Elle

Don’t you dare say that you'll braid my hair, babe If you don’t really care You wanted me sadder You wanted me sadder Fishtail, what's the matter ah-ah Skipping rope in the bayou, bayou Slip softly into rain Not that smart, but I’ve got things to say Palm trees in black and white I like to watch them sway You're so funny, I wish I could skinny dip inside your mind Lately, I’ve been thinking about how things used to be Swinging in a nightgown underneath the old oak tree Almost Victorian with you, you can talk to me But, lately, I can see You wanted me sadder Baby, can’t you see it? For me, you are the one and if I’m not the one for you Don’t you see it? I was on the stairs, Ella Fitzgerald on the air, feeling hella rare Baby, if you care, baby don't you dare say you’ll braid my hair, babe Don’t you dare say that you'll braid my hair, babe If you don't really care You wanted me sadder Dancing there in the hot, hot sun I know that we’ve got problems I plan to address them another day Palm trees in black and white I see in technicolor Maybe I’ll take my glasses off so I stop painting red flags green Lately, I’ve been sunning in the L.A. riverbed Wearing nothing but the sunburn bruises on my knees I like how you talk, how you speak, how you look at me But, lately, I can see You wanted me sadder Baby, can't you see it? You wanted me sadder You wanted me sadder For me, you are the one and if I’m not the one for you Don’t you see it? I was on the stairs, Ella Fitzgerald on the air, feeling hella lit Baby, if you care, baby Don't you dare say You’ll braid my hair, see Baby, if you care then Baby, don't you dare say that you really care Don’t you dare say that you'll braid my hair When you get home tonight if you don’t really care Yeah, don’t you dare say that you’ll braid my hair, babe If you don't really care, say that you'll braid my hair If you’re not coming home to me, mm You want someone sadder Skipping rope in the bayou, bayou Slip softly into rain I’m not that smart, but I’ve got things to say

Fishtail - a bop! I remember everyone instantly grooving to this one at the listening party once that beat drop - and what a killer drop it is! As much as I love Lana's natural voice, the auto-tune adds such a special flair. It actually suits her in songs like this quite well, like with Cinnamon Girl & TJF. Such a fun song. Now onto Peppers, one I was going OFF to at the listening party.. x

I truly love Margaret. I know this track was one that people were less-excited for, but I didn't have any particular expectations about it. I also really love Jack & Lana's voices together, and the fact that they're so close makes the sentiment of this song even sweeter. A love song for a friend about his love. This is another one that makes me smile and want to sway around with friends or a love, just taking in that sweet moment of knowing when you know! Sometimes it really is as simple as that. When you know you know. & if you don't know, that's okay too, it'll eventually find you! I also love the sing-song-spoken outro.. so fun. This would be a great song to hear live from the two of them at a cozy venue. The instrumental outro is also stunning. It reminds me of something I'd hear at the end of a happily-ever-after film, and I mean that in a good way. Now onto Fishtail.. x

Pick you up at home, quarter to three Ask you if you want something to eat Drive around, get drunk, do it over again Wake you up at night, quarter to one I can never stop, wanna have fun Don't be acting like I’m the kinda girl who can sleep ‘Cause every time you say you're gonna go I just smile, ‘cause babe, I already know You know I got nothing under this overcoat Ooh, let the light in At your back door, yelling ‘cause I wanna come in Ooh, turn your light on Look at us, you and I, back at it again Pick you up around quarter to two Usually, we’ve got nothing to do Screw it, maybe you should go and record some other songs Got my dress on tight cause you know that I Look shinin’ in the light, there's so much ridin’ on this life And how we write a love song Ooh, let the light in At your back door yelling, ‘cause I wanna come in Ooh, turn your light on Look at us, you and I, back at it again ‘Cause I love to love to love to love you I hate to hate to hate to hate you Put the Beatles on, light the candles, go back to bed Cause I wanna wanna wanna want you I need to need to need to need you Put the TV on, the flowers in the vase, lie your head Ooh, let the light in At your back door, yelling ‘cause I wanna come in Ooh, turn your light on Look at us, you and me, back at it again

Lana & FJM truly create the most magical art together. This one is such a feel-good song that I want to dance to around a bonfire with my friends. Maybe I'll do that this weekend at my friend's birthday celebration - I made us all listen to Chemtrails together during his birthday party two years ago since it was right after that release too. This one just makes me smile. Beautiful vocals from both Lana & FJM, they complement each other so well. Also: "Don't be acting like I’m the kinda girl who can sleep" - me rn after having pulled a 40-hour all-nighter lmao x Margaret next, which I recall to be another beautiful collaboration.. x

Three white butterflies to know you're near I know they think that it took somebody else To make me beautiful, beautiful As they intended me to be, but they're wrong I know they think that it took thousands of people To put me together again, like an experiment Some big man behind the scenes Sewing Frankenstein black dreams into my soul But they're wrong God, if you're near me, send me three white butterflies Or an owl to know you're listening Sitting while I’m drinking Grandfather, please stand on the shoulders of my father while he's deep-sea fishing For sharks in the Pacific ‘Cause I’m good, I’m spirit, warm-bodied Available deity wrapped up in, oh I’m folk, I’m jazz, I’m blue, I’m green Regrettably, also a white woman But I have good intentions even if I’m one of the last ones If you don't believe me look at my poetry and my melodies Feel it in your bones I have good intentions even if I’m one of the last ones (Ah-ha-ah-yeah, Ah-ha-ah-yeah, Ah-ha-ah-yeah) Grandfather, please stand on the shoulders of my father while he's deep-sea fishing For all the things he's wishing God, if you're near me, send me three white butterflies Or a map to know you're fishing Impart on me your wisdom It took somebody else to make me beautiful, wonderful As they intended me to be But they’re wrong Three white butterflies to know you’re near

Grandfather is another incredible power building with an incredible build. Her vocals just soar in this song. It makes you feel like you're flying just listening to it. This is another one with a bit of a nostalgia factor to me, as it reminds me to the music I listened to prior to discovering Lana in 2012 - Jem, Regina Spektor, Inara George, etc.. that indie/folk/alt-pop combo that I still adore so much. The intro and outro line... incredible. I love this one so much too. Ugh. Every song is my favourite. How on earth am I going to decide how to rank the tracks?? Now onto Let The Light In, which I had such fun shimmying & swaying to at the listening party.. x

Something about Paris, Texas, though simple in lyrics, evokes an emotion in me I can't explain.. maybe it's the voice, maybe it's the melody, maybe it's the venue. I think this song perfectly encapsulates rediscovering your life after being lost and finding yourself once more - discovering what is truly right for you, even if it's not what you initially wanted. I also just want to point out, this song reminds me a lot of the style of music I listened to before I discovered Lana in 2012. Jem, Regina Spektor, Inara George.. so in a way, maybe that's what's hitting me - the nostalgia. Either way, for some reason I didn't have the highest expectations for this song for whatever reason, but wow. It's incredible. Those high notes are done so effortlessly too. Another top favourite. Now onto Grandfather... x

Whew. Fingertips is a lot to handle all at once. This is definitely her rawest, most personal, confessional song to date. It's incredible. It's a musical poem, or a page ripped out of a late-night journal entry spilling out all the thoughts overwhelming you at once. There's a lot to unpack, that I'm struggling to find what to say, except for that I'm so incredibly proud of her for being brave enough to share this so boldly with us. Her storytelling will always be unmatched, even when it's non-fiction. In fact, that makes it even better. She's not afraid to hold back anymore. Let it all out, babe. We're listening. Now onto Paris, Texas - another instant favourite from the listening party x

There's a certain point the body can't come back from In one year, we've learned the turn of the mouth The depth that the chest cavity takes Chucky was there for three out of three I was there for the third 'cause I couldn't be There for the one who was closest to me But I can't say I run when things get hard It's just that I don't trust myself with my heart But I've had to let it break a little more 'Cause they say that's what it's for That's how the light shines in That's how the light shines in It's how the light gets in Mhm [Whistling] So, everyone was there, tey were standing, laughing & I'm on the side with my tears streaming down Something about the clutch of the wrist He thought mine was his to cough into his mouth We've only got hours & I just can't stop crying, 'cause all of the ways When you see someone dying, the sea of your days flash in front of you & you think about who will be with you & then there's Donoghue Mhm Daddy, I miss them I'm in the mountains I'm probably running away from the feelings I get When I think all the things about them Daddy, I miss them I'm at the Roadrunner Cafe I'm probably running away from the thoughts and the day That have things to do with them, but they say That's how the light gets in That's how the light gets in That's how the light gets in Think by the third of March, I was cracked open Finally, the ground was cold, they wouldn't open Brought by the sunlight of the spirit to pour into me There's a name for it in Japanese - it's kintsugi They sang folk songs from the '40s even Be-fourteen-year-old new froggy came accordin' How do my blood relatives know all of these songs? I don't know anyone left who knows songs that I sing That’s how the light gets in That’s how the light gets in But, Daddy, I miss them I'm at the Roadrunner Cafe Probably running away from the feelings today In the snow-capped mountains of the desert Daddy, I miss them I'm in the mountains Probably running away, I'm meaning to say That there's nothing to do except know that This is how the light gets in By cracking, the light gets in It's how the light gets in That's how the light gets in That's how the light gets in & you're golden Oh, oh, oh Just another folk song, but hey, I try so hard, but that's okay It's how the light gets in It's how the light gets in It's how the light gets in

Kintsugi is another beautifully delicate track. Her voice in this one is so sweet and youthful, which I think matches beautifully with its meaning. I think the sentiment of this one is really important - sometimes you really have to fall apart to build yourself back together again to a better version of what you are before. This is something I've experienced time & time over, and I come out stronger and more resilient each time. I think this is a message a lot of people will be able to relate to and learn from. Now Fingertips.. a heavy one.. x

The Jon Batiste Interlude works as a great outro to Candy Necklace.. though that first "Oh!" is a bit alarming and definitely scared some people at the listening party (me included) it's so cool to hear a little of the behind-the-scenes process of making the song. I love that she included this for us. Now onto Kintsugi.. x

Oh! Ooh, I feel something right now Here it comes, I can feel it real early I feel it early, I feel it! I feel it early (yeah!) woo hoo hoo I feel it early and I feel it late [Laughing] Oh! Yeah! I feel it I feel it [Laughing] Ah, I feel it heavy Honey, - dancing to the - Ahh Yeah, hah I feel it heavy [Laughing] I feel it, oh, my god [Laughing] Yep Woah, woah Yep Woo, you been one Awh This is amazing (oh, my god) It’s good, it's definitely... Honey Ooh, yes! Honey Ooh, lord Honey Ooh, oh Oh! [Laughing] Oh, I feel it in my soul! [Laughing] I feel it in my soul Oh! I feel it in my soul Early in the morning Early in the morning Ay! Early in the morning Oh! That’s pretty, too, how about that? Oh, early in the morning Yeah, that’s something, isn’t it? Oh, sweet! Sweet, my soul, oh!

Candy Necklace is so stunning. I knew this was going to be an amazing song from the first snippet we ever heard of it, and this is another track that greatly exceeded my expectations which were already high to begin with. To me, it does feel massive. You can hear the passion in her voice build as the song progresses with the production doing the same perfectly in tow. It has jazzy elements, haunting elements, almost unsettling in a way.. but that good kind of discomfort that you crave more of. This was the one I was most excited to hear again after the listening party, and this second listen lived up even better than my memory of it. Another instant favourite. Now to the Jon Batiste Interlude.. x

I wasn't sure really what to expect from the Judah Smith Interlude based on the info we had about it, but it really exceeded my expectations. I found it powerful. It wasn't overly preachy or concerning. I think it's one of those tracks that makes you stop and listen, taking a break away from the music to carry some certain thoughts with you as you continue. I think this was actually a brilliant, artistic addition. Now onto Candy Necklace, one of my favourites from the listening party.. x

Don’t you understand what that means? It means quit lusting after your neighbour That’s a heck of a life! You get to love your children in front of you You get to love - you ever talk to somebody? “I want a new life, I don’t love my wife anymore I don’t love my kids anymore, I’m missing out on -” Like, they’re usually my age Does that sound like love? It’s a life dominated with lust And for too long they’ve been holding it off And finally they just get weak And they say, “it doesn’t matter anymore” And the spirit of God says, “I’ll confuse you with desires With what you have and what’s in front of you” And so, as it works deep in your heart As you call out to him and say “How could you do it to me, man? Help me want what I got Help me love what’s in front of me Help me want more of my wife and more of my friends & help me serve the city I live in & not wish it away and hope I can move Help me, God I wanna be a man of love Not a man of lust” But you gotta do that & so I bring you to this verse and I’m done, I’m done Psalms Chapter 8 & do you know where I got this verse? This is gonna sound crazy to you, but I’m gonna tell you the absolute truth It’s going to make me sound so spiritual, so I’m looking forward to it I woke up this morning and God said, “check the Bible out” I don’t know if it was God, but it felt like God & I had the thought in my head, “check the Bible out” I’ma to speak to you from the verse of the day That means I don’t have to do anything I don’t have to look anywhere Just look at the verse of the day So, I get to the verse of the day & here’s the verse of the day, today, in the Bible Look at this “Look at the splendour of the skies Your creative genius glowing in the heavens When I ga- when I gaze at your moon and your stars Mounted like jewels in their setting I know you are the fascinating artist who fashioned it all! When I look up and I see such wonder and workmanship above “I have to ask this question I’ve gotta ask this question Compared to all this cosmic glory “Why would you ever bother with puny, mortal man, or being?” Ooh, don’t get me started I can reach over Adam while infatuated Or be infatuted with Adam’s son Why are you so infatuted with me? You’re the star breeder, you’re the ocean maker You’re the whale creator, you’re the rhino designer Who do you think you are? You, man And, and then it goes on in Verse 5, and it says, “Yet what honor you have given to me Created only a little lower than Elohim Which is the name of creator God Artist God You wanna call God an artist? At some point tonight before you go to bed, go “Yo, Elohim!,” and he’ll hear, “You’re the best artist ever!” Below Elohim, crowned like kings and queens with glory and magnificence You have delighted, you have delegated to them Mastery over all you have made You’ve made me a partner with you I used to think my preaching was mostly about you & you’re not gonna like this, but I’m gonna tell you the truth I’ve discovered my preaching is mostly about me

A&W is truly a masterpiece. One of the best works of art she's ever created. It just contains so much. Who knew a song could make me dance, cry, contemplate, reminisce, and every other emotion in between all at once?? Songs like this prove that Lana is truly a genius and unlike any other artist. An instant fave I can see ranking among my top favourite Lana songs until the end of time. Now onto the first interlude, Judah Smith.. x

The Wait for Life melody sample in Sweet amazed me. That's one of my favourite melodies, and I'm glad she held onto it and gave it a nod in this song. Delicate, sweet, beautiful, a classic Lana ballad track. Now onto the iconic A&W that I've already listened to 120 times this year already, but still hasn't gotten old.. x

Stars in my eyes, hiking up Griffith Thinking about who was sad And what didn’t get said in the midwest Wish I could tell you now I wrote you a note, but I didn’t send it ‘Cause that's the best method The women here taught me about What you don’t really understand I’ve got magic in my hand, stars in my eyes I’m a different kind of woman If you want some basic bitch, go to the Beverly Center and find her I’m sweet Barefeet If you wanna go where nobody goes, that’s where you’ll find me In the sweet North Country If I’m not there, come to my house on Genesee What'cha doin’ with your life, do you think about it? Do you contemplate where we came from? Lately, we’ve been making out a lot, not talking ‘bout the stuff that’s at the Very heart of things Do you want children? Do you wanna marry me? Do you wanna run marathons in Long Beach by the sea? I’ve got things to do like nothing at all, I wanna do them with you Do you wanna do them with me? If you want someone, then just call me up and remember where I’ll be Sweet in bare feet You can find me where no one will be In the woods somewhere In the northern heart of the valley In the sweet North Country If I’m not there, come to my house on Genesee

I shared it here before in more detail during the Pre-Release, but I formed such a core memory with the title track that I'll always carry with me. In short, I gained the news of three deaths within 24 hours just days after the song's release, one of which being my dear friend Candy that I had met through the Lana community that passed on the day of the song's release, a man in a car accident I was stuck behind in an Uber with my girl while we were blasting this song on repeat waiting for the traffic to clear, and the death of my friend's husband when I signed onto Facebook for the first time in years to attend Candy's livestream funeral. It was very overwhelming, and re-listening to this song floods me with the same emotions I had within that 24-hour span. I felt like those 3 people were very clearly trying to tell me not to forget them before I even knew they were gone. Their message was received loud and clear, and I'll never forget hour span. I'll always think of those three while listening to this song. Such an emotive song. Onto Sweet, my first new track from the record!! (aside from my initial listening party listen) x

Ugh, The Grants is such a sweet and touching track. Such a beautiful sentiment dedicated to her family & their lives. Onto the title track next, which never fails to floor me x

One, two, ready... x

The time has come... Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd - Post-Release Thread

After over 4500 pages of discussion between the Pre-Pre-Release & Pre-Release threads, the time has come... March 24th, 2023: Lana Del Rey's 9th album 'Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd' has been released worldwide. Tracklist: 1. The Grants 2. Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd 3. Sweet 4. AW 5. Judah Smith Interlude 6. Candy Necklace (feat. Jon Batiste) 7. Jon Batiste Interlude 8. Kintsugi 9. Fingertips 10. Paris, Texas (feat. SYML) 11. Grandfather Please Stand On The Shoulders Of My Father While He’s Deep-Sea Fishing 12. Let The Light In (feat. Father John Misty) 13. Margaret (feat. Bleachers) 14. Fishtail 15. Peppers (feat. Tommy Genesis) 16. Taco Truck x VB Share your thoughts on the new record below! Merch & Media Thread DYKTTATUOB Lyrics Section Album Photoshoot Thread Album Artwork Thread Read the Pre-Release Thread Read the Pre-Pre-Release Thread

The final few seconds... here we go... x