she has it all, yet she claims to have "nothing" without this person and that all her dreams and achievements mean nothing without their love.
The second verse contrasts the sweetness of summer with the "stolen images" that have burned into the singer's brain. She imagines a life she could have lived with this person and asks if they can picture it too. The bridge suggests that they were once two kids just trying to escape the dark side of the American dream and that they found happiness in dancing all night and playing loud music, but now that they have grown up, nothing is what it seemed.
In the end, the chorus repeats, emphasizing that the singer has nothing without this person and that all her accomplishments and dreams are meaningless if she can't have them. The song expresses a yearning for love and a warning about the emptiness of success and fame without it.
Without You
Lana Del Rey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Money, notoriety and rivieras
I even think I found God
In the flashbulbs of the pretty cameras
Pretty cameras, pretty cameras
Am I glamorous? Tell me, am I glamorous?
Hello? Hello? Ca-can you hear me?
Boy, you're so dope, your love is deadly
Tell me life is beautiful, they all think I have it all
I've nothing without you
All my dreams and all the lights mean
Nothing without you
Summertime is nice and hot
And my life is sweet like vanilla is
Gold and silver line my heart
But burned into my brain are these stolen images
Stolen images, baby, stolen images
Can you picture it, babe? That life we could've lived
Hello? Hello? Ca-can you hear me?
I can be your China doll if you like to see me fall
Boy, you're so dope, your love is deadly
Tell me life is beautiful, they all think I have it all
I've nothing without you
All my dreams and all the lights mean
Nothing without you
We were two kids just tryna get out
Lived on the dark side of the American dream
We would dance all night, play our music loud
When we grew up, nothing was what it seemed
Hello? Hello? Ca-can you hear me?
I can be your China doll if you like to see me fall
Boy, you're so dope, your love is deadly
Tell me life is beautiful, they think that I have it all
I've nothing without you
All my dreams and all the lights mean
Nothing without you
Hello? Hello? Ca-can you hear me?
I can be your China doll if you like to see me fall
Boy, you're so dope, your love is deadly
Tell me life is beautiful, they think that I have it all
I've nothing without you
All my dreams and all the lights mean
Nothing without you
All my dreams and all the lights mean
Nothing if I can't have you
The song is titled "Without You," a track from Lana Del Rey's debut album "Born to Die." The song appears to contemplate the idea of an existence that is defined by material wealth, celebrity status, and attention from the media. She mentions that she has everything she could want, money, fame, and even a sense of feeling close to God as the flashbulbs of cameras go off. However, she notes that none of these things can replace the importance of a relationship, suggesting she is more empty and alone than fulfilled. The lyrics, "All my dreams and all the lights mean nothing if I can't have you" makes it clear that there is a part of her life which is incomplete.
The song also highlights a larger narcissistic tendency in the world and in particular in the music industry. Many times, artists may create an alluring image to entice the public, but it leaves the artist feeling empty or false. Lana Del Rey recognizes this flaw in her own life, and the song presents itself as an open admission.
"Without You" is a testament to the struggles an artist may face as they attempt to remain their true selves while navigating the demands and expectations of the industry. Del Rey’s panoramic view of her life here is one that shows us her complexities, frailties and vulnerabilities. The song provides a stark reminder that although money and fame can be abundant, there may still be something missing.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything I want I have
I have achieved everything I ever desired
Money, notoriety and riviera
I have money, fame and luxury
I even think I found God
I found solace in my fast-paced, glamorous lifestyle
In the flashbulbs of the
In the paparazzi photos taken by the
Pretty cameras
Beautiful cameras around me
Am I glamorous?
Do I come across as glamorous?
Tell me am I glamorous?
Please confirm if I am seen as glamorous?
Hello, hello ca-can you hear me?
I am yearning to connect with someone
I can be your China doll
I can be anyone you want me to be
If you want to see me fall
If you want to witness me crumble
You're so good
You're so desirable
Your love is deadly
Your love is intoxicating
Tell me life is beautiful
Convince me that life is worth living for its own sake
They all think I have it all
Everyone assumes I have everything I could ask for
I'm nothing, without you
I feel empty and worthless without you
All my dreams
All the things I aspire to
And all the lights mean
And all the glitz and glamour symbolize
Nothing without you
Are meaningless without you
Summertime is nice and hot
The summer weather is enjoyable
And my life is sweet like vanilla is
My life is good and pleasant
Gold and silver line my heart
I have wealth and abundance in my heart
But brand into my brain
But etched into my memory
Are these stolen images
Are these borrowed memories
Stolen images baby stolen images
Memories that don't belong to me
Can you picture it babe the life we could've lived
Could you imagine the life we could have shared together?
We were two kids, just tryin' to get out
We were two young individuals, striving to make something of ourselves
Live on the dark side of the American dream
We lived on the wrong side of the American Dream
We would dance all night, play our music loud
We would dance and play loud music all night long
When we grew up, nothing was what it seemed
As we grew up, we realized things were not as they appeared to be
All my dreams and all the lights mean
All my aspirations and the flashy exterior
Nothing if I can't have you
Are nothing if I can't be with you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ELIZABETH GRANT, SACHA SKARBEK
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