Margaret
Lana Del Rey [feat. Bleachers] Lyrics
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My shirt is inside out, I'm messy with the pen
He met Margaret on our rooftop, she was wearing white
And he was like, "I might be in trouble"
He had flashes of the good life
He was like, "Should I jump off this building now or do it on the double?"
'Cause, baby, if your love is in trouble
Baby, if your love is in trouble
When you know, you know
When you know, you know
It kinda makes me laugh, runnin' down that path
When you're good as gold
'Cause when you know, you know
Word to all my friends
With their red flags, their white knights
Their black eyes and their blue lies
If you're asking yourself, "How do you know?"
Then that's your answer, the answer is no
You gotta run, run, run, run like your head's on fire
Run away like your head is on fire
'Cause, baby, if your love is in trouble
Baby, if your love is in trouble
Baby, if your love is in trouble
When you know, you know
When you know, you know
It kinda makes me laugh, runnin' down that path
When you're good as gold
'Cause when you know, you know
When you're old, you're old
Like Hollywood and me, the diamond on your ring
The soul that you bring to the table
One that makes me sing
In a minor key
'Cause when you know, you know
When you know, you know
So if you don't know, don't give up
'Cause you never know what the new day might bring
Maybe tomorrow, you'll know
Maybe tomorrow, you'll know
Maybe tomorrow, you'll know
I mean, join the party
By the way
The party is December 18
Alright, let's waltz this out, 'cause
'Cause when you know, you know
And when you're old, you're old
Like Hollywood and me, that diamond on your ring
The soul that you bring to the table
One that makes me sing
In a minor key
Diamond on your ring
'Cause when you know, you know
When you know, you know
The song "Margaret" by Lana Del Rey is a reflection on a friend's love life and the complexities that come with it. The song starts with Lana explaining that the song is meant for a friend, but also reveals she is in a sort of disarray as her shirt is inside out and she is messy with her pen. The lyrics go on to narrate the story of Margaret, whom her friend met on a rooftop while wearing white. The friend experiences flashbacks of the good life but also has thoughts of jumping off the building. This possibly means that the friend is at a crossroads and is unsure of the direction he should take in his love life.
The chorus of the song talks about how when you know, you know - meaning that there is a certain clarity that comes with knowing who you love. Lana suggests that when things are good, they're gold. However, when things are not good, they're often red flags or white knights, black eyes or blue lies. Her advice to those who do not know is to keep holding on because you never know what the new day might bring.
Overall, "Margaret" is a poignant reflection on love and how complicated it can become, leaving those caught in its web to be uncertain of the direction they should follow.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a simple song, gonna write it for a friend
I'm writing this song for a friend of mine, it's nothing complicated.
My shirt is inside out, I'm messy with the pen
I'm feeling disorganized right now, my shirt is on backwards and my writing is a mess.
He met Margaret on our rooftop, she was wearing white
He had a chance encounter with a woman named Margaret on our rooftop, she was wearing white.
And he was like, "I might be in trouble"
He was worried that he might be falling for Margaret and wasn't sure what he should do.
He had flashes of the good life
He imagined a life with Margaret that was full of good things and happy memories.
He was like, "Should I jump off this building now or do it on the double?"
He was so overwhelmed with his feelings for Margaret that he wondered if he should act on them right away or wait a bit longer.
'Cause, baby, if your love is in trouble
Baby, if your love is in trouble
Baby, if your love is in trouble
If you're struggling with your feelings for someone, it's important to recognize that and face the issue head-on.
When you know, you know
When you know, you know
It kinda makes me laugh, runnin' down that path
When you're good, it's gold
'Cause when you know, you know
When you're truly in love with someone, you just know it, and it's both funny and valuable to follow that path.
Word to all my friends
But they're red flags, they're white knights
They're black eyes and they're blue lies
If you're asking yourself, "How do you know?"
Then that's your answer, the answer is no
I'm warning my friends to look out for warning signs when it comes to love, such as people who are overly protective ('white knights'), or people who tell lies ('blue lies'). If you're unsure about someone, that's a sign that you probably shouldn't pursue a relationship with them.
You gotta run, gotta run, run, run, run like your head's on fire
Run away like your head is on fire
If you realize that you're in love with someone who isn't good for you, you should run away from that situation as fast as you can.
And when you're old, you're old
Like Hollywood in me, the diamond on your ring
The soul that you bring to the table
One that makes me sing
In a minor key
When you get older and wiser, you start to value the deeper things in life, like finding a soulmate who complements you and makes you happy, even when things might seem challenging ('in a minor key').
So if you don't know, don't give up
'Cause you never know what the new day might bring
Even if you're unsure about your feelings for someone, don't give up hope, because you never know what the future might hold.
Maybe tomorrow you'll know
Maybe tomorrow you'll know
Maybe tomorrow you'll know
I mean, join the party
By the way
The party is December 18
Okay, let's waltz this out, 'cause
It's possible that tomorrow you'll have more clarity in your love life, but in the meantime, let's celebrate and dance (figuratively or literally)!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, Jack Michael Antonoff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind