Lana Del Rey | Born To Die (Deluxe) | lyrics

National Anthem

lyrics:

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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
he loves to romance 'em
reckless abandon
holdin' me for ransom
upper echelon

he says to be cool but I don't know how yet
wind in my hair, hands on the back of my neck
I said, "can we party later on?"
he said, "yes."

tell me I'm your national anthem
booyah, baby, bow down
makin' me say wow now
tell me I'm your national anthem
sugar, sugar, how now
take your body downtown

red, white, blue is in the skies
summer's in the air and baby,
heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem!

money is the reason we exist
everybody knows that it's a fact
kiss, kiss!

I sing the national anthem while I am standing over your body, hold you like a python
and you can't keep your hands off me or your pants on
see what you done to me?
King of chevron

he says to be cool but I'm already coolest
I said to get real
don't you know who you're dealing with?
hun, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds?

it's a love story for the new age
for the sixth page
we're on a quick, sick rampage
wining and dining, drinking and driving
excessive buying, overdose and dying

and 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
he will do very well
I can tell, I can tell
keep me safe in his bell tower hotel

money is the anthem of success
so put on mascara and your party dress

I'm your national anthem
boy, put your hands up
give me a standing ovation
boy, you have landed, baby in the land of
sweetness and danger
Queen of Saigon

—

analysis:

here are the words from the video.

"and I remember when I met him it was so clear he was the only one for me
we both knew it right away
and as the years went on we were faced with more challenges

I begged him to stay,
try to remember what we had in the beginning
he was charismatic, magnetic, electric
and everybody knew it

when he walked in everyone's head turned
everyone stood up to talk to him
he was like this hybrid, this mix of a man who couldn't contain himself
I always got the sense that he became torn between being a good person and missing out on all the opportunities that life could offer a man as magnificent as him
and in that way, I understood him

and I loved him
I loved him
I loved him, I loved him, I loved him
and I still love him
I love him."

—

my thoughts

National Anthem is the sixth track and fifth single off Born To Die. The music video for the song seems to be very explanatory of the lyrics' meaning and general story behind the song, so I'll be explaining that as well.

The song starts off with the triumphant and celebratory sound of cheers and laughter, behind violins playing a major chorus that could even be mistaken for a national anthem melody. As the long intro progresses, fireworks can be heard crackling in the distant background, illustrating a picture perfect scene full of happiness and perhaps extravagant American Independence parties on the 4th July. The song is certainly a tribute to living life on the wild side of fortune and fame.

The concept of this song seems to involve Lana expressing her feelings for two distinct lovers, alluding to the life and death of President John. F Kennedy and the love triangle in between. Mr Kennedy's love for Hollywood starlet Marilyn Monroe was fun, crazy and passionate. This may have been charged even more so by the fact that it was an affair "behind closed doors". One with one of the most sought after women in the world at the time. This is shown at the beginning of the video with Del Rey imitating Monroe with the very famous "happy birthday Mr President" song she sang for him.

However, on the other side there was the love he had for his wife, Jackie Kennedy. That was true and pure (at least publicly) and he may have taken it for granted. Jackie was his supporter and soulmate, pushing him towards success and greatness both as a man and in his career. This is shown clearly throughout the rest of the video afterwards, where Lana acts as Jackie with well-known rapper 'A$AP Rocky' acting as Kennedy in the relationship. Also, in the bitter, harrowing ending of the all too non-fictional event of the current president being shot in the car with her, and her terrified expression after the gunshot acted very believably by Del Rey.

Marilyn was seemingly more sporadic, eccentric and glamorous; exactly the opposite of Jackie Kennedy, who was more reformed, traditional and innocent. But to Mr Kennedy they were both special lovers and meaningful parts of his life.

Every part of the video sets a stunning visual for the truly momentous song, filled with parties, scandal, wealth, romance and excitement - a theme that proves to be very consistent through her songs in Born To Die. But it is cut by fear and sadness with crowds of people in the 60s enthusiastic, cheering voices melting into screams and cries of misery. The bittersweetness is almost too much to bear when after the video's prologue with Lana dressed as Marilyn it cuts to her as Jackie smiling peacefully in a rose garden while an audio of the screams plays over. Though the song isn't as raw and emotional as Video Games it is most definitely one of Lana's most harrowing visuals, and bound to have you close to tears by the end.

—