Carmen
Lana Del Rey ( www.Top3Da.Net ) Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Darling, darling, doesn't have a problem
Lying to herself 'cause her liquor's top shelf
It's alarming honestly how charming she can be
Fooling everyone, telling how she's having fun

She says you don't want to be like me
Don't wanna see all the things I've seen
I'm dying, I'm dying
She says you don't want to get this way
Famous, and dumb, and no age
My, I'm dying

The boys, the girls, they all like Carmen
She gives them butterflies, bats her cartoon eyes
She laughs like God, her mind's like a diamond
Buy her tonight, she's still shining
Like lightning, light, like lightning

Carmen, Carmen, staying up 'til morning
Only seventeen, but she walks the streets so mean
It's alarming truly how disarming you can be
Eating soft ice cream, Coney Island queen
She says you don't want to be like me
Looking for fun, get me high for free
I'm dying, I'm dying
She says you don't want to get this way
Street walking at night, and a star by day

It's tiring, tiring

The boys, the girls, they all like Carmen
She gives them butterflies, bats her cartoon eyes
She laughs like God, her mind's like a diamond
Buy her tonight, she's still shining
Like lightning, light, like lightning

Baby's all dressed up, with nowhere to go
That's the little story of the girl you know
Relying on the kindness of strangers
Time and cherry marks while doing party favors
Put your red dress on, put your lipstick on
Sing your song, song, now, the camera's on
And you're alive again

Mon amour, je sais que tu m'aimes aussi

The boys, the girls, they all like Carmen
She gives them butterflies, bats her cartoon eyes
She laughs like god, her mind's like a diamond
Buy her tonight, she's still shining
Like lightning, light, like lightning

Like lightning, light, like lightning





Darling, darling, doesn't have a problem
Lying to herself 'cause her liquor's top shelf

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lana Del Rey's Carmen paint a picture of a young, teenage girl named Carmen who is involved in a world of alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. It is alarming how charming and disarming she can be, fooling everyone into thinking she is living a fun and carefree life. She warns others not to follow in her path, but she cannot help but yearn for the temporary high that comes with her lifestyle.


The chorus describes how both boys and girls are drawn to Carmen, falling for her cartoon eyes and God-like laughter. Despite the darkness in her life, she still shines like lightning. The final verse reveals that Carmen is reliant on the kindness of strangers and must do "party favors" to survive. She puts on a show for the camera and is alive again.


Interestingly, the song was originally written as a poem by Del Rey in 2008, and then later turned into a song for her debut album, Born to Die. The song is said to be inspired by the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet, which tells a similar story of a seductive woman named Carmen. The song has garnered praise for its storytelling and Del Rey's vocal delivery.


Line by Line Meaning

Darling, darling, doesn't have a problem
Carmen is carefree and doesn't seem to have any worries.


Lying to herself 'cause her liquor's top shelf
Carmen drinks expensive alcohol to escape from reality.


It's alarming honestly how charming she can be
Carmen is very charming and that could be misleading to others.


Fooling everyone, telling how she's having fun
Carmen pretends to be having fun in front of others while deep down, she is miserable.


She says you don't want to be like me
Carmen warns others not to follow her path.


Don't wanna see all the things I've seen
Carmen has gone through difficult experiences that she doesn't want others to witness.


I'm dying, I'm dying
Carmen feels like she is slowly dying inside.


The boys, the girls, they all like Carmen
Everyone is attracted to Carmen's beauty and charm.


She gives them butterflies, bats her cartoon eyes
Carmen flirts with others and makes them feel butterflies in their stomachs.


She laughs like God, her mind's like a diamond
Carmen is carefree and confident, and her mind is sharp like a diamond.


Buy her tonight, she's still shining
Carmen is still attractive and captivating, even if she has been out late or drinking.


Like lightning, light, like lightning
Carmen's attractiveness is as striking and sudden as lightning.


Carmen, Carmen, staying up 'til morning
Carmen goes out all night and stays awake until the morning.


Only seventeen, but she walks the streets so mean
Carmen is only a teenager, but she has already become hardened by her experiences and is tough on the outside.


It's alarming truly how disarming you can be
Carmen is disarming in her behavior and charm, which can be concerning to others.


Eating soft ice cream, Coney Island queen
Carmen enjoys simple pleasures like eating ice cream, but is also a queen of the streets like Coney Island.


Looking for fun, get me high for free
Carmen seeks fun and thrills, and sometimes turns to drugs or alcohol to experience them for free.


Street walking at night, and a star by day
Carmen walks the streets at night as a prostitute or escort, but is also a star in her own right by day.


The boys, the girls, they all like Carmen
Everyone is attracted to Carmen's beauty and charm.


She gives them butterflies, bats her cartoon eyes
Carmen flirts with others and makes them feel butterflies in their stomachs.


Baby's all dressed up, with nowhere to go
Carmen is dressed up and looking good, but she has nowhere to go and no direction.


That's the little story of the girl you know
This is the story of Carmen, the girl everyone knows.


Relying on the kindness of strangers
Carmen depends on others' kindness and generosity to survive.


Time and cherry marks while doing party favors
Carmen spends her time partying and doing favors for others while leaving marks on her body in the process.


Put your red dress on, put your lipstick on
Carmen puts on her red dress and lipstick to go out and party.


Sing your song, song, now, the camera's on
Carmen likes to be the center of attention and show off for the camera.


And you're alive again
For Carmen, being the center of attention and partying makes her feel alive and energized.


Mon amour, je sais que tu m'aimes aussi
My love, I know you love me too.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ELIZABETH GRANT, JUSTIN PARKER, LANA DEL RAY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@itaro5789

Lyrics :

Darlin’, darlin’
Doesn’t have a problem
Lyin’ to herself
Cause her liquor’s top shelf
It’s alarming honestly
How charming she can be
Fooling everyone
Telling them she’s having fun

She says, “You don’t want to be like me, don’t want to see all the things I’ve seen”
I’m dyin’, I’m dyin’
She says, “You don’t want to get this way, famous and dumb at an early age”
Lyin’, I’m lyin’

The boys, the girls
They all like Carmen
She gives them butterflies
Bats her cartoon eyes

She laughs like God
Her mind’s like a diamond
Audiotune lies
She’s still shinin’
Like lightning
White lightning

Carmen, Carmen
Staying up till morning
Only 17, but she walks the streets so mean
It’s alarming truly
How disarming you can be
Eatin’ soft ice cream
Coney Island queen

She says, “ You don’t want to be like me, lookin’ for fun, gettin’ high for free”
I’m dyin’, I’m dyin’
She says, “You don’t want to get this way, street walk at night and a star by day”
It’s tirin’, tirin’

The boys, the girls
They all like Carmen
She gives them butterflies
Bats her cartoon eyes

She laughs like God
Her mind’s like a diamond
Audiotune lies
She’s still shinin’
Like lightning
White lightning

Baby’s all dressed up with nowhere to go
That’s the little story of the girl you know
Relying on the kindness of strangers
Tying cherry knots
Smiling, doing party favours
Put your red dress on, put your lipstick on
Sing your song, song, now the camera’s on
And you’re alive again

Mon amour, je sais que tu m’aimes aussi
(My love, I know you love me too)
Tu as besoin de moi
(You need me)
Tu as besoin de moi dans ta vie
(You need me on your life)
Tu ne peux pas vivre sans moi
(You can’t life without me)
Et je mourrais sans toi
(And I would die without you)
Je tuerais pour toi
(I would kill for you)

The boys, the girls
They all like Carmen
She gives them butterflies
Bats her cartoon eyes

She laughs like God
Her mind’s like a diamond
Audiotune lies
She’s still shinin’

Like lightning
White lightning x2

Darlin’, darlin’
Doesn’t have a problem
Lyin’ to herself
Cause her liquor’s top shelf



All comments from YouTube:

@whytho6683

lana del rey is fucking art

@joeryanatkinson8878

omg so true, wow, Bae , art art art , art, sloppy fart

@M3Lucky

+Joe ryanatkinson lmao wtf bro

@eneso2650

no Lana is just fuck you

@julianna6486

NotPoppy lol

@jamescollins6341

Listen to 'Peacock Affect - Wallflower'

10 More Replies...

@laurenendaya4169

"Baby's all dressed up with nowhere to go" felt that

@visionary9385

RIGGHHTT 😂

@cibeleoliveiras

The moment I read your comment I heard this part of the song I mean 😭😭

@poemsbypoetry

Quarantine mood

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