"American" is a song by Lana Del Rey released on her third EP and second major release, Paradise The track was written by Del Rey and Emile Haynie and was produced by Rick Nowels.
Cross references
- Direct reference to "Elvis".
- Del Rey asks her lover to "spin me 'round" in "On Our Way".
- A "party dress" is referenced in "National Anthem", "Dangerous Girl", "Smarty", "True Love on the Side", "Cruel World" and "Hawaiian Tropic".
- Driving fast is in "Burning Desire".
- The phrase "tall, tan" is in "Cherry Blossom".
- The lyric "...hell yes, honey put on that party dress" is a reference to Mary Jane's Last Dance by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
Lyrics
Play house, put my favorite record on
Get down, get your crystal method on
You were like tall, tan, driving 'round the city
Flirtin' with the girls like, "You're so pretty."
"Springsteen is the king, don't you think?"
I was like, "Hell yeah, that guy can sing."
Like ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-oh
You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, spin me 'round like a child
Your skin so gold and brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Drive fast, I can almost taste it now
L.A., I don't even have to fake it now
You were like so sick, everybody said it
You were way ahead of the trend, g-get it
Elvis is the best, hell yes
Honey, put on that party dress
Like, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-oh
You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, you spin me round like a child
Your skin so gold and brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
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
You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, you spin me round like a child
Your skin so gold and brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Credits
Personnel
- Recording — Kieron Menzies
- Additional recording — Chris Garcia, Jordan Stillwell
- Keyboards & Matrix 1000 — Rick Nowels
- Drums — Emile Haynie
- Electic guitar — Patrick Warren, Tim Pierce
- Piano & Synthesiser — Patrick Warren
- Mixing — Kieron Menzies
- Mastering — John Davis at Metropolis Mastering (London)
- Recording — Kieron Menzies at The Green Building, Santa Monica (California)
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