The song features Del Rey’s vocals over Blake Stranathan’s guitar, and stands out for its simplicity of music and emotion, over all the other songs on her sophomore album Ultraviolence.
In it, Del Rey sings of her lover’s unfaithfulness, sounding resigned to the destruction of their own relationship. She thinks it’s simply a matter of time before he hurts her. She hopes that she’ll “catch him on the flipside” meaning, see him later, and make him fall in love with her just like he caught her before i.e. made her fall for him. The resigned and broken tone she assumes in the song is typical of Ultraviolence, and is a fitting finish to the album.
Flipside
Lana del Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or are you gonna hurt me later?
Are you gonna go to town?
Maybe you should play it safer
You've got me all dressed up tonight
Springsteen on the radio
You've got me all freaked out tonight
You don't wanna break me down
You don't wanna say goodbye and
You don't wanna turn around
You don't wanna make me cry but
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside I could catch you again
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside you could catch me again
Drinks on the patio
Are you gonna tell me now?
Are you gonna tell me later?
Cause if you think that I don't know
I'm gonna have to say you're crazy
I'm getting all dressed up tonight
Dressed up just to hear you, boy
I already know what you got in store
Why I go, baby, I don't know
You don't wanna break me down
You don't wanna say goodbye and
You don't wanna turn around
You don't wanna make me cry but
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside I could catch you again
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside you could catch me again
So you think you're in charge?
Do you?
Actin' like a big shot
I'm sure
So you think you're in charge?
Do you?
You're actin' like a big shot
You don't wanna break me down
You don't wanna say goodbye and
You don't wanna turn around
You don't wanna make me cry but
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside I could catch you again
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside you could catch me again
In "Flipside," Lana Del Rey sings about a tumultuous relationship that has left her unsure of where she stands with her partner. Throughout the song, she questions whether her partner plans to hurt her in the present or in the future, and she wonders whether their relationship is worth the heartache. The lyrics "You've got me all freaked out tonight/Somethin' you're tellin' me, what I don't know" suggest that her partner is not being entirely honest with her, further complicating matters. Despite this, Lana seems to be drawn to her partner and is willing to give them another chance, as she sings "Maybe on the flipside I could catch you again."
As the song progresses, the tension between the two becomes more palpable, with Lana asserting her independence with lines like "Drinks on the patio/Are you gonna tell me now?/Are you gonna tell me later?/Cause if you think that I don't know/I'm gonna have to say you're crazy." By the end of the song, Lana vocalizes her frustration with her partner's controlling behavior, singing "Do you?/Actin' like a big shot/I'm sure/So you think you're in charge?/Do you?/You're actin' like a big shot." Despite this, she is still willing to give the relationship another chance, leaving the ultimate fate of their love up in the air.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you gonna hurt me now?
Asking if the person is going to hurt her in the present moment.
Or are you gonna hurt me later?
Asking if the person is planning on hurting her in the future.
Are you gonna go to town?
Asking if the person is going to pursue something risky or dangerous.
Maybe you should play it safer
Suggesting that the person should be more cautious and avoid potential harm.
You've got me all dressed up tonight
Acknowledging that the person has prepared her for something special.
Springsteen on the radio
Noting that the music playing is by Springsteen, which may hold significance for either person.
You've got me all freaked out tonight
Revealing that the person is feeling anxious due to some information she has received.
Somethin' you're tellin' me, what I don't know
Expressing confusion over what the person may have told her that she is not aware of.
You don't wanna break me down
Pointing out that the person doesn't want to harm or betray her.
You don't wanna say goodbye and
Noting that the person doesn't want to end their relationship.
You don't wanna turn around
Indicating that the person doesn't want to walk away from her.
You don't wanna make me cry but
Acknowledging that the person doesn't want to hurt her emotionally.
You caught me once
Admitting that the person has had an impact on her in the past.
Maybe on the flipside I could catch you again
Suggesting that in a different scenario or future event, she could have an opportunity to attract the person again.
Drinks on the patio
Describing the setting of the conversation between the two people.
Cause if you think that I don't know
Challenging the person's assumption that she is unaware of what is happening.
I'm gonna have to say you're crazy
Asserting that the person is mistaken or delusional.
Dressed up just to hear you, boy
Revealing that the reason for her preparation is to impress or capture the person's attention.
I already know what you got in store
Implying that the person's intentions are predictable or known to her.
Why I go, baby, I don't know
Expressing confusion over why she is still involved with the person given the potential for harm.
So you think you're in charge?
Challenging the person's perceived power or influence over the situation.
Do you?
Reiterating the question of who is truly in control.
Actin' like a big shot
Observing that the person is behaving arrogantly or overconfidently.
Maybe on the flipside I could catch you again
Repeating the suggestion that in a different context, she could reignite the person's interest.
You caught me once
Reiterating that the person has had an impact on her in the past.
Maybe on the flipside you could catch me again
Expressing the possibility that the person could attract her again in the future.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Elizabeth Grant, Blake Stranathan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ju5df5bf1p
Lyrics
Are you gonna hurt me now?
Or are you gonna hurt me later?
Are you gonna go to town?
Maybe you should play it safer
You've got me all dressed up tonight
Springsteen on the radio
You've got me all freaked out tonight
Somethin' you're tellin' me, what I don't know
You don't wanna break me down
You don't wanna say goodbye and
You don't wanna turn around
You don't wanna make me cry but
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside I could catch you again
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside you could catch me again
Drinks on the patio
Are you gonna tell me now?
Are you gonna tell me later?
Cause if you think that I don't know
I'm gonna have to say you're crazy
I'm getting all dressed up tonight
Dressed up just to hear you, boy
I already know what you got in store
Why I go, baby, I don't know
You don't wanna break me down
You don't wanna say goodbye and
You don't wanna turn around
You don't wanna make me cry but
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside I could catch you again
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside you could catch me again
So you think you're in charge?
Do you?
Actin' like a big shot
I'm sure
So you think you're in charge?
Do you?
You're actin' like a big shot
You don't wanna break me down
You don't wanna say goodbye and
You don't wanna turn around
You don't wanna make me cry but
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside I could catch you again
You caught me once
Maybe on the flipside you could catch me again
Songwriters: Elizabeth Grant / Blake Stranathan
@IsabellaShy
I wish Lana did more ROCK and DARK songs like this. I love it and I think her haunted voice with this genre is amazing.
@LanaDayne
She was lucky she got this album released, I don't know if she would do this dark or type of album again.
@titanfreezen1009
@LanasMonster why is she lucky? was it gonna be canceled?
@LanaDayne
@Titan Freezen the whole album was almost deleted by Jimmy Iovine, thats why the album release date was pushed back a month 3 weeks to the original release. He wanted Adeles producer to redo the album but he told them to not change a thing on the album, so Jimmy okayed the release. Lana said jimmy thought the whole project was too dark and too depressing, that probably explains why Honeymoon is so light and different from Ultraviolence
@oiergarciaaoiz7195
She was made for this kind of music.it sounds like mazzy star,i LOVE It
@oiergarciaaoiz7195
@LanasMonster honeymoon is hella dark for me tho.not the sound bit the lyrics
@cruisy5377
Another rock album like ultraviolence is needed just saying
@36082749
Norman Fucking Rockwell is coming
@OnikasBaby
Osmar Junior She said rock album.......
@JeansRange
@françois cavallier Norman Fucking ROCKwell