In the verses, Del Rey talks about feeling out of place compared to the wealthy, privileged debutantes she sees and reads about. She also mentions her experience with abusive relationships, hinted at by the reference to "church basement romances" and "spilling my guts with the Bowery Bums". She seems to find solace in artistic expression, but even that is not always a safe haven as her "ink in my pen don't work in my notepad".
The chorus repeats the title phrase, emphasizing how hope, despite being a positive feeling, can be perilous for someone in her position. She also mentions how others perceive her versus how she really feels, highlighting the disconnect between her public persona and her private struggles.
The bridge introduces the idea of a "new revolution" and a "modern day woman with a weak constitution", hinting at the changing landscape of societal expectations for women and the toll it can take on mental health. However, she still struggles with the same fears and insecurities, symbolized by the "monsters still under my bed", and feels powerless to overcome them.
The outro repeats the title phrase, but this time with a sense of defiance and strength. Del Rey acknowledges the danger of hope but chooses to hold onto it anyway, declaring that she has it and will not give it up. Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the struggles that come with mental health and societal pressures and the bravery it takes to hold onto hope despite everything.
hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Lana Del Rey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe I'd get less stressed if I was tested less like
All of these debutantes
Smiling for miles in pink dresses and high heels on white yachts
But I'm not, baby, I'm not
No, I'm not, that, I'm not
I've been tearing around in my fucking nightgown
24/7 Sylvia Plath
Writing in blood on my walls
'Cause the ink in my pen don't work in my notepad
Don't ask if I'm happy, you know that I'm not
But at best, I can say I'm not sad
'Cause hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
I had fifteen-year dances
Church basement romances, yeah, I've cried
Spilling my guts with the Bowery Bums
Is the only love I've ever known
Except for the stage, which I also call home, when I'm not
Servin' up God in a burnt coffee pot for the Triad
Hello, it's the most famous woman you know on the iPad
Calling from beyond the grave, I just wanna say, "Hi, Dad"
I've been tearing up town in my fucking white gown
Like a goddamn near sociopath
Shaking my ass is the only thing that's
Got this black narcissist off my back
She couldn't care less, and I never cared more
So there's no more to say about that
Except hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman with my past
There's a new revolution, a loud evolution that I saw
Born of confusion and quiet collusion of which mostly I've known
A modern day woman with a weak constitution, 'cause I've got
Monsters still under my bed that I could never fight off
A gatekeeper carelessly dropping the keys on my nights off
I've been tearing around in my fucking nightgown
24/7 Sylvia Plath
Writing in blood on your walls
'Cause the ink in my pen don't look good in my pad
They write that I'm happy, they know that I'm not
But at best, you can see I'm not sad
But hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
But I have it
Yeah, I have it
Yeah, I have it
I have
Lana Del Rey’s song “hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have” is a vivid exploration of her mental state. The lyrics reveal a lot of pain and a deep sense of isolation, with the singer not fitting in with the high society elite, and instead struggling with her own internal demons.
The opening lyrics reference Slim Aarons, an American photographer who was known for his images of the jet-set lifestyle of the rich and famous. Del Rey describes how she imagines that life would be less stressful if she were one of the debutantes, all dressed up in their pink dresses and high heels on white yachts. But she comes to the conclusion that she is not like them, and that she is not happy.
The second verse of the song is more intense, with Del Rey describing her own struggles with mental health in vivid detail. She references Sylvia Plath, the writer who famously committed suicide, and suggests that she is tearing around in her nightgown in a similar state of frenzy. She also talks about writing in blood on her walls, which is a powerful image that suggests intense feelings of passion and desperation.
Overall, the song is a powerful and poignant exploration of mental health issues, and the toll that they can take on individuals. It’s a reminder that everyone struggles, even people who seem to have it all, and that hope can sometimes be the one thing that keeps us going.
Line by Line Meaning
I was reading Slim Aarons and I got to thinking that I thought
As I was reading Slim Aarons, I began to contemplate my own life and feelings
Maybe I'd get less stressed if I was tested less like all of these debutantes
I wonder if my life would be less overwhelming and stressful if I didn't have to constantly compare myself to wealthy, privileged women
Smiling for miles in pink dresses and high heels on white yachts
These women seem to have it all, but their happiness is just an illusion
But I'm not, baby, I'm not / No, I'm not, that, I'm not
I am not like these women, and I cannot pretend to be happy like they do
I've been tearing around in my fucking nightgown / 24/7 Sylvia Plath
I have been struggling with my mental health and find solace in the works of Sylvia Plath
Writing in blood on my walls / 'Cause the ink in my pen don't work in my notepad
I am expressing my innermost thoughts and emotions in a raw, visceral way that cannot be contained on paper
Don't ask if I'm happy, you know that I'm not / But at best, I can say I'm not sad
I am not happy, but I try to convince myself that I am not completely miserable either
'Cause hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have / Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
As someone with a troubled past and mental health issues, holding onto hope can be detrimental to my well-being
I had fifteen-year dances / Church basement romances, yeah, I've cried
My teenage years were marred by awkward social situations and romantic disappointments
Spilling my guts with the Bowery Bums / Is the only love I've ever known
I feel a kinship with the homeless people I have confided in, as they are the only ones who have truly listened to me without judgment
Except for the stage, which I also call home, when I'm not / Servin' up God in a burnt coffee pot for the Triad
Performing on stage is where I feel most comfortable and alive, but I also do menial jobs for the Triad to pay the bills
Hello, it's the most famous woman you know on the iPad / Calling from beyond the grave, I just wanna say, 'Hi, Dad'
As a celebrity, I am constantly connected to my fans through technology, but I still yearn for a connection with my deceased father
I've been tearing up town in my fucking white gown / Like a goddamn near sociopath
I have been engaging in reckless behavior and acting out of control, like someone who has an antisocial personality disorder
Shaking my ass is the only thing that's / Got this black narcissist off my back
Dancing and performing is the only activity that numbs the pain and silences the voice in my head that tells me I am worthless
She couldn't care less, and I never cared more / So there's no more to say about that
The person I am referring to is indifferent to me, but I have invested too much energy in this one-sided relationship
There's a new revolution, a loud evolution that I saw / Born of confusion and quiet collusion of which mostly I've known
I have witnessed a societal shift that is both chaotic and unorganized, but I can relate to this feeling of uncertainty and hidden manipulation
A modern day woman with a weak constitution, 'cause I've got / Monsters still under my bed that I could never fight off
Despite being a modern woman who stands for women's rights and equality, I am still haunted by my own personal demons that I cannot overcome
A gatekeeper carelessly dropping the keys on my nights off
Even when someone has the power to ease my burdens, they often neglect to do so or do not understand the true depth of my struggles
Writing in blood on your walls / 'Cause the ink in my pen don't look good in my pad
I am expressing my innermost thoughts and emotions in a raw, visceral way that cannot be contained on paper
They write that I'm happy, they know that I'm not / But at best, you can see I'm not sad
Despite what the media may portray, I am not happy, but at best, I am trying to stay neutral and not let my emotions consume me
But hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have / Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
As someone with a troubled past and mental health issues, holding onto hope can be detrimental to my well-being
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have / But I have it / Yeah, I have it / Yeah, I have it / I have
Despite the risks, I still have hope for a better future and hold onto it as tightly as I can
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, Jack Antonoff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jxxck7480
I was reading Slim Aarons and I got to thinking that I thought
Maybe I'd get less stressed if I was tested less like
All of these debutantes
Smiling for miles in pink dresses and high heels on white yachts
But I'm not, baby, I'm not
No, I'm not, that, I'm not
I've been tearing around in my fucking nightgown
24/7 Sylvia Plath
Writing in blood on my walls
'Cause the ink in my pen don't work in my notepad
Don't ask if I'm happy, you know that I'm not
But at best, I can say I'm not sad
'Cause hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
I had fifteen-year dances
Church basement romances, yeah, I've cried
Spilling my guts with the Bowery Bums
Is the only love I've ever known
Except for the stage, which I also call home, when I'm not
Servin' up God in a burnt coffee pot for the Triad
Hello, it's the most famous woman you know on the iPad
Calling from beyond the grave, I just wanna say, "Hi, Dad"
I've been tearing up town in my fucking white gown
Like a goddamn near sociopath
Shaking my ass is the only thing that's
Got this black narcissist off my back
She couldn't care less, and I never cared more
So there's no more to say about that
Except hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman with my past
There's a new revolution, a loud evolution that I saw
Born of confusion and quiet collusion of which mostly I've known
A modern day woman with a weak constitution, 'cause I've got
Monsters still under my bed that I could never fight off
A gatekeeper carelessly dropping the keys on my nights off
I've been tearing around in my fucking nightgown
24/7 Sylvia Plath
Writing in blood on your walls
'Cause the ink in my pen don't look good in my pad
They write that I'm happy, they know that I'm not
But at best, you can see I'm not sad
But hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
But I have it
Yeah, I have it
Yeah, I have it
I have
This costs a like x stay safe in quarantine
@danna594
Lyrics 🌹
I was reading Slim Aarons
And I got to thinking that I thought
Maybe I'd get less stressed
If I was tested less like all of these debutantes
Smiling for miles in pink dresses
And high heels on white yachts
But I'm not
Baby I'm not
No, I'm not
That I'm not
I've been tearing around in my fucking nightgown
24/7, Sylvia Plath
Writing in blood on the walls
'Cause the ink in my pen don't work in my notepad
Don't ask if I'm happy, you know that I'm not
But at best I can say I'm not sad
'Cause hope is a dangerous thing
For a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing
For a woman like me to have
I had fifteen-year dances
Church basement romances yeah I've cried
Spilling my guts with the Bowery Bums
Is the only love I've ever known
Except for the stage which I also call home when I'm not
Serving up God in a burnt coffee pot for the triad
Hello it's the most famous woman you know on the iPad
Calling from beyond the grave, I just wanna say, "Hi dad"
I've been tearing up town in my fucking white gown
Like a goddamn near sociopath
Shaking my ass is the only thing that's
Got this black narcissist off my back
She couldn't care less and I never cared more
So there's no more to say about that
Except hope is a dangerous thing
For a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing
For a woman with my past
There's a new revolution
A loud evolution
That I saw
Born of confusion
And quiet collusion
Of which mostly I've known
A modern day woman
With a weak constitution
'Cause I've got
Monsters still under my bed
That I could never fight off
A gatekeeper carelessly dropping
The keys on my nights off
I've been tearing around in my fucking nightgown
24/7, Sylvia Plath
Writing in blood on your walls
'Cause the ink in my pen don't look good in my pad
They write that I'm happy, they know that I'm not
But at best you can see I'm not sad
But hope is a dangerous thing
For a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing
For a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing
For a woman like me to have
But I have it
Yeah, I have it
Yeah, I have it
I have
@diegocaetano2710
[Verse 1]
I was reading Slim Aarons and I got to thinking that I thought
Maybe I'd get less stressed if I was tested less like
All of these debutantes
Smiling for miles in pink dresses and high heels on white yachts
But I'm not, baby, I'm not
No, I'm not, that, I'm not
[Chorus]
I've been tearing around in my fucking nightgown
24/7 Sylvia Plath
Writing in blood on my walls
'Cause the ink in my pen don't work in my notepad
Don't ask if I'm happy, you know that I'm not
But at best, I can say I'm not sad
'Cause hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
[Verse 2]
I had 15-year dances
Church basement romances, yeah, I've cried
Spilling my guts with the Bowery Bums
Is the only love I've ever known
Except for the stage, which I also call home, when I'm not
Servin' up God in a burnt coffee pot for the triad
Hello, it's the most famous woman you know on the iPad
Calling from beyond the grave, I just wanna say, "Hi, Dad"
[Chorus]
I've been tearing up town in my fucking white gown
Like a goddamn near sociopath
Shaking my ass is the only thing that's
Got this black narcissist off my back
She couldn't care less, and I never cared more
So there's no more to say about that
Except hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman with my past
[Bridge]
There's a new revolution, a loud evolution that I saw
Born of confusion and quiet collusion of which mostly I've known
A modern day woman with a weak constitution, 'cause I've got
Monsters still under my bed that I could never fight off
A gatekeeper carelessly dropping the keys on my nights off
[Chorus]
I've been tearing around in my fucking nightgown
24/7 Sylvia Plath
Writing in blood on your walls
'Cause the ink in my pen don't look good in my pad
They write that I'm happy, they know that I'm not
But at best, you can see I'm not sad
But hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
[Outro]
Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have
But I have it
Yeah, I have it
Yeah, I have it
I have
@thevibeguide
Her voice is to-die-for.
@erique_k
The Vibe Guide it’s were born to die for her voice,this is dumb ew
@funkymusic5749
The Vibe Guide 🍓DeLiCiouS VoiCe🎶🎵 🎶🎵🎶🎵🎤😴❤LaNa🍃🌹🍃
@ananonymouscat3042
Dont die. Die die. High die. Low die.
@morganmorris2698
So true
@funkymusic5749
Morgan Morris ☝
@richardcrago
Lana sings like she's lived on earth for thousands of years
@richardcrago
@utopia I loved reading your thoughtful reply to a comment I just copy and pasted. Seriously though, I fucking love Lana's music because I see the INFJ in me in her. As someone who has been through pain I think I feel very deeply, even if I can't always express it very well haha.
@saniyarumaiza3303
richard crago TO A COMMENT I JUST COPIED AND PASTED. I cackled at that.
@hayalbir
Maybe right she lived life like a thousand year.
It is painful