"1949" is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey recorded in 2009. An acoustic demo leaked on July 1, 2012, followed by the studio version, which leaked on May 11, 2016. The track was produced by duo Rich Mercurio and Lee Nadel and has not been registered on any known copyright service.
Background[]
The studio version of the song features an unsolved harsh cut at the end. The song's original file, which leaked on January 7, 2024, was also cut. This implies that an uncut version may not exist.
The song is heavily referential of the plot of the 1955 novel Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.
Media use[]
In March 2018, the acoustic demo was played during a Vogue Italia runway show.[1]
Cross-references[]
- A radio is also mentioned in "Fuck It I Love You", "Put the Radio On", "Roll with Me (On the Radio)", "Terrence Loves You", "Tomorrow Never Came", and in the song of the same name.
- A vacation is also mentioned in "Aviation", "Axl Rose Husband", "Freak", and in the poem "LA Who Am I to Love You".
- Alabama is also mentioned in "I Talk to Jesus", "Pin Up Galore", "Ave Maria", and "Trash Magic".
- Blonde hair is also mentioned in "Cherry Blossom" and "Text Book".
- Cadillacs are also mentioned in "Back to the Basics", "Hawaiian Tropic", "Jump", and "Spin Me Round".
- Having long hair is also mentioned in "Coachella - Woodstock in My Mind" and "Lolita".
- Pontiacs are also mentioned in "Axl Rose Husband", "Diet Mountain Dew", "Beach Boys", and "Motel 6".
- Del Rey mentions her "[blue] nail polish" in "Off to the Races" and "The Blackest Day", while alluding to it in "Your Girl".
- Del Rey refers to someone as her "daddy" in "Be My Daddy", "Florida Kilos", "Put Me in a Movie", "You Can Be the Boss", and "Ride".
- The color blue is also mentioned in "Blue Jeans", "Get Free", "God Knows I Tried", "Nectar of the Gods", and "Salvatore", among several others.
- The song's chorus was reused as the pre-chorus of "Every Man Gets His Wish".
- A reference to going to K-Mart to buy lip gloss is found in "On Our Way".
- References to motels are found in the titles "Motel 6" and "Mermaid Motel", as well as in the lyrics of "Trash Magic", "Kinda Outta Luck", "Gods & Monsters", and the second version of "Come When You Call Me America".
- The reference to an "icy stare" is similar to the "prostitute stare" from "Disco".
- The phrase "flower motel nation/motel flower nation" is similar to "pretty party nation" from "Gramma (Blue Ribbon Sparkler Trailer Heaven)" and "pro-ana nation" from "Boarding School".
- References to a "pretty song" can also be found on "For K, Pt. 2" and "Ride".
- The "carry me" theme also appears in "Your Girl", "Out with a Bang", and "The Blackest Day".
Official versions[]
- Studio version — 2:58
- Acoustic demo — 2:27
Lyrics[]
Studio version[]
Carry me up them stairs with my white socks on
And my pretty song
Like my blue nail polish, "What is all this?"
You said of the mess upstairs
"Don't scare"
Daddy dearest, you know how I like to take trips
Pops first stops at the K-Mart, buy me my peach lipgloss
Cigarettes and lollipops for our trip across the USA
We're gonna party like it's 1949
We're in the Pontiac from July to July
Gonna see it all before he says goodbye
Gonna party like it's 1949
Carry me up the stairs with my white socks on
And my blonde hair long
You like my pin-up bodice and the solace
That comes with the midnight air
And my icy stare
It's the clearest when it's me and him alone
He stops, he talks about all the ways he used to, duh-duh
Dinnerettes and soda pops for our trip across the USA
We're gonna party like it's 1949
We're in the Pontiac from July to July
Gonna see it all before he says goodbye
Gonna party like it's 1949
Daddy likes Blackpool Pleasure Beach and road stops
Me, I like the Swiss Alps souvenir gift shops
Late night midnight radio show talks
Him and me, a big jailbreak
Ponytail and lollipops, dinerettes and soda pops
New blue bathing suit, ruched tops and Cadillacs
Blue Lake Carter docks, hopscotch, hot talk
Alabama hard knocks, motel brass locks
Acoustic demo[]
Carry me up them stairs with my white socks on
And my pretty song
You like my blue nail polish, "What is all this?"
You said, "The mess upstairs"
Don't be scared
Daddy dearest, you know how I like to take trips
Pops, first stop at the K-Mart, buy me my peach lip gloss
Cigarettes and lollipops, Mad Magazine and white socks
All in your car for our trip across the USA
We gonna party like it's 1949
We in the Pontiac from July to July
It's a flower motel nation
Day and night on our last vacation
We gonna see it all before we say goodbye
Daddy likes Blackpool Pleasure Beach and road stops
Baby likes the Swiss Alps, souvenir gift shops
Late night, midnight radio show talks
Daddy, baby, big jailbreak
Ponytail and lollipops, dinerettes and soda pops
New blue bathing suit, ruched tops and Cadillacs
Blue Lake Carter docks, hopscotch, shit talk
Alabama hard knocks, motel brass locks
We gonna party like it's 1949
We in the Pontiac from July to July
It's a motel flower nation
Day and night on our last vacation
We gonna see it all before he says goodbye
References[]
- ↑ Elle (March 2, 2018). Lanaboards. http://lanaboards.com/topic/717-1949/?do=findComment&comment=617347. Retrieved August 30, 2023.