It is the seventh track from Lana Del Rey's second studio album and major-label debut, Born to Die. The song was released as the sixth and final single from the album on March 1, 2013, through Universal and Vertigo Records.
Dark Paradise
Lana del Lyrics
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I'm lying in the ocean, singing your song
Ah, that's how you sing it
Loving you forever, can't be wrong
Even though you're not here, won't move on
Ah, that's how we play it
And there's no remedy for memory your face
Your soul is hunting me and telling me
That everything is fine
But I wish I was dead
Every time I close my eyes
It's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side
Every time I close my eyes
It's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side
All my friends ask me why I stay strong
Tell 'em when you find true love it lives on
Ah, that's why I stay here
And there's no remedy for memory your face
Like a melody, it won't lift my head
Your soul is hunting me and telling me
That everything is fine
But I wish I was dead
Every time I close my eyes
It's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side
Every time I close my eyes
It's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
But there's no you, except in my dreams tonight
Oh oh oh, ha ha ha
I don't wanna wake up from this tonight
Oh oh oh, ha ha ha
I don't wanna wake up from this tonight
There's no relief, I see you in my sleep
And everybody's rushing me, but I can feel you touching me
There's no release, I feel you in my dreams
Telling me I'm fine
Every time I close my eyes
It's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side
Every time I close my eyes
It's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
But that there's no you, except in my dreams tonight
Oh oh oh, ha ha ha
I don't wanna wake up from this tonight
Oh oh oh, ha ha ha
I don't wanna wake up from this tonight
In the song "Dark Paradise," Lana del Rey sings about the struggle of moving on from a lost love. The song begins with her friends advising her to move on, but she can't seem to let go. She sings about lying in the ocean, singing her lost love's song - a metaphor for being engulfed by their memory. She believes that loving them forever can't be wrong, even though they're not physically present. The chorus goes on to express her fear of not finding her lost love waiting for her on the other side, highlighting her refusal to let go of the past.
The second verse echoes the first, as her friends continue to wonder why she stays strong in holding onto her lost love. The repetition emphasizes the internal struggle that the singer is facing, as she grapples between memories of her lost love and the pressure to move on. She describes how she wishes she were dead, emphasizing the deep emotional pain that she continues to feel despite her efforts to move on.
Through the chorus, the bridge, and the repetition of the line, "there's no you, except in my dreams tonight," Lana del Rey demonstrates how difficult it is to move on from a lost love. Her lyrics are a poignant representation of the struggles and emotions that come with that kind of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
All my friends tell me I should move on
My friends advise me to forget about you and let go
I'm lying in the ocean, singing your song
I am feeling lost and immersed in my feelings for you, singing a song that reminds me of you
Loving you forever, can't be wrong
Being in love with you forever cannot be a mistake or regretful decision
Even though you're not here, won't move on
Even though you are not present, I still cannot move on from my feelings for you
And there's no remedy for memory your face
There is no cure or solution for the memory of your face in my mind
Is like a melody, it won't leave my head
The memory of your face and our love is like a melody that stays in my mind and won't go away
Your soul is hunting me and telling me That everything is fine
I feel your presence all around and it seems like your soul is trying to comfort me, telling me that everything is alright
But I wish I was dead
Despite the comfort, I am overwhelmed by my pain and wish to not exist anymore
Every time I close my eyes It's like a dark paradise
Every time I try to escape my feelings by closing my eyes, they take me to a dark place where I feel lost and trapped
No one compares to you
No one can take your place or match up to you in my life and heart
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side
I am afraid that even in my dreams or afterlife, you won't be there to make me feel complete and loved
All my friends ask me why I stay strong
My friends are curious as to why I am still able to carry on despite my heartache and pain
Tell 'em when you find true love it lives on
I tell them that when you find true love, it continues to exist and endure through all obstacles
But there's no you, except in my dreams tonight
While you may not be with me in reality, you still exist in my dreams tonight
There's no relief, I see you in my sleep
Even in my sleep, I cannot find any relief from the constant presence of thoughts and feelings for you
And everybody's rushing me, but I can feel you touching me
Even though everyone is urging me to move on, I can still feel your touch and presence around me
No one compares to you
Despite all efforts, I cannot find anyone who can match up to the love and emotions I feel for you
But that there's no you, except in my dreams tonight
The thought of you only exists in my dreams tonight, leaving me to face my reality without you
I don't wanna wake up from this tonight
I do not want to wake up from the illusion of your presence tonight, as it provides temporary relief from my pain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ELIZABETH GRANT, RICK NOWELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind