LANALYSIS: Relating Songs To Known/Assumed Relationships

[Valentino 887]

  On 10/2/2012 at 5:32 AM, SitarHero said:

What if it was a Diet MTN Dew demo, but recorded with the Phenomena?!

 

Thanks

 

Indulge this theory for a second, please, I'm feeling pretty good about it:

 

Lana has gone on record saying that her first three singles--"Video Games", "Born to Die", and "Blue Jeans"--are a trilogy. As a fanbase, it's our job to read really far into this. A safe point to jump to is that these songs are a trilogy in the sense that they're all about the same love story. I readily accepted this for a while and assigned this trilogy to her criminal love story, K. "Blue Jeans" has the most detail of any of these three songs, specifically relating back to "For K", so this as a logical jump of intuition. But if you think about it, really think about it, these songs don't have any particular details in common. Sure, they're all mournful. But it ends there.

 

Just recently, some stalkers insiders made it vaguely apparent that they were positive "Video Games" is about Mike Mizrahi. Mike's story doesn't cohesively fit with the mysterious K's, so we're all left in the dust of that trilogy theory. But that's how Lana herself described it--a trilogy. So what if these three songs aren't a trilogy in the sense that they all connect back to one guy, but that they connect to three separate things she holds dear. For instance, what if this trilogy is about the three most important loves of her life?

 

It makes sense, doesn't it? She cast Bradley Soileau in "Born to Die" based on his appearance, which bears some striking similarities to Jimmy Gnecco's. And just reading this thread, it's impossible not to get the sense that these were Lana's most important relationships--held above Bill and possibly Chris and whoever she dated as a teenager. "Video Games" being about Mike, "Born to Die" being about Jimmy, and "Blue Jeans" being about K.

 

Problems with this:

- Born to Die. Very K, right? Wrong. Who's to say that she means die in the literal sense? She sings last thing I saw before I died, and lo and behold, she's not dead.

- Bradley Soileau, the model equivalent of Jimmy Gnecco, is also in "Blue Jeans". So that song must be about Jimmy, right? Wrong. See, she was already in a professional relationship with Bradley at that point, and maybe even a less-than-professional one. People were fascinated with his image. Business-wise, casting Bradley was a natural move. She originally cast him for "Born to Die" based on his looks--but did she ever say the same for the decision in "Blue Jeans"? As far as I know, the answer is no.

 

Shower me with praise or comments.

 

I'm on page 5 (this is my second time re-reading this monstrous thread!) and I wanted to note something about BTD before the idea got away from me.

 

Note: Really long and will probably get longer!

 

 

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Born To Die, to me, definitely has references to K which tie into Dark

Paradise, Body Electric, and even Young & Beautiful (supposedly written

~for Gatsby~ but we know Lana likes to shoehorn her experiences whenever she can ).

 

Feet don't fail me now

Take me to the finish line

All

my heart, it breaks every step that I take

But I'm hoping at the

gates,

They'll tell me that you're mine

 

Definitely a reference to death and it ties into Dark Paradise and Young

& Beautiful - I'm hoping when I die, I'll be reunited with you in heaven.

K's supposedly dead or on death row, so unlike every other past relationship it

is impossible for her to ever get back with him.

 

I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other

side. - Dark Paradise

 

Dear Lord, when I get to heaven, please let me take my man.

When he comes, tell me that you'll let him in [...] - Young & Beautiful

 

The Y&B verse is interesting because she's worried that he won't

get in. Same with Dark Paradise. BTD is subtler about it - she's hoping

they'll tell her he's there. Now if he's a good guy, why wouldn't he be in

heaven? Because he's sinned. He killed two men!

 

From For K:

 

It was a drive-by Sunday night [...]

He was a nice guy, really bright

making money's hard to do right.

[...] K's a friend of mine

[...] Double homicide.

 

 

She's justifying his crime, saying he did it because he had no choice. Still,

she knows that double homicide counts as, you know, a sin, and she's hoping the

Lord will forgive him so she can be reunited with him.

 

Walking through the city streets

Is it by mistake or

design?

I feel so alone on a Friday night

Can you make it

feel like home, if I tell you you're mine

It's like I told you

honey

 

Body Electric: We get down every Friday night, dancing and

grinding in the pale moonlight/We get crazy every Friday night, drop it like

it's hot in the pale moonlight. 

 

Not sure if this is generic, a reference to K,

or to another guy, but - and this is a stretch - perhaps she's alone

on specifically Friday nights because she remembers the stuff she used to

do with K that she can't do ever again because he's dead (my clothes still smell

like you, and all the photographs say you're still young).

 

 

Off to the Races is said to be about a guy who was good at gambling and she'd

just chill by the pool while he watched. Perhaps this gives some insight into

who K was and what he did?

 

My old man is a bad

man

[...]

 

He loves me with every beat of his cocaine

heart

 

K's older than her, a father figure, and he's a bad guy - although by

this time he hadn't been arrested, he's probably done this type of thing before

and just never gotten caught. Drug dealer reference, although is he selling or

using?

 

Light of my life, fire in my loins

Be a good baby,

do what I want

Light of my life, fire in my loins

Gimme

them gold coins

Gimme them coins

 

This is a stretch, but "be a good baby" could be a double meaning

interpreted as "don't be a morally bad person." "Gold coins" referring to his

wealth.

 

And I'm off to the races, races

Up Bacardi chases

Chasing me

all over town

Cause he knows I'm wasted, facing

Time again at

Riker's,

Island and I won't get out

 

She won't get out? Why? K's the one killing people!

 

My old man is, a tough man

But he got a soul as sweet as

blood red jam

And he shows me, he knows me every inch of my

tar black soul

 

Once again, justifying him. He's tough but he's really a nice guy

underneath it all. And there's that tar black soul. What has she done?

 

My old man is a thief, and

I'm gonna stay and

pray with him til the end

But I trust in the

decision of the Lord,

To watch over us

Take him when he

may, if he may

I'm not afraid to say

That I'd die without

him

Who else is gonna put up with me this way

I need you, I

breathe you, I'll never leave you

They would rue the day, I was alone without

you

 

Thief, adding another dimension to K's criminality. More religious

referenecs, trusting in the Lord, which ties back to the whole she's hoping that

K will be in heaven - she believes God does things for a reason and it would

break her heart to know she was wrong about why he took him.

 

And we're off to the races, places

Ready set the gate is,

down

And then we're going in

To las vegas, pay

us

Cause you know we'll race this

Honey it is time to spit

(??????)

Boy you're so crazy, baby

I love you forever

Not

maybe

You are my one true love

You are my one true

love

 

She's pretty clear that this guy is the most important guy. He must be

for her to ignore, you know, murder.

 

BLUE JEANS:

You were sorta punk rock, I grew up on

hip hop

 

We've been confused about the consistent musical

references in songs that seem to fit K. Here's another one. Blue Jeans is a

strong contender for K, but we get this... perhaps before he was a big-time

gangster he played in a band?

 

That love is mean, and love

hurts

 

Bad guy bla bla bla.

 

 But I still remember that day we met in December, oh

baby!

 

Timeline?

 

I will love you till the end of

time

I would wait a million years

Promise you'll

remember that you're mine

Baby can you see through the

tears?

Love you more than those bitches before

Say you'll

remember, oh baby, say you'll remember

 

 She'll wait... until the end of time... fits into the

whole waiting to die thing to see him in heaven~ and she's hoping he'll remember

her in heaven.

 

 Big dreams, gangsta

Said you had to

leave to start your life over

I was like - no please, stay

here, we don't need no money, we could make it all

work

 

Making money's hard to do right - post-facto

justification. Clearly at the time she was telling him not to go.

 

 You went out every night

And baby that's alright

I

told you that no matter what you did I'd be by your side

 

'Cause imma or die

Whether you fail or fly

Well

shit at least you tried

But when you walked out that door a piece of me

died

Told you I wanted more, but that's not what I had in mind

Just want

it like before

We were dancin' all night

Then

they took you away, stole you out of my life

You just need

to remember...

 

!!! Dancing! Every Friday night perhaps? And what other love

fits into the "they took you away" narrative? He was taken by the law.

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM:

 

Money is the anthem,

Of success.

So before we go

out,

What's your address?

 

I'm your national anthem,

God, you're so

handsome,

Take me to the Hamptons,

Bugatti

Veyron.

 

Rich guy taking her places. We don't know how rich K

would have been, but can any of her other guys buy Bugatti

Veyron?

 

He says to "be cool" but,

I don't know

how yet.

Wind in my hair,

Hand on the back of my neck.

I said,

"Can we party later on?"

He said, "Yes, yes."

(Yes.)

 

She was still making dorky guitar music before she met

him and he inspired her to go down a different path?

 

More party references.

 

Money is the reason

We exist.

Everybody

knows it,

It's a fact.

Kiss, kiss.

 

Making money's still hard to do by and it's the reason we

exist! A sarcastic jab at the catalyst for K's last hurrah?

 

You said to "be cool" but,

I'm already

coolest.

I said to "get real",

Don't you know who you're dealing

with?

Um do you think you'll buy me lots of

diamonds?

(Yes, of course I will my darling)

 

$$$

 

It's a love story for the new

age,

For the six page,

Want a quick, sick

rampage?

Wining and dining, drinking and

driving,

Excessive buying, overdosin',

dyin',

On our drugs and our love,

And our dreams

and our rage.

Blurring the lines,

Between real and the fake.

Dark and

lonely,

I need somebody to hold me.

 

Lana once said something along the lines of the new

American dream being mafiosi and gangsters. This is her love story for the new

American dream, and she's the national anthem for this new generation. Money is

the anthem.

 

We will do very well,

I can tell, I can

tell,

Keep my safe in his bell, Tower, hotel.

 

MORE MONIES

 

CARMEN:

She's still shining Like lightning

 

Variation on the "I'm feeling electric" line.

 

Mon amour, je sais que tu m'aimes aussi

Tu as besoin de moi

Tu as besoin de moi dans ta vie

Tu ne peux plus vivre sans moi

Et je mourrais sans toi

Je tuerais pour toi

 

[translation: My love, I know you love me too. You need me. You need me in your life. You can't live anymore without you, and I would die without you. I would kill for you.]

 

The "I'd kill for you" part is pretty damning. Remember OTTR? Tar black soul, time on Riker's Island? Lana hasn't ever been in prison that we know of, but clearly she was harboring violent thoughts about protecting a guy. Mon amour relates to Bel Air later.

 

MILLION DOLLAR MAN:

You said I was the most

exotic flower

Hold me tight in our final

hour

 

Stretch - final hour before he went out on his

fateful driveby?

 

I don't know how you convince them and get

them, boy

I don't know what you do, it's unbelievable

I don't

know how you get over, get over

Someone as dangerous, tainted and

flawed as you

 

While she's definitely had bad influence boyfriendss, none

can truly be said to be dangerous like a murderer. In

addition, if he is a gangster, it's likely he would have had to have been very

manipulative and charming. She's socially awkward and shy, so she's stunned by

his ease with people.

 

One for the money, two for the show

I love

you honey, I'm ready, I'm ready to go

How did you get that way?

I don't know

You're screwed up and

brilliant,

You look like a million dollar man,

So why is my heart

broke?

 

Why are you a gangster when you're a "nice guy,

really bright?" Oh, and million dollar man = yet another money reference.

 

It isn't that hard boy,

to like you or love you

I'd follow you down

down down,

You're unbelievable

If you're going

crazy just grab me and take me

I'd follow you down down, anywhere

anywhere

 

Charming type. She'd follow him down (I will

love you till the end of time). Going crazy - perhaps he was getting desperate

(we don't need no money/making money's hard to do right?).

 

SUMMERTIME SADNESS

Kiss me hard before you go

Summertime sadness

I just wanted you to know

That, baby, you're the best

 

Her last moment with him. Post-arrest, perhaps, after his conviction. Maybe this happened in the Summer?

 

I got my red dress on tonight

Dancing in the dark in the pale moonlight

Done my hair up real big beauty queen style

High heels off, I'm feeling alive

 

More dance references. Also that red dress, which shows up in other songs (Carmen, National Anthem, American).

 

Oh, my God, I feel it in the air

Telephone wires above are sizzling like a snare

Honey, I'm on fire, I feel it everywhere

Nothing scares me anymore

 

From Body Electric: I'm on fire, baby I'm on fire. Not sure how to interpret this yet.

 

I'm feelin' electric tonight

Cruising down the coast goin' 'bout 99

Got my bad baby by my heavenly side

I know if I go, I'll die happy tonight

 

But does she sing the body electric?

Bad baby = K, heavenly side = more heaven references.

If she dies, she'll be happy because she won't have to bear being away from him.

 

I think I'll miss you forever

Like the stars miss the sun in the morning sky

Later's better than never

Even if you're gone I'm gonna drive (drive, drive)

 

More references to leaving.

 

WITHOUT YOU:

Hello? Hello?

C-can you hear me?

 

Possibly a reference to "you just need to remember" from Blue Jeans.

 

I can be your china doll

If you want to see me fall.

Boy, you're so dope,

Your love is deadly.

 

Dangerous guy who's easy to get attached to. And you know, the literal deadly part.

 

Summertime is nice and hot,

And my life is sweet like vanilla is.

Gold and silver line my heart

But burned into my brain are these stolen images,

Stolen images, baby, stolen images.

Can you picture it,

Babe, the life we could've lived?

 

Summertime is a time when you're supposed to be happy but all she can think of is her summertime sadness.

Stolen images = the opportunities she could have had with K that were stolen by the law.

The life we could have lived ties into Bel Air later.

 

We were two kids, just tryin' to get out,

Live on the dark side of the American dream.

We would dance all night, play our music loud,

When we grew up nothing was what it seemed.

 

This is interesting because it counters the whole K is older thing. Two kids? Maybe she's looking back and realizing that K wasn't as resolute and sure as she thought he was? Peeling away her romanticization? Talking about someone else entirely?

 

Dark side of the American dream = love story for the new age.

 

More dancing references and some music stuff.

 

LUCKY ONES:

Let's get out of this town, baby we're on fire

Everyone around here seems to be going down, down

If you stick with me, I can take you higher, and higher

It feels like all of our friends are lost

Nobody's found, found, found

 

More "on fire" references. Girl needs a miniature fire extinguisher on her at all times.

 

This reminds me of Video Games: watching all our friends fall. I don't consider VG a K song, but it's interesting in this light to see how they compare.

 

I got so scared, I thought no one could save me

You came along scooped me up like a baby

 

She loves this type of line. "like a child/baby" shows up in two other songs (American: spin me round like a child, Y&B: the way you'd play with me like a child).

 

Every now and then the stars align

Boy and girl meet by the great design

 

This isn't a chance meeting - this is true love and God planned it (BTD questions this: "is it by mistake or design?")

 

Everybody told me love was blind

Then I saw your face and you blew my mind

Finally, you and me are the lucky ones this time

 

He's hot.

 

Boy get into my car, got a bad desire

 

Would you say it's a burning desire? 

 

You know that we'll never leave if we don't get out, now, now

You're a careless con, and you're a crazy liar

But baby, nobody can compare to the way you get down, down, down

 

Back to Without You: two kids just trying to get out.

 

Careless con and crazy liar definitely points at K. Charming and manipulative.

 

AMERICAN:

Everybody wants to go fast, but they can't compare

I don't really want the rest, only you can take me there

I don't even know what I'm saying, but I'm praying for you

 

The rest of this song is disturbingly nonspecific, making it hard to pin down. The "like an American" line could point to Scottish Barrie, who acts, well, like an American. This line, however, could also be interpreted as "like a (real) American" - that is, he acts like her version of an American, which could apply to someone of American nationality. Lana, you and your ambiguities!

 

Elvis, Springsteen, Crystal Method - lots of musical references. "Play house" is super childish.

 

Praying for you is the trigger for K - she has no reason to pray for her others because they haven't done something as comparably awful as K has. There are lots of fake gangsters, but K is the real deal - the others "can't compare."

 

BODY ELECTRIC:

 

I've mentioned this song a lot, so I'll point to the one thing I haven't mentioned so far.

 

Heaven is my baby, suicide's the father - opulence is the end.

 

Another one of her cryptic X is my y, Z is my father, A is b. With reference to all the talk of heaven and the rest of the song, it could mean she has contemplated suicide to reach a life of opulence with K in heaven. But she hasn't done it, of course, because suicide is prohibited, so she wouldn't end up in heaven! "Feet don't fail me now, take me to the finish line." She needs to do this legitimately if she wants to ever see K again.

 

GODS & MONSTERS:

Me and God, we don't get along so now I sing

 

[...] You got that medicine I need

Dope, shoot it up, straight to the heart please

I don't really wanna know what's good for me

God's dead, I said 'baby that's alright with me'

 

 

Off to the Races: "But I trust in the decision of the Lord to [...] take him when he may." Guess she wasn't as prepared as she thought she was.

 

BEL AIR:

Gargoyles standing at the front of your gate.

Trying to tell me to wait,

But I can’t wait to see you.

 

BTD: "I'm hoping at the gate they'll tell me that you're mine."

She's waited this long and ain't no freaking gargoyles gonna tell her to be patient.

 

So I run like I'm mad to heaven's door.

I don't wanna be bad,

I won't cheat you no more.

 

She doesn't want the bad gangster life anymore and she doesn't want to date other guys. She wants eternal bliss with K.

 

Roses, Bel Air, take me there,

I've been waiting to meet you.

Palm trees in the light,

I can sleep late at night

Darling, I'm waiting to greet you,

Come to me, baby.

 

K's dead and (hopefully) in heaven and now she can see him.

 

Spotlight, bad baby, you've got a flair

For the violentest kind of love anywhere out there

 

Violent bad baby pointing to the baddest, "violentest" dude we know of.

 

Mon amour, sweet child of mine,

You're divine.

 

Carmen's French monologue.

Divine - "got my bad baby by my heavenly side." "Boy and girl meet by the great design."

 

BURNING DESIRE:

Every Saturday night I seem to come alive for you, baby

Santa Monica, I'm racing in the lights for you, baby

I drive fast, radio blares, have to touch myself to pretend you're there

Your hands were on my hips, your name is on my lips

Over over again, like my only prayer

(Come on, tell me boy)

 

While not a Friday night (those might be too painful?), it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to relate this to her partying days. Touch myself to pretend you're there because he's not there and he will never be there again.

 

Hands were on her hips but they're not anymore, but she still remembers his name (funny how she won't reveal it to us  ).

 

Prayer for K to get into heaven so they can be in ~bel air~ and bla.

 

Now for Sirens + AKA.

 

 

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On a couple of songs, she uses a faux-Southern style of speaking ("my momma would say you was," "won't you gonna miss me"). These songs tend to be about K. Lana grew up in a wealthy suburban home in the Northeast, so there really is no way this is her actually speaking like this. Is she imitating his style of speaking? Her mystery time in the South?

 

 

MY MOMMA

My momma wouldn’t say you were a nice guy

But you’re under 40 and you have a job

My momma wouldn’t say you was a good boy

But you’re making money

 

Her mother thinks this guy is sketchy as all hell, but Lana thinks that he's under 40 and makes money should be enough to get him past the mom-dar. Under 40 could give us a range for K's real age.

 

My momma she would tell your hair was too long

But your hair exactly’s what I like the best

And my momma she would say you was a hoodlum

But I don’t know the hoodlum and you don’t pass the test

 

"The way your hair come down and make you look older..."

Hoodlum = guy who makes trouble.

 

So maybe you got your own problems

Who doesn’t?

I’m crazy, you’re addicted, we’re all of a sudden

 

A drug dealer who's addicted to the stuff he's selling isn't a good combo... 

 

Don’t let my momma hear your pretty song

 

Playing at show in Y&B, and the music references in For K Part 2.

 

BAD DISEASE

Well there's something about

Watching a crime

That makes me want to go out

And make it all mine

 

She has been witness to "crimes" K has committed and they make her want to go out and do them ("they would rue the day I was alone without you," "je tuerais pour toi").

 

There's something about

Seeing him die

That puts it all into perspective and I

Want to stay home

Be Left alone

Someone make my mind up

So I don't have to decide

 

Seeing whom die? The victim? But just earlier she was all about doing the crime! At the end, she says "not even you," which sounds like it could be addressed to the guy committing the crime, K. Perhaps "seeing him die" refers to K? It wouldn't make sense with the last line, though.

 

OUT WITH A BANG

I'll do what you tell me, we can have it your way

I'll tell you the future, you tell me your story

 

Who else in her backlog has as much of a story as K?

 

WESTBOUND

I ask about

So many of my friends

Oh about their ends

 

The recurring "my friends are going down" thing that is related to K.

 

You like to write about all of your problems

The ..songs because you think it was often

 

Why did you go

Why did you unknown

Maybe my question is

Why must I come to this

You talk about being strong yeah

How I wanna be you and your melody

 

"Is this what you wished, to leave me behind?"

 

Your melody - the one in For K Part 2 and Dark Paradise, perhaps.

 

You’re such a bad bad boy

I love you anyway

No matter what what they say

You were not approved

 

Typical description of K.

 

TRY TONIGHT

Cliches find a home inside of him

When he enters all of the lights go dim

He's so sure he's got a tragic lifestyle

And I'm so sure I can make that man smile

 

The "kid just trying to get out" has achieved his goal of living on the dark side and even views himself as a tragic figure. Ironic.

 

PRETTY BABY

My mean daddy, my bad baby 

Don't you want me 

I don't believe you, when you say you 

Want to leave 

 

K-type description.

At some point he wanted to leave the relationship... or perhaps leave to find another moneymaking venture.

 

FIND MY OWN WAY

Now I'll start my worrying

When will I learn that there ain’t nothing I can do

Jesus was a dying man

If he can't do it, no one can

When will you learn that we ain't nothing without you

 

"I'm in love with a dying man." Dealing with the news of his impending death.

 

I'll find my own way back to town

Oh, no, you tell me how I need to be

That ain't up to anybody else but me

And I don't care what you think

 

Rebuilding her identity after K, rejecting him for abandoning her.

 

KILL KILL

Bound up the stairs

I'm in the shower

Do you know I am going to leave you?

 

The slice of life first two lines remind me of For K (Most of us were in bed, all right, I turned down the light).

The bolded line, though, is hard to explain if you take this as a K song. She's spent all of BTD scared she'll never see this guy in heaven and angry at the law and God and here she's saying she's leaving him? Is this a metaphor? Poor grasp of English language (leave implies choice, but maybe she meant something along the lines of "I'll be taken away from you")? I really don't know.

 

I'm in love with a dying man

 

Do I need to explain this?

 

All our love's flying in the sand

 

The original title of Kill Kill was The Ocean (and another title: Florida Dark, relating to her time in the South?). Dark Paradise: I'm lying in the ocean, singing your song.

 

I have done everything I can

 

What have you done, Lana? You didn't kill anyone like you said you would in Carmen. You said they'd rue the day they took him away. You weren't prepared emotionally because you said you trusted God and then said "lolno." What is this?

 

Tell me about Brian and his girl

Do I know, Brian is going to meet you?

Love you, I do

Stay here, I won't

As stars fade from your eyes

 

Brian? I always heard it as Ray. The plot thickens. And who is Brian and why is "his girl" relevant? Do you know if he's going to meet you? Only you know, Lana, why are you asking the listener? And why won't you stay?

 

As stars fade from your eyes sounds like she's either watching him die or he's a shell of his former self. Interpret that as you will.

 

Want to

Make it fun

Don't trust

Anyone

 

Party time in the first two lines... but the last two, don't trust anyone? Who shouldn't we trust? The guy in Kill Kill? Brian? Did Brian inform the cops about the driveby Sunday night? Maybe we shouldn't trust either one? Don't trust yourself? I don't even.

 

FOR K PART 2:

Although this one is officially titled For K Part 2 (part 1 is debated between the first track of Sirens and the one currently titled Pretty Baby), it's been hard to reconcile with K due to the music references. One def K track, Blue Jeans, mentions he was into punk rock, and Y&B, which is probably liberally based off the K story, mentions that he'd "play for her at his show."

 

All right, you got me, I don't play a good guitar

But what do want from me, it's just a stupid bar

I didn't promise anything, no

 

Guitar is a principal instrument in punk rock. Perhaps she was trying to impress this attractive man (whose face blew her mind) with her meager guitar skills.

 

You think I'm pretty and you like way I talk

I like your music and you like the way I walk

So, I think we're going get along

 

Music was the first thing that attracted her to him.

 

I like the way you wear your sweater off your shoulder

The way your hair comes down and makes you look older

How are you getting so handsome, my boy?

 

We've been thinking K is a older man, but her lyrics are contradictory. Without You says "we were two kids," but Body Electric says "all the photographs say you're still young," implying that the last time Lana saw K he was looking older and haggard. Building upon the Without You theory, perhaps he was older than Lana (not by much) but had a style, confidence, and perhaps even look (older than his age) that made him seem older than he was.

 

Pretty baby

Pretty baby

 

He's hot. Lucky Ones confirms this.

 

The way your face is shaped, I wonder if you know

The way you stand up and your silhouette glows

I'm electrified, I'll be up all night now

 

Feeling electric and singing the body electric too. This guy makes her feel all kinds of funky things.

 

Use that voice, sing that song

 

SUPER stretch, but could this be the Dark Paradise song she sings? Probably not, but the choice of "that" to qualify "song" implies it's a song she already knows. It could also be a colloquial term for encouragement, a la "shake that ass!"

 

JUMP

Palm trees in black and white

Last thing I saw before I died

Right line, right man

Right mixture of cocaine and heroin

 

Bel Air has "palm trees in the light" and it's basically heaven. Near-death experience from OD-ing on cocaine and heroin (courtesy of K???).

 

Do you wanna jump, jump, jump?

Do you, do you wanna?

 

Notable difference in attitude from Blue Jeans. She was very cautious in Blue Jeans (we don't need no money, we can make it all work), probably because she knew the situation was getting bad (if you're going crazy, just grab me and take me). Here she's much more reckless, indicating this was early in her relationship with K.

 

Hair thin and in the wind

Cadillac convertible with him

Hot shot at two A.M.

You got that grin of a very old man

 

"Wind in my hair" from National Anthem.

Hot shot just seems like a good word to describe K, but it's a personal connection.

Grin of a very old man implies he's not actually a very old man, but a younger guy. Fits into the theory that K wasn't as old as she made him out to be.

 

Palm trees in black and white

You are a junkie on your window smiling wide

Palm trees in black and white

Lean forward and you close your eyes

Last fight, fuck them

Last words before you went under again

 

The idea of going out in a fight here is treated with disregard as opposed to despair in Blue Jeans.

 

Just do what you love, just do what you can

Just do what you love, do it better than

 

No regard for the future.

 

MERMAID MOTEL

I do not consider this a "K song," but there are some suspicious elements.

 

Maybe we could go to Coney Island

Maybe I could sing the national anthem

I, a white sweater, for the last white day

Of the summer

 

Related to National Anthem and Summertime Sadness (last white day being the last happy day of the summer).

 

Maybe we could go to Suede Tokyo

Or see Van Halen at their reunion show

Heavy metal hour on T.V.

Diamond Dave and Ray late

And you salute me, Miss America

Because I am, I am

 

Van Halen and heavy metal hour sound like something a punk rocker might enjoy. But it could easily fit her other boyfriends as well, so it's far from conclusive.

 

She's miss America, love story for the new age, dark side of the American dream, badfadkvnhadj. She's still treating it very romantically as opposed to melancholically in Without You and cynically in National Anthem.

 

Maybe we could go to Coney Island

Maybe I could sing you to sleep

God bless the universe, god bless the ocean

God bless you and god bless me

 

The ocean is associated with K for unknown reasons (Dark Paradise, Kill Kill). God bless you could be a reference to his activities, which she knows get him into a lot of trouble, but it's more likely her just saying stuff that sounds pretty to her. Still, I'm cataloging every possible K reference so for the sake of completion I'll leave it here.

 

PAWN SHOP BLUES:

Well, I didn't know it would come to this

But that's what happens when you're on your own

And you're alright letting nice things go

 

Post-K.

 

Well, I pawned the earrings that you gave me

Gold and made of flowers dangling

And I almost cried as I sold them all

I don't mind living on bread and oranges, no no

But I gotta get to and from where I come

And it's gonna take money to go

 

An ironic echo of "making money's hard to do right" and "we don't need no money." She needs to sell the earrings K bought her with his bLoOd mOnEy to get her own money to keep up her style of life.

 

In the name of higher consciousness

I let the best man I knew go

'Cause it's nice to love and be loved

But it's better to know all you can know

I said it's nice to love and be loved

But I'd rather know what God knows

 

Is this the Kill Kill reference? "Do you know that I am going to leave you?" She left him because he was... keeping her from spiritual awakening?

 

There are a couple of tenuous references that only make sense when tied with other tenuous references (the "beat me" line from Smarty relating to "hit me and tell me you're mine" from D. MTN D) and there's enough speculation here without going into full out insanity.

 

[EDIT: wow that was a formatting fail!!!

EDIT 2: Finished BTD and Paradise]

[fruitpunchlips 823]

Backfire could possibly be about Reeve. In "Love Me Chase Me" (...that's a song of his) there's two lines that match up with Backfire "I'm a jumper" and "change me", compared to Backfire's "We got a jumper" and "I thought that I could change you like the others"    he really doesn't seem like the ~crazy~ type though

[lola 6,651]

reeve is such a qt but he's definitely not a badass

 

and omg look at this love square

[Atom Heart 1,931]

Wait I may be completely stupid and way off but is Diet Mountain Dew written partially in Lana's perspective and the other perspective is her boyfriend/K?

[Trash Magic 28,674]

  On 9/18/2013 at 8:55 PM, fruitpunchlips said:

Backfire could possibly be about Reeve. In "Love Me Chase Me" (...that's a song of his) there's two lines that match up with Backfire "I'm a jumper" and "change me", compared to Backfire's "We got a jumper" and "I thought that I could change you like the others"    he really doesn't seem like the ~crazy~ type though

omg i finally understand the jumper lyric

[onetruelove 53]

Hold up guys I figured out one Lana mystery. Lana didn't change the Mr./Mrs. Campbell story. Mr. C didn't turn in to a woman. He just had a wife. She fucked Mr. C & was "friends" with Mrs. C. "I know your wife & she wouldn't mind" from Cola is about Mr. C.

 

Mystery solved.

 

 

  Reveal hidden contents

  

 

[evilentity 13,358]

  On 9/19/2013 at 7:48 PM, clarissesuxx said:

Hold up guys I figured out one Lana mystery. Lana didn't change the Mr./Mrs. Campbell story. Mr. C didn't turn in to a woman. He just had a wife. She fucked Mr. C & was "friends" with Mrs. C. "I know your wife & she wouldn't mind" from Cola is about Mr. C.

Dunno if you were being serious or not, but nah, she says "He was a white English teacher... He played Biggie Smalls for me in his car" in one interview and "I heard Biggie Smalls... My best friend was my teacher, she’s still my best friend now, and she played all that stuff to me" in an interview just days later. She just lyin'.

[lola 6,651]

is born to die about the death of a relationship or actual death? i've never been sure about this because imo the songs sound more like it's about a relationship that was destined to die from the beginning but i think when asked about the song she said something about being shocked by human mortality as a child...

[DUKE 2,531]

  On 9/20/2013 at 1:08 PM, lola said:

is born to die about the death of a relationship or actual death? i've never been sure about this because imo the songs sound more like it's about a relationship that was destined to die from the beginning but i think when asked about the song she said something about being shocked by human mortality as a child...

At least from what I understand, the song is about living despite mortality and giving in to love's devouring powers, if that makes any sense in a non-poetic way. The way I see it, "she" is rather longing for love, as in being in a relationship, instead of already receiving it. But I agree, this song is pretty cryptical. 

 

I believe her lyric clustering is relatively evident here. I don't mean to accuse her of throwing in a couple of pointless phrases that don't mean anything but sound nice, but it might be that way. She seems to be taking a little bit from here, a little bit from there, and mixes everything into one cluster of lyrics.  

[Faded Heart 66]

I love reading this topic, I only started on Friday and haven't finished yet 

 

Well done to all you super sleuths  

[TrailerParkDarling 5,708]

hey yall, bradley in 2007

 

 

 

http://mugshots.com/US-Counties/Florida/Duval-County-City-of-Jacksonville-FL/Bradley-C-Cabaness-Soileau.1880960/details/

 

i'm sorry but them listing his tattoos makes me choke

 

"

TATTOO RIGHT LEG VAGINA W/ FIST & WINGS

 " 

 

in more relevant news, he was arrested in 2011 for domestic charges. I wonder if that has any part of bel air 'bad baby, you've got a flair, for the violent-est kind of love anywhere out there"

[lola 6,651]

  On 9/23/2013 at 5:18 AM, TrailerParkDarling said:

hey yall, bradley in 2007

 

 

http://mugshots.com/US-Counties/Florida/Duval-County-City-of-Jacksonville-FL/Bradley-C-Cabaness-Soileau.1880960/details/

 

i'm sorry but them listing his tattoos makes me choke

 

"

TATTOO RIGHT LEG VAGINA W/ FIST & WINGS

 " 

 

in more relevant news, he was arrested in 2011 for domestic charges. I wonder if that has any part of bel air 'bad baby, you've got a flair, for the violent-est kind of love anywhere out there"

soo did he rly go to jail? i can totally imagine him & porcelain having violent fights tbh

[Philomene 928]

He's totally Lana's type.

[Summersault 825]

57 kg though. Either he's more scrawny than I thought or he was seriously poor/on meth at the time. 

[lola 6,651]

  On 9/23/2013 at 2:58 PM, GSH said:

57 kg though. Either he's more scrawny than I thought or he was seriously poor/on meth at the time. 

jul 2005: 180lbs http://www.justmugshots.com/florida/duval-county/18252236

feb 2006: 160lbs http://www.justmugshots.com/florida/duval-county/18252239

may 2006: 160lbs http://www.justmugshots.com/florida/duval-county/18252243

jun 2007: 126lbs http://www.justmugshots.com/florida/jacksonville/12912119

 

idkk he is verry skinny and not muscular but i don't think he's quite that skinny anymore but prob closer to 126 than 180.

[Summersault 825]

  On 9/23/2013 at 3:07 PM, lola said:

jul 2005: 180lbs http://www.justmugshots.com/florida/duval-county/18252236

feb 2006: 160lbs http://www.justmugshots.com/florida/duval-county/18252239

may 2006: 160lbs http://www.justmugshots.com/florida/duval-county/18252243

jun 2007: 126lbs http://www.justmugshots.com/florida/jacksonville/12912119

 

idkk he is verry skinny and not muscular but i don't think he's quite that skinny anymore but prob closer to 126 than 180.

 

It's hard to tell, he's face looks "sharper" now but that's probably just aging.

[Valentino 887]

  On 9/23/2013 at 5:18 AM, TrailerParkDarling said:

hey yall, bradley in 2007

 

 

http://mugshots.com/US-Counties/Florida/Duval-County-City-of-Jacksonville-FL/Bradley-C-Cabaness-Soileau.1880960/details/

 

i'm sorry but them listing his tattoos makes me choke

 

"

TATTOO RIGHT LEG VAGINA W/ FIST & WINGS

 " 

 

in more relevant news, he was arrested in 2011 for domestic charges. I wonder if that has any part of bel air 'bad baby, you've got a flair, for the violent-est kind of love anywhere out there"

 

Diet Mountain Dew: Hit me and tell me you're mine.

Smarty: Beat me and tell me that no one will love me better than you do.

 

Smarty's from AKA which is pre-Bradley (and diet mountain dew seems to have been written in a different writing session than for btd?) so it's hard to tell exactly whom is being referenced with lyrics like these. In any case, it's a damning accusation of domestic abuse.

[MermaidTrailerHeaven 456]

  On 9/18/2013 at 7:41 AM, npowell said:

I just finished reading all 50 pages of this thread. I had to go check what day I registered -- it's been 2 weeks, guys. 2 weeks of awesome, obsessive theorizing about a total stranger's love life. Hell of an entree into this forum.

Same way I was introduced to the forum lel

[MermaidTrailerHeaven 456]

Two words. Steven Mertens.

[YouCanBeTheBoss 71]

Not sure if this thread is still going on, but I've been reading it for a while and it's really interesting, haha. My personal favorite Lana mystery is definitely her possible relationship with Mr. Campbell, and I've spent a while speculating and developing this theory that I'd like to share.

 

I'm going to categorize and try to explain and connect the lyrics from some songs. This is actually my first post here so I'm a bit nervous, so here goes nothing!

 

Note: Please remember that we have no reason to believe any of this actually happened. For all we know, Lana could be taking events that happened to others and incorporating them into her own fictional storyline.

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Put Me In A Movie 

  Reveal hidden contents

Lights, camera, action

If he likes me, takes me home

 

By my interpretation at least, this song seems to be about the early attraction she felt towards him. The lyric is pretty straightforward, she's hoping he'll like her and take her to his home. Not sure what the "lights, camera, action" could refer to, but that's another theory for another time.   

 

Come on, you know you like little girls

You can be my daddy

 

Do I really need to explain this one?

 

He didn't know he'd have this much fun

 

He didn't expect falling for her, definitely understandable given she's one of his students!

 

You're my little sparkle jump rope queen

 

Possibly something he may have said to her? This may be a stretch, but does this tie with "no more skipping rope" from Lolita?

 

You know I can't make it on my own

Put me in a movie

 

...I don't even want to think of the implications here tbh, haha. The "movie" in question could refer to a class project of some sort, or something else... but let's move on.

 

Overall, this may seem like a huge stretch associating this with Mr. Campbell, but the "little girls" line combined with the clip of the man in the suit being arrested that shows up often in the music video are definitely damning, not to mention how Lana seems to purposefully sing with a voice more childlike than usual. 

 

Lolita

  Reveal hidden contents

Would you be mine, would you be my baby tonight?

 

She's trying to convince him to be with her, similar to Put Me In A Move.

 

It's you that I adore, though I make the boys fall like dominoes

 

She could get any boy she wanted, but she'd rather have him.

 

No more skipping rope, skipping heart beats with the boys downtown

Just you and me feeling the heat even when the sun goes down

 

She isn't going to be with anyone else as long as they're together.

 

Shining like a god, can't believe I got you inside

 

She can't believe she has him, maybe he's the "most gorgeous guy in school" Lana mentioned in an interview?   

 

Dynamite

  Reveal hidden contents

I'm unsure about this one, the only reason I'm adding it here is because it seems to tie together with lyrics in other teacher songs, so it may be about Mr. Campbell, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

French vanilla ice cream, just the way I like

Dripping on your windscreen, I can't get a bite

 

Pay attention to these lyrics, cars seem to play an important role in Mr. Campbell's storyline (which really says something considering Lana's songwriting).   Also, this may be a serious stretch, but "French vanilla ice cream"? As in, the same type of ice cream Lana was seen eating in her Myspace profile image. The Myspace for Sparkle Jump Rope Queen? Hmm...

 

Guess we could be more than friends, 'cause this kiss won't end

And you got me trembling

 

We know that Lana considered Mr. Campbell her best friend during her time at Kent School, so it's quite possible that they were friends before they allegedly became a couple.

 

You’re dynamite, I’m ready to blow

Take me out tonight

 

She thinks he's cool and wants them to spend the night out together. Given the nature of their relationship, I'd think they spent the most time with each other during the night.

 

I can see the stars collide

 

Stars doing a bunch of crazy things seems to be a theme among songs about Mr. Campbell, so note this as well.

 

Speeding through the wasteland, sparkling in the lights

 

A teenage wasteland, perhaps? 

 

He’s not like other guys, I can’t apologize

For what my body wants and what my heart decides

 

Understatement of the century Lana. Also, notice how she seems to feel the need to defend her attraction to him.

 

‘Cause I’m so close to the real thing

Yeah, I’m so close to the real thing

I’m so close to the real thing I could almost die

 

That real thing being first love? Or something else?   The last lyric seems to connect to "And I never dreamed I'd be so happy that I could die" from Prom Song (Gone Wrong).

 

Say it isn’t over, say it’s not goodnight

Maybe we could go somewhere and start a pillow fight

 

She doesn't want the night to be over since it's the only time they get to really be together. The lyric "start a pillow fight" is very childish, which also reinforces my theory of this song being about her teenage years. 

 

Puppy Love

  Reveal hidden contents

It's not puppy love, puppy-puppy-puppy love

 

It isn't a simple crush or an infatuation, she's trying to convince him that it's the "real thing" a la Dynamite.

 

You make me wanna be like one of those girls

From the 1950s wearing those big pearls

 

Maybe his age is a factor in her feeling like this?

 

I cook you breakfast, coffee on your desk, yes

I might burn your toast, but baby, I'm still the bestest

 

Teacher's usually have a desk big enough for a full breakfast.   I know it's far from concrete, but I think the school setting is definitely important here. Are there any other relationships she's had during her boarding school time that affected her enough for her to write songs about them???

 

You make me wanna be like one of those girls

On the color TV, it was a new world

The Dick van Dyke show, we're Cher and Bono

The way I sing "I Got You Babe", makes you say, "Oh, no."

 

More old stuffs!

 

'Cause you're the class president without Jackie O

And I'm singing "Happy birthday" like Marilyn Monroe

 

The "class president" line originally threw me for a loop when I was trying to analyze the song, but think of it this way, maybe she's not talking about a literal class president? Perhaps she meant it as in, he's the leader of the classroom, the "president", and she wants to be his Jackie O.

 

(One) This is not a school girl crush (no)

(Two) This is not puppy love (uh-uh)

 

Again, she's trying to convince him that she's serious about this. Also, where I come from at least, "school girl crush" is often used to refer to a female student developing a hormone-addled crush on an older faculty member, like a teacher for example? 

 

It's the real thing when you told me you loved me

Promise I'll never see Arthur or Bobby, baby

 

Here's the "real thing" she mentions again from Dynamite. The second line ties with "No more skipping rope, skipping heart beats with the boys downtown" from Lolita.

 

This is not a school girl thing (no, two)

What about the diamond ring? (uh-uh)

 

Diamond ring? Did he give it to her, or did she give it to him? Either way, this signifies that their relationship has gotten pretty serious.

 

You're everybody's hero and you're hitting it home

 

Given the comments on his Rate My Teachers page, he seems to have been a popular teacher. 

 

Take Me To Paris

  Reveal hidden contents

Baby say goodnight

Text me when you get home safely

Like you always did

When we was first dating

 

By this time, they've been dating for a while. More references to saying goodnight as well.

 

You're sitting in your office dreaming of a different life

You say you wanna make me smile and see my wild side

If we don't leave town now

We're never gonna get out of here alive

 

He's been thinking about leaving with her and starting a life together. Leaving town is a very important theme in more Mr. Campbell songs, so watch out for that too. "We're never gonna get out of here alive" ties with "Teachers said we'd never make it out alive" from This Is What Makes Us Girls.

 

I'm walking home from school my thoughts are drifting into space

Why don't we leave tonight and take off to a different place

Don't tell my daddy why, gotta get on that plane and just fly

 

Given her wording, this seems to be the first time they've seriously began to think of leaving.

 

Take me to Paris

Let's go there and never look back

 

All the way to Paris? Girl is going all out.

 

I wanna be that fantasy that you got on your mind

Flying across the sea to somewhere that they'll never find

We should go out while we're young

 

Who she is exactly referring to as "they" is debatable, but the main point is that they don't seem to be allowed to be together, which reinforces the subject being Mr. Campbell. Also, she seems to see him as young as well, which is important for later.

 

We'll dance until we die

Wanna go out every night

Promise we won't say goodbye

 

References to dancing and going out at night. Saying goodbye seems to be a shadow cast over their relationship, so Lana feels the need for them to promise to each other. 

 

Lucky Ones

  Reveal hidden contents

Get ready, 'cause this is where things start to get exciting.

 

Let's get out of this town, baby we're on fire

Everyone around here seems to be going down, down

 

The theme of leaving town is continued in this song, and the second line seems to connect to Kent School being a "teenage wasteland" from Prom Song (Gone Wrong).

 

If you stick with me, I can take you higher, and higher

It feels like all of our friends are lost

Nobody's found, found, found

 

I'm not sure what she means by "higher", but the rest of this is more teenage wasteland goodness.

 

I got so scared, I thought no one could save me

You came along scooped me up like a baby

 

She was sent to boarding school for a growing alcohol addiction, Mr. Campbell found her when she was at her lowest point.

 

Every now and then, the stars align

Boy and girl meet by the great design

Could it be that you and me are the lucky ones?

 

See what I meant about the stars? She's saying that their meeting was caused by fate and luck.

 

Everybody told me love was blind

Then I saw your face and you blew my mind

Finally, you and me are the lucky ones this time

 

She thinks he's hot stuff, and they can finally be together now.

 

Boy get into my car, got a bad desire

You know that we'll never leave if we don't get out, now, now

 

Because they're afraid they'll never make it out alive.

 

You're a careless con, and you're a crazy liar

But baby, nobody can compare to the way you get down, down, down

 

I'm not sure what Lana could mean by "careless con" and "crazy liar", but never mind. We know from Boarding School that she's quite knowledgeable on how he gets down. 

 

I tried so hard to act nice like a lady

You told me that it was good to be crazy

 

Possibly a reference to Puppy Love? Nevertheless, he didn't need her to act like that to be with him.

 

Feels like, feels like, you know, it feels like

Falling in love for the first time

Feels like, you know, it feels like

Falling in love

 

I think now we know what that "real thing" she was talking about. She's literally falling in love for the first time. 

 

Prom Song (Gone Wrong)

  Reveal hidden contents

This is the most concrete of the Mr. Campbell songs, so most of what is said here can be used to validate the other theories.

 

Boy, it's late, walk me home, put your hand in mine

At the gate, stop and say, "Be my valentine"

You are, by far, the brightest star I've ever seen

And I never dreamed I'd be so happy that I could die

 

Saying goodnight as mentioned in Take Me To Paris. Being happy enough to die is also alluded to in Dynamite.

 

And even then I knew that we were something serious,

That you would dominate my thoughts like radio the Sirius

 

Their relationship has gotten much more serious than before.

 

Let me take you out of this town

Let me do it right now, baby

Dancing 'til the dark, staying forever young

Let's get out of this place, 'cause you're starting to waste

Within this teenage wasteland

 

Lana is now completely serious about leaving town, and wants to do it as soon as possible. Dancing at night and being young shows up again from Take Me To Paris, and Lana finally ups and calls the place a teenage wasteland, tying the song with Dynamite and Lucky Ones.

 

You will never see my face

If you don't get me out of this place, now, baby

I'm not crazy

I'm leaving, are you coming with me?

 

She's so serious about leaving that she's ready to go without him, and she doesn't need the boarding school any more, or maybe she feels like she never needed it in the first place.

 

If you're lonely, baby, hold me, you're my only one

Watching television, kissing 'til we see the sun

So far we are safe in the dark

And I never dreamed that I'd be the queen and I'd be so happy that I could die

 

These lyrics further imply that they spend most of their time at night, sometimes even staying up 'til morning. And again, she's so happy she could die. We get it, Lana.   

 

You play me Biggie Smalls and then my first Nirvana song

So even then when no one's friends were really serious

I knew you loved me by the way you looked in second period

 

The first lyric is crucially important since we know from early interviews that Mr. Campbell was the one who introduced Lana to Biggie Smalls. She also knows he loves her the way she loves him.

 

I know that they say that all I want is to have fun

And get away for rainy days

I know that they think I've come undone

But I'm in love... I wanna run, run, run away

I'm leaving, are you coming with me?

 

This is the first time she outright mentions running away, which is another important theme in these songs. She also says that others think she's crazy for being with Mr. Campbell, but she doesn't care, she's in love with him, and she's fully prepared to leave with him. 

 

Oh Say Can You See

  Reveal hidden contents

This is a very vague song, but I really do think it's about Mr. Campbell.

 

Oh, say can you see my stars

 

Stars are mentioned again, they seem to play an important role in the storyline.

 

The night time is almost ours

To wander through alleys and look at the bars

Night time is almost ours

 

As I mentioned before, they are only able to spent most of their time together at night. Lana is anxiously waiting for the night, so they could be with each other again.

 

The headlights from passing cars

They illuminate my face then leave me the dark

The voice of Nirvana says, "Come as you are"

And I will

The night time is almost ours

 

Cars start getting a bigger role. The Nirvana reference is very important because, as far as I know, the only other song to reference Nirvana itself is Prom Song (Gone Wrong). Perhaps Come As You Are was the song Mr. Campbell played for Lana?

 

The sway of the hips and arms

Will cradle you from afar

They swing 'til you're tired and send you to Mars

Night time is almost ours

 

The swaying of hips is also mentioned in Every Man Gets His Wish. They're still waiting for the night to come, so they'll be able to go out and see each other again. 

 

Driving In Cars With Boys

  Reveal hidden contents

I know, you're probably thinking "What?", but let me explain and hopefully it makes sense, lol.

 

They say I'm wasting time, they said that I'm no good

Summer of my life, not doing what I should

Call me poison ivy 'cause I'm far from good

Pretty from afar, like a dark star

 

 

These lyrics seem to tie in with "I know that they say that all I want is to have fun; I know that they think I've come undone" from Prom Song (Gone Wrong). The others, possibly other students, think she's no good for hooking up with a teacher. It also sets this song in summer, which becomes important later on (I've been saying that a lot, haven't I?).

 

They think I'm dangerous, they think I'm really bad

I'm just making up for what I never had

Go out every night whenever I feel sad

 

More about how Lana's a naughty girl.   This might also refer to Lana and Mr. Campbell spending nights together, maybe she arranges sort-of dates with him whenever all the talk about them gets to her? 

 

Oh, this drive by love got me crazy like a drug

 

"Drive by love" could refer to how Lana and Mr. Campbell's romance isn't meant to last. Either this lyric is written in hindsight, or Lana knows that it isn't going to work out between them.

 

I wear my red lipstick, got my make-up on

Stumble into trouble, siren with a sad song

 

She mentions in Prom Song (Gone Wrong) that she likes to put on make-up for Mr. Campbell. 

 

They all got girlfriends, but I'm the one that they want

Miss America with the blue mascara on

 

Yes, Lana, we know you're hot. Ties with "It's you that I adore, though I make the boys fall like dominoes" from Lolita.

 

I spend my whole life driving in cars with boys

Riding around town, drinking in the white noise

Used to talk about where we be and where we go

Now we know, baby, now we know

 

She's spent most of her time riding around with Mr. Campbell. They used to fantasize about leaving town and running away, but now they're actually serious about it.

 

I spent my whole life wasted in bars with boys

Playing rock 'n roll, dancing in the loud noise

 

More dancing. These are probably things she and Mr. Campbell did together.

 

Mommy's Mercedes or Billy's pick up truck

Comes out late at night and baby picks me up

Tell him just drive on and d-don't ever stop

Don't take me home again, take me to a new land

 

"Mommy's Mercedes" indicates that she's still young. Mr. Campbell comes over at night to pick her up so they could spend time together like they always do, but this time, Lana tells him to drive and not stop. She's ready to run away with him right at that moment. The "Billy" reference might seem a bit dodgy, but I'll explain it later.

 

I wear my red lipstick, grab my coat and gun

Wonder if this is it, it's darkest before dawn

Sometimes I wanna give in but I just have to go on

Miss America now I'm gone, baby, gone.

 

The lyrics could be her getting ready for her escape with Mr. Campbell. Something may have happened before that caused her to want to run away, given the second line. She believes that leaving town with him is the right thing for her, and she's already left.

 

I was born to live fast, die young

Leave a beautiful corpse, live my life on the run

I got my cash, my Louis Vuitton, diamonds and guns

Girls just wanna, just wanna have fun

 

"Life on the run", another reference to running away (and one that shows up in more Mr. Campbell songs). She has money, luggage, her diamonds, she's definitely leaving for good. "Girls just wanna, just wanna have fun" is related to "I know that they say that all I want is to have fun" from Prom Song (Gone Wrong). 

 

Every Man Gets His Wish

  Reveal hidden contents

Only portions of this song are related to Mr. Campbell, so those are the only ones I'll list.

 

We're gonna party like it's 1949

We're in that Chevrolet from July to July

Gonna see it all before he says goodbye

Every man deserves to see the sun rise

 

1949, a possible reference to Puppy Love? The Chevrolet is first mentioned here, and it ends becoming important later on (as always). Lana possibly knows that they will have to say goodbye to each other in the end, but she doesn't care at the moment, she wants to spend as much time as she can now. 

 

You said I'd never make out outta here alive

With the rate I was going, I'd be lucky to die

I was born so bad, not naturally right

The brightest star on Hollywood and Vine

 

The first line directly ties with Take Me To Paris and This Is What Makes Us Girls. I'm not sure what the rest of this means, but maybe you guys could help with that? 

 

We're gonna party like were running outta time

We're getting drunk and driving fast on cherry wine

Never do belong to anyone I find

Leaving everything I ever knew behind

 

They're actually running out of time as we know it doesn't work out, but they're going to do all they can together before then. Driving fast and leaving is also mentioned, so this is definitely related to Mr. Campbell.

 

I learned how to make love from the movies

See, he found me waitressing at Ruby Tuesday

He said "I wanna buy you up, plus a white milk shake"

I said "I'll serve you up a special side of heartbreak"

(Special side of heartbreak)

 

I'm not certain if these lyrics are actually about Mr. Campbell or not, but if so, "special side of heartbreak" could possibly mean that she knew they would both end up heartbroken when their relationship ended.

 

I was working down at the corner cafe

You would drop by in a the Chevrolet

Whistle at me as my hips go sway

Lana Del Rey, how you get that way?

(How you get that way?)

 

Possibly about Mr. Campbell again, the Chevrolet is mentioned again, as well as Lana's swaying hips from Oh Say Can You See. 

 

Heartshaped Chevrolet

  Reveal hidden contents

You’re bigger than Elvis and cooler than B.I.G.

You’re smashing my dishes, you’re Billy The Kid

 

These lyrics are important because they directly refer to Biggie Smalls, which we know Mr. Campbell introduced Lana to. That can't be a coincidence. She also calls him Billy The Kid, rather that saying he's like Billy The Kid, meaning it could very well have been a nickname she used for him, which explains the lyric in Driving In Cars With Boys.

 

You’re very American, sugar

Marry me, Dick, I love you

 

Here, she describes him as being very "American" which could turn out to be potentially useful. As for the second line, it's unclear whether she's calling him a dick or Dick as another nickname, so I'll skip that. 

 

We’re on the road to the Jersey Shore, one stop and then we’ll stop no more

 

So now we know where exactly they're running away to, the Jersey Shore! It also ties neatly together with "Tell him just drive on and d-don't ever stop" from Driving In Cars With Boys.

 

You say you love everything I am

Love my lips and my golden tan

 

Let's refer to "I know that I'm a mess with my long hair and my sun tan" from Lolita, shall we?

 

You love my heartshaped sunglasses

Love my heartshaped sunglasses

Love my heartshaped sunglasses

 

Direct lyrics in Every Man Gets His Wish.

 

Spin me around, kiss me in your Chevrolet

Top down, Heaven like crazy

You let me drive, I’ll let you go all the way

I’ll never ever, ever, ever let you get away, away

 

The Chevrolet shows up again. Lana makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn't leave her. Which brings me to... 

 

On Our Way

  Reveal hidden contents

You, you light my red fire babe

Hot, white, and blue

And I, I think that you

I think you’re so cool babe

Loving everything you do

 

We know from Dynamite that she thinks he's awesome, and now she's in love with him.

 

You say we’re gonna run away

Put on your sundress, summer day

Flying around on the highway

 

Running away = definite Mr. Campbell reference. We also know that this is during the summer from Driving In Cars With Boys as well.

 

Spin me ’round, kiss me in your Chevrolet

I love you more with each and every day

Top down, gonna make a getaway, top down

 

Lyrics from Heartshaped Chevrolet. Finally being alone with Mr. Campbell has Lana falling more and more in love with him.

 

You found me when I had lost my way

Foot down, we’re going all the way, touchdown

 

When he met her, she had been sent to boarding school for alcoholism. Ties to lyrics in Lucky Ones. "Going all the way" could be a reference to Heartshaped Chevrolet.

 

How, you get so hot

You’re making me crazy

Hoping you’ll never stop

 

Lana, you already told us this in Lucky Ones, sing something new.   Also, thank God Mr. Campbell told you it was good to be crazy, right?

 

You say that we were meant to be

We’ll be together finally

Flying around and I’m finally free, oh

 

Mr. Campbell seems to agree that they were meant for each other as well. Now that they're away from the boarding school, they can finally be together without any restrictions.

 

Why, do I think too much?

You tell me not to worry

Because you’re the boss

And you, you got a real good plan

My trouble’s all over now

Because you’re my man

 

He has a plan for both of them so they could be together.

 

You don’t know what you’ve done to me

You’re heavier than heavenly

Life on the run has set me free, me free now

 

She loves him as much as she does heaven now. Also, "life on the run" is mentioned again, further tying it to Driving In Cars With Boys. 

 

Damn You

  Reveal hidden contents

I won't cry myself to sleep like a sucker

I won't cry myself to sleep

If I do I'll die

 

By this time, it's definitely over between her and Mr. Campbell, but she's not going to let her broken heart take over. Also, I run the risk of losing the little Lanalyst integrity I have by including yet another stretch, but "I won't cry myself to sleep" = "Don't cry about him, don't cry about him" from This Is What Makes Us Girls, maybe?

 

Now you fall asleep with another

Damn you

 

So, the downfall of their relationship was another woman. Maybe he had a wife and decided to go back to her? It seems the most likely, but whatever the case, he's left Lana for someone else, and she's pissed.

 

Remember how we used to escape for the summer

Fireworks and sparklers would light up the black skies

 

Tied to Driving In Cars With Boys and On Our Way, we know that they did escape during the summer at least once.

 

We'd hold on tight for our lives to each other

Hello, hello, where did you go?

 

They definitely loved each other and ran away to be with each other, so this makes this all the more painful for Lana. She's wonder where he went in their relationship, with references to Without You.

 

We were two kids living life on the run

Like the American dream

 

Yep, life on the run = Driving In Cars With Boys, On Our Way, and especially Without You. Also, remember Lana calling him very American? It seems to really come into play here.

 

Baby, nothing to lose

And we'd get messed up for fun

We went too fast, too young

 

This could be referring to their escape or their nights together. Regardless of his real age, Lana seems to think of him as young (Prom Song (Gone Wrong), Take Me To Paris), and their relationship went too fast and was over too soon, connecting it to "drive by love" from Driving In Cars With Boys.

 

Flowers in my hair and your breath smelled like whiskey

Promised anywhere that I go, take you with me

Dancing on your feet like a child to the radio

Hello, hello, where did you go?

 

Possibly related to "Promise we won't say goodbye" from Take Me To Paris. We know that Lana wanted badly for him to stay with her when they were on their way to the Jersey Shore. Dancing is referenced again as well.

 

Every once in a lifetime

Dreams can come true

Now and then when the stars shine

You meet somebody like you

 

"Every now and then, the stars align". They were perfect for each other and their meeting was fate, but sadly, their relationship wasn't meant to last.

 

I pray your life is sweet, you fucker

 

She wishes him all the best with his life and new relationship, but she's still hurt and angry at him for leaving her. 

 

Without You

  Reveal hidden contents

Hello? Hello?

C-can you hear me?

I can be your china doll

If you want to see me fall

 

Related to Damn You. She's telling him that she's willing to do whatever he wants.

 

Boy, you're so dope

Your love is deadly

 

Even after all this time, she still thinks he's very cool.

 

Tell me life is beautiful

They all think I have it all

 

He knows what she's been through and that her life isn't as glamorous as people make it out to be.

 

I'm nothing without you

All my dreams and all the lights mean

Nothing without you

 

She loves him so much, that she believes all of her dreams and accomplishments are meaningless if she doesn't have him.

 

Summertime is nice and hot

And my life is sweet like vanilla is

 

She's referencing summertime, since that's when they left town and ran away together. Her life is great right now as well, but Lana, is it sweet like French vanilla? 

 

But burned into my brain are these stolen images

Stolen images, baby, stolen images

Can you picture it?

Babe, the life we could've lived?

 

Even though her life is pretty good, she can't stop thinking about what could have been between her and Mr. Campbell. They were close to living their lives together, which makes it hurt even more.

 

We were two kids, just tryin' to get out,

Live on the dark side of the American dream.

We would dance all night, play our music loud,

When we grew up, nothing was what it seemed.

 

Directly references Damn You, among others. They spent their time together at night, and tried to make it out of the town alive (i.e This Is What Makes Us Girls, Take Me To Paris, Lucky Ones, Every Man Gets His Wish), but were ultimately unable to. 

 

 

So, let me know what you think, and if you any more ideas of songs that I may have missed or any other theories. Thanks for reading!