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".
YOU
Lana Del Rey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Money, notoriety and riviera
I even think I found God
In the flashbulbs of the
Pretty cameras
Pretty cameras
Pretty cameras
Tell me am I glamorous?
Hello, hello ca-can you hear me?
I can be your China doll
If you want to see me fall
You're so good
Your love is deadly
Tell me life is beautiful
They all think I have it all
I'm 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 brand into my brain
Are these stolen images
Stolen images baby stolen images
Can you picture it babe the life we could've lived
Hello, hello? Ca-can you hear me?
I can be your China doll if you want 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'm nothing without you
All my dreams and all the lights mean
Nothing without you
We were two kids, just tryin' to get out
Live 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?
C-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'm nothing without you
All my dreams and all the lights mean
Nothing without you
Hello? Hello?
C-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'm 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
TheNanakofi1
This song gives me the chills. I feel like I am being seduced, my heart is racing, and I'm powerless to its sweet magnetic pull.
Sasha Kubek
it is a shame that many of her songs will never be heard... this song is quite special for me. I bought an unreleased CD with this song on it after stumbling upon her on Pandora... that was in 2014 and I hadn't known of LDR otherwise but I fell in love with her music...
Rae Dunne
this song feels like a mirage of an oasis in the middle of a desert
Sarah Hosking
such a shame this won't ever get a proper release.
Shruthikumar Kamal
😂😂😂😂
Shruthikumar Kamal
@Mary Li 😂😂😂😂
Mary Li
Why?? You are listening to it!! What is it that you want,?? More?
Alechandro
This belongs to paradise/tropico
Suckonmyskeletontoes
Sarah Hosking who stole it from her??
Alex Alex
Not gonna lie - last night I put this on repeat , ran a bath and completely submerged myself. It was like being in heaven honestly... lying just beneath the water with my hair tangling around myself and slipping away just the slightest. Fuck Lana's music is haunting.