Lana Del Rey - Blue Banisters Album Lyrics

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Text Book

I guess you could call it textbook
I was lookin' for the father I wanted back
And I thought I found it in Brentwood
It seemed only appropriate you'd easily have my back

And then there was the issue of her
I didn't even like myself, or love the life I had
And there you were with shining stars
Standing blue with open arms
You touched the detriment most of the friends I knew already had

You've got a Thunderbird, my daddy had one too
Let's rewrite history, I'll do this dance with you
You know I'm not that girl, you know I'll never be
Maybe just the way we're different could set me free
And there we were, screamin', "Black Lives Matter" in the crowd
By the Old Man River, and I saw you saw who I am
God, I wish I was with my father
He could see us in all our splendor
All the things I couldn't want for him
I screamed for them, oh
I screamed for them, ah

Could we do this dance again?
Do you think if I go blonde, we could get our old love back?
I guess this is really the end
I never felt jealous before this year, but I'm jealous now

People say we're too much alike
But maybe, finally, that'll make it right
At the end of all these sleepless nights
Other men I met felt right
Would smile at you and stick a knife
In your back, finally, I met you so I'm not wondering why

You've got a Thunderbird, my daddy had one too
Let's rewrite history, I'll do this dance with you
You know I'm not that girl, you know I'll never be
Maybe just the way we're different could set me free
There we were, screamin', "Black Lives Matter" in the crowd
By the Old Man River, and I saw you saw who I am
God, I wish I was with my father
He could see us in all our splendor
All the things I couldn't want for him
I screamed for them, oh
I screamed for them, ah-ah

Old Man River keeps rollin'
With or without him
Old Man River keeps rollin'
Without him, oh, my old man
Old Man River keeps rollin', oh

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Blue Banisters

There's a picture on the wall of me on a John Deere
Jenny handed me a beer, said, "How the hell did you get there?"
Oklahoma
Mm, mm
There were flowers that were dry, sittin' on the dresser
She asked me where they're from, I said, "A place I don't remember"
Oklahoma (oh)

Jenny jumped into the pool, she was swimmin' with Nikki Lane
She said, "Most men don't want a woman with a legacy, it's of age"
She said, "You can't be a muse and be happy, too
You can't blacken the pages with Russian poetry and be happy"
And that scared me
'Cause I met a man who

Said he'd come back every May
Just to help me if I'd paint
My banisters blue
Blue banisters, ooh
Said he'd fix my weathervane
Give me children, take away my pain
And paint my banisters blue
My banisters blue

There's a hole that's in my heart all my women try and heal
They're doin' a good job convincin' me that it's not real
It's heat lightning
Oh, oh
'Cause there's a man that's in my past, there's a man that's still right here
He's real enough to touch and in my darkest nights
He's shinin'
Ooh

Jenny was smokin' by the pool, we were writin' with Nikki Lane
I said, "I'm scared of the Santa Clarita Fires, I wish that it would rain"
I said, "The power of us three can bring absolutely anything
Except that one thing, the diamonds, the rust, and the rain
The thing that washes away the pain"
But that's okay, 'cause

Now when weather turns to May
All my sisters come to paint
My banisters green
My blue banisters grey
Tex and Mex are in the Bay
Chucky's makin' birthday cake
Chickens runnin' barefeet, there's a baby on the way
And now my blue banisters are green and grey
Ah-ah

Summer comes, winter goes
Spring, I skip, God knows
Summer comes, winter goes
Spring, I sleep, Heaven knows
Every time it turns to May
All my sisters fly to me
To paint, paint

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Arcadia

My body is a map of L.A.
I stand straight like an angel, with a halo
Hangin' out the Hilton Hotel window
Screamin', "Heyo, baby, let's go"
My chest, the Sierra Madre
My hips, every high and byway
That you trace with your fingertips like a Toyota
Run your hands over me like a Land Rover

In Arcadia, Arcadia
All roads that lead to you as integral to me as arteries
That pump the blood that flows straight to the heart of me
America, America
I can't sleep at home tonight, send me a Hilton Hotel
Or a cross on the hill, I'm a lost little girl
Findin' my way to ya
Arcadia

My body is a map of L.A.
And my heart is like paper, I hate ya
I'm not from the land of the palms, so I know I can't stay here
I'm not native, but
My curves, San Gabriel all day
And my lips like the fire licks the bay
If you think that you know yourself, you can come over
Lay your hands on me like you're a Land Rover

In Arcadia, Arcadia
All roads that lead to you as integral to me as arteries
That get the blood flowing straight to the heart of me
America, I need a miracle
I can't sleep at home tonight, send me a Hilton Hotel
Or a cross on the hill, I'm a lost little girl
Findin' my way to ya
Arcadia

They built me up three hundred feet tall just to tear me down
So I'm leavin' with nothing but laughter, and this town
Arcadia
Findin' my way to ya
I'm leavin' them as I was, five foot eight
Western bound, plus the hate that they gave
By the way, thanks for that, on the way, I'll pray for ya
But you'll need a miracle
America

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Interlude - The Trio

[Instrumental]

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Black Bathing Suit

Grenadine quarantine, I like you a lot
It's LA, "hey" on Zoom, Target parking lot
And if this is the end, I want a boyfriend
Someone to eat ice cream with and watch television
Walk home from the mall with
'Cause what I really meant is when I'm being honest
I'm tired of this shit

'Cause my body is my temple, my heart is one too
The only thing that still fits me is this black bathing suit
You don't know me any better than they do, baby
My time is running over so the only time you'll ever see me
Is in your dreams, in my black bathing suit
Looking at me looking over at you
Real cute 'cause

He said I was bad
Let me show you how bad girls do
'Cause no one does it better
He said I was bad
Let me show you what bad girls do
'Cause no one does it better

Swisher Sweets, magazines
Promise you it's not 'cause of you that I'm mean
It's my afterthoughts
And what I never said, why there's a price on my head
It's nothing to do with them, it's my karmic lineage
So I'm not friends with my mother but still love my dad
Untraditional lover, can you handle that?

I guess I'm complicated, my life sorta too
I wish you could see to my soul through this black bathing suit
You don't know me any better than they do, baby
'Cause I sing like an angel, my heart's like one too
The only thing that fits is this black bathing suit
Looking at me looking over at you
Real cute 'cause

He said I was bad
Let me show you how bad girls do
'Cause no one does it better
He said I was bad
Let me show you what bad girls do
'Cause no one does it better
They said I was bad
And I'll show them what bad girls do

In my black bathing suit
Oh, let 'em talk about me
They're just yesterday's news
They're f*cking broke and we're laughin' about him
Mail me when you get the blues
We'll have the last laugh about it
By the way, thanks for the shoes
Your inches really made stacks, your inches really made stacks
Your inches really made stacks out of it
Your inches really made stacks out of it for me (so thanks for that)
Your inches really made stacks out of it for me (so thanks for that)
Your inches really made stacks out of it for me
So thanks for that

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If You Lie Down with Me

Put your red boots on
Baby, giddy up
Baby wants a dance
Baby gets her way

Dreamy nights
Talk to me with that whiskey breath
Twirl me twice
I'll treat you like a holiday

And don't say you're over me
When we both know that you ain't
Don't say you're over me
Baby, it's already too late
Just do what you do best with me

Dance me all around the room
Spin me like a ballerina, super high
Dance me all around the moon
Light me up like the 4th of July
Once, twice, three times
The guy I ever thought I would meet, so
Don't say you're over me
When we both know that you lie

If you lie down right next to me
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie
If you lie down right next to me
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie
When you lie down right next to me

Get your jacket on
Be a gentleman
Get into your truck
And pick me up at eight

'Cause we were built for
The long haul freight train
Burnt by fire
Without trial like a stowaway

And don't say you're over me
When they all know that you ain't
If you lay down right next to me

Dance me all around the room
Spin me like ballerina super high
Dance me all around the moon
Like six times 'til I'm sick and I cry
Once, twice, three times
The guy I ever thought I would meet, so
Don't say you're over me
When they all know that you're lying

If you lie down right next to me
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie
Lie, you lie
If you lie down right next to me
Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie
Lie, you lie
When you lie down right next to me

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Beautiful

Blue is the color of the planet from the view above
Long live our reign, long live our love
Green is the planet from the eyes of a turtle dove
'Til it runs red, runs red with blood

We get so tired and we complain
'Bout how it's hard to live
It's more than just a video game

But we're just beautiful people with beautiful problems, yeah
Beautiful problems, God knows we've got them
But we gotta try (la, la, la)
Every day and night (la, la, la)

Blue is the color of the shirt of the man I love
He's hard at work, hard to the touch
But warm is the body of the girl from the land he loves
My heart is soft, my past is rough

But when I love him, get a feeling, something close to like a sugar rush
It runs through me
But is it wasted love?
(It's not wasted love)

But we're just beautiful people with beautiful problems, yeah
Beautiful problems, God knows we've got them
But we gotta try (la, la, la)
Every day and night (la, la, la)

Oh, oh
Hmm, hmm
Yeah we've gotta try (la, la, la)
We gotta walk through fire (la, la, la)
Because we're just

Beautiful people with beautiful problems, yeah (we're just)
Beautiful problems, God knows we've got them (beautiful people)
Beautiful people with beautiful problems, yeah (we need to talk)
Beautiful problems, God knows we got them

So beautiful (yeah)
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah

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Violets for Roses

There's something in the air
The girls are running 'round in summer dresses
With their masks off
And it makes me so happy
Larchmont village smells like lilies of the valley
And the bookstore doors are opening
And it's finally happening

Ever since I fell out of love with you
I fell back in love with me
And boy, does it feel sweet
Like a summer breeze
Ever since I fell out of love with you
I fell back in love with the city
Like the Paramount sign's sparkling
Sparkling just for me

You made me trade my violets for roses
You tried to trade in my new truck for horses
Don't forget all of these things that you love
Are the same things I hate
A simple life, I chose this
You made me trade my violets for roses
You tried to take all the pink off my toes and
God knows the only mistake that a man can make
Is trying to make a woman change
And trade her violets for roses

Ah-laa-ha, ah-ha
Trade her violets for roses
Ah-laa-ha, ah-ha

There's something in the air
I hope it doesn't change, that it's for real
The beginning of something big happening
And by the madder alleys
And the streets have ceased
And still the shadows haunt the avenue
The silence is deafening

Ever since I fell out of love with you
I fell back in love with the streets
And God, does it feel sweet
Like a summer breeze
Ever since I fell out of love with you
I break-dance to the backbeat
And God, does it sound sweet
Like it's playing just for me

You made me trade my violets for roses
You tried to trade in my new truck for horses
Don't forget all of these things that you love
Are the same things I hate
The simple life, I chose this
You made me trade my violets for roses
You tried to take all the pink off my toes and
God knows the only mistake that a man can make
Is trying to make a woman change
And trade her violets for roses

Ah-laa-ha, ah-ha
Trade her violets for roses
Ah-laa-ha, ah-ha
Trade her violets for roses
(Ah-laa-ha, ah-ha)

There's something in the air
The girls are running 'round in summer dresses
With their masks off
And it makes me so happy

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Dealer

(ft. Miles Kane)

Please don't try to find me through my dealer
He won't pick up his phone
Please don't try my father either
He ain't been home for years
I know I'm no spirit seeker
I can't sleep through the tears
I get lost in the ether

I check it, I wreck it, I turn it around
I gave you all my money, gave you all my money
Gave you all my money, gave you all my money
I don't wanna live
I don't wanna give you nothing
'Cause you never give me nothing back
Why can't you be good for something?
Not one shirt off your back
Why can't you be good for something?
Not one shirt off your back

Please don't try to find me through my dealer
He won't pick up his phone
Please don't try my doctor either
He won't take any calls
He's no f*cking spirit healer
He just can't stop to talk
But he's gone now for the weekend

I check it, I wreck it, I turn it around
I gave you all my money, gave you all my money
Gave you all my money, gave you all my money
I don't wanna live
I don't wanna give you nothing
'Cause you never give me nothing back
Why can't you be good for something?
Not one shirt off your back
Why can't you be good for something?
Not one shirt off your back

(555) please don't
(9275, 555) try to find me through my dealer
(Now you've got a busy time) he won't pick up his phone
(All circuits are busy, goodbye)
(All circuits are busy, you're high) please don't try my father either
(All circuits are busy, goodbye)
(All circuits are busy, you're high) he ain't been home for years

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Thunder

You roll like thunder
When you come crashing in
Town ain't been the same
Since you left with all your friends
You roll like thunder
When you come crashing in
Regattas in the wind
That's why you're visiting

You act like f*cking Mr. Brightside
When you're with all your friends
But I know what you're like
When the party ends

Just do it
Just do it, don't wait
Just do it
Just do it, don't wait

You roll like thunder
Pouring all your drinks
The party's lit and you my friend
Half-cut when it begins
You roll like thunder
You tryna catch that wind
That lightning in the bottle
That moonbeam in your hand

And you try to see the bright side
When each new day begins
But you're not satisfied
At the rainbow's end

Just do it
Just do it, don't wait
I don't wanna beg
Just do it
Just do it, don't wait

'Cause if you're on fire, you're on fire
Just keep burning
'Til it rains, baby
Keep me ablaze
Honey, if you're on fire, you're on fire
Just keep burning
Keep me alive
Spare your blade

Just do it
Just do it, don't wait
If our love just means goodbye
Then honey better walk away
Just do it
Just do it, don't wait
If our love just means goodbye
Then baby better walk away
Just do it
Just do it, don't wait
'Cause I don't wanna wait
Just do it
Just do it, don't wait

(Just do it)
(Just do it, don't wait)
If you're on fire, you're on fire (just do it)
You should just keep burning
(Just do it, don't wait)
(just do it)
(Just do it, don't wait)

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Wildflower Wildfire

Here's the deal
'Cause I know you wanna talk about it
Here's the deal
I promise you, like, a million tomorrows
Here's the deal, what I can promise
Is I'll lie down like a bed of wildflowers
And I'll always make the sheets
Smell like gardenias wild at your feet
And I nourish you hazily
Baby, I, I, I

I've been runnin' on stardust
Alone for so long
I wouldn't know what hot fire was
Hot fire, hot weather
Hot coffee, I'm better with you
It's strange, but it's true, darling

Not to turn into a wildfire
To light up your night
With only my smile and nothing that burns
Baby, I'll be like a wildflower
I live on sheer will power
I'll do my best never to turn
Into something that burns, burns, burns
Like the others, baby, burns, burns, burns

Here's the deal
'Cause I know you wanna talk about it
Here's the deal
You say there's gaps to fill in, so here
Here's the deal
My father never stepped in when his wife would rage at me
So I ended up awkward but sweet
Later then hospitals, and still on my feet
Comfortably numb, but with lithium came poetry
And baby, I

I've been running on star drip
IV's for so long
I wouldn't know how cruel the world was
Hot fire, hot weather
Hot coffee, I'm better
So I turn, but I learn
It from you, babe

Not to turn into a wildfire
To light up your night
With only my smile and nothing that hurts
Baby, I run like a wildflower
I live on sheer will power
I promise that nothing will burn you
Nothing will burn, burn, burn
Like the others, baby, burns, burns, burns
Burn, burn, burn (like the others, baby, like the others, baby, like the others, baby)
Like the others, baby, burns, burns, burns

It's you from whom I learn, learn, learn
It's you from whom I learn, learn, learn

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Nectar of the Gods

Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh

What cruel world is this? Nectar of the Gods
Heroin gold in my veins, you in my thoughts
I'm on the freeway racing at a million
And I just can't stop
I call you up twice, hang up the phone
Call again, I wanna talk

I get wild on you, baby
I get wild and f*cking crazy like you never knew
Knew, knew
I get wild on you, baby
I get wild and f*cking crazy like the color blue, ooh-ooh

What sweet world is this? Honey on the vine
School kid dreams came true then passed in the night
I used to dream about people like you, now I don't know why
I used to sing about people like you, now I just get high

I get wild on you, baby
I get wild and f*cking crazy like you never knew
Knew, knew
I get wild on you, baby
I get wild and f*cking crazy like the color blue, ooh-ooh

Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh

I get wild on you, baby
I get wild and f*cking crazy like you never knew
Ooh, ooh
I get wild on you, baby
I get wild and f*cking crazy like the color blue, ooh-ooh

Californ-i-a, homeland of the Gods
Once I found my way but now I am lost

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Living Legend

Mm-mm-mm, oh-oh

Blackbirds will sing in the same key
As you play in the shoes that I bought you
And sweet baby Jane don't know a thing
About my songs but she knows I'm a monsoon

And baby you, all the things you do
And the ways you move, send me straight to heaven
And baby you, what you never knew
What I never said, is you're my living legend

Hipsters will sing just like a dream
In Sin-é or the back Brooklyn bayou
But you never cared about my name
And darling I never meant to defy you

But baby you, all them things you do
And those ways you moved, send me straight to heaven
And baby you, I never said to you
You really are my living legend

I got guns in the summertime and horses too
Guns in the summertime and horses too
I never meant to be bad or unwell
I was just living on the edge
Right between Heaven and Hell
And I'm tired of it

Ooh, all the things you do
And the ways you move, send me straight to heaven
And baby you, what I never said to you
'Cause you really are my living legend

My living legend
My living legend
My living legend
My living legend

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Cherry Blossom

What you don't tell no one, you can tell me
Little ghost, tall, tan like milk and honey
You're very brave and very free

I push you high, cherry blossom
On your sycamore tree
What you don't tell no one, you can tell me

Swing it high like Jesus, wild and free
Dandelions in your hair, baby
You're very brave and there's much to see

I push you high, cherry blossom
On your sycamore tree
What you don't tell no one, you can tell me

And when you're scared, I'll be right here
You feel afraid, mommy is there
It's a cruel, cruel world
But we don't care
'Cause what we've got, we've got to share

What you don't tell no one, you can tell me
Little ghost, blonde hair with lemonade tea
There's much to learn and so much to see

I push you high, Angelina
On your sycamore tree
What you don't tell no one, you can tell me

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Sweet Carolina

(Okay)

Don't have to write me a letter
'Cause I'll always be right here
Closer to you than your next breath, my dear

We love every hair on your head
Love you like God loves you
And you say that you're scared
My bae, I'm prepared for having the baby blues

Baby blues
Baby blues
If things ever go wrong
Just know this is your song and we love you

You name your babe Lilac Heaven
After your iPhone 11
"Crypto forever" screams your stupid boyfriend
F*ck you, Kevin

We love every freckle you have
We love you like God loves you
If you're ever stressed out, just dance in the night
If you get those baby blues

Baby blues
Baby blues
If things ever go wrong
Just know this is your song and we love you

Pink slippers all on the floor and
Woven nets over the door
It's as close as we'll get to the dream that they had
In the one night sixties
And Jason is out in the lawn
And he powerwashes every time things go wrong
If you're stressed out just know you can dance to your song
'Cause we got you

If you get the blues
Baby blues
Just know this is your song
It'll live on and on way past me and you
If you get the blues
Baby blues
You've got us, we've got you
So there's nothing to lose, and we love you

So don't write me a letter
I'll always be right here
Closer to you than your next breath, my dear