Lana Del Rey Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Lana Del Rey Wiki
The Lana Del Rey Wiki
1,260
pages
in: Articles with dead external links, Articles with citation needed, Songs,
and 4 more

Changes: California (song)

Back to page
Edit
No edit summary
No edit summary
Tag: Source edit
 
(89 intermediate revisions by 34 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Infobox song
  
{{Infobox song
−
|image = File:NormanFuckingRockwell.jpg
 +
|image = NormanFuckingRockwell.jpg
 
|artist = Lana Del Rey
  
|artist = Lana Del Rey
 
|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Zach Dawes]]
  
|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Zach Dawes]]
  +
|producer = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>Zach Dawes<br>[[Jack Antonoff]]
−
|producer =
 
−
|recorded =
+
|recorded = 2017<br>January 18, 2019
 
|time = 5:05
  
|time = 5:05
−
|Source = [[File:Nfrlogo.png|85px|link=Norman Fucking Rockwell (album)]]
 +
|Source = [[File:Nfrlogo.png|link=Norman Fucking Rockwell! (album)]]
 
|Singles = {{6S}}
  
|Singles = {{6S}}
 
|next = "[[The Next Best American Record (song)|The Next Best American Record]]"
  
|next = "[[The Next Best American Record (song)|The Next Best American Record]]"
 
|previous = "[[How to Disappear (song)|How to Disappear]]"
  
|previous = "[[How to Disappear (song)|How to Disappear]]"
−
|album = [[Norman Fucking Rockwell (album)|Norman Fucking Rockwell]]
 +
|album = [[Norman Fucking Rockwell! (album)|Norman Fucking Rockwell!]]
 
|MiX = {{Singles7}}
  
|MiX = {{Singles7}}
  +
|altproducer = [[The Last Shadow Puppets]]
⚫
}}"'''California'''" is a song by [[Lana Del Rey]] from her upcoming sixth studio album ''[[Norman Fucking Rockwell (album)|Norman Fucking Rockwell]]''.
  
  +
|released = August 30, 2019}}
  +
{{about|the song produced by [[Zach Dawes]] for [[Norman Fucking Rockwell! (album)|Norman Fucking Rockwell!]]|the 2014 unreleased song of the same name|California (unreleased song)}}
  ⚫
"'''California'''" (previously referred to as "'''You Don't Ever Have To'''") is a song by [[Lana Del Rey]] from her sixth studio album ''[[Norman Fucking Rockwell! (album)|Norman Fucking Rockwell!]]''. It was co-written with [[Zach Dawes]] and produced by Del Rey herself, Dawes and [[Jack Antonoff]].
   
 
==Background==
  
==Background==
−
Del Rey posted a snippet of the song on Instagram on April 3, 2019.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzZMLcjQk-/ Lana Del Rey (@lanadelrey). Instagram. [Access date: April 3, 2019<nowiki>]</nowiki>]</ref>
 +
Del Rey posted a snippet of the song on Instagram on April 3, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Del Rey|first=Lana|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzZMLcjQk-/|title=u don’t ever have to be stronger than u really are when ur lying in my arms baby u don’t ever have to go faster than ur fastest pace or faster than my fastest cars|work=Instagram|date=April 3, 2019}}</ref>{{Dead link}} On July 30, 2019, fans discovered the official title was "California" after using Shazam to identify the snippet from Instagram.
   
  +
It has been confirmed that the track belonged to [[Unreleased The Last Shadow Puppets Collaboration (album)|a scrapped album]] with The Last Shadow Puppets along with "[[Thunder (song)|Thunder]]".{{Citation needed}} A snippet of the demo version leaked on August 27, 2020. A second snippet leaked on September 9, 2020.
−
Titles fans gave the snippet were "You Don't Ever Have To" and "Be Stronger". On July 30th, fans discovered the official title was "California" after using Shazam to identify the snippet from Instagram.
  
  +
  +
==Music video==
  +
A homemade video for the song was filmed, but was never officially released.<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/CDO2gzqHpDb/</ref>{{Dead link}} A still from the music video was leaked on August 3, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lanaism|url=https://twitter.com/LanaismPoland/status/1290417139480961027|title=A leaked picture from Lana Del Rey’s “California” unreleased music video.|work=Twitter|date=August 3, 2020|accessdate=March 21, 2024}}</ref>
   
 
==Cross-references==
  
==Cross-references==
  +
*California is directly referred in a lot of her songs including "[[Fuck It I Love You (song)|Fuck It I Love You]]", "[[Freak (song)|Freak]]", "[[How to Disappear (song)|How to Disappear]]", "[[Angels Forever, Forever Angels (song)|Angels Forever, Forever Angels]]", "[[Shades of Cool (song)|Shades of Cool]]", and "[[If I Die Young (song)|If I Die Young]]".
 
*Trying to be stronger is also a topic in "[[Venice Bitch (song)|Venice Bitch]]".
  
*Trying to be stronger is also a topic in "[[Venice Bitch (song)|Venice Bitch]]".
  +
*The phrase "I'll catch you on the flipside" is a direct reference to "[[Flipside (song)|Flipside]]".
  +
*The lyric "Your favorite liquor off the top-shelf" is similar to "'Cause her liquor's top shelf" in "[[Carmen (song)|Carmen]]".
  +
*Del Rey also counts "One, two, three, four" in "[[Summertime Sadness (song)|Summertime Sadness]]" and "[[Push Me Down (song)|Push Me Down]]".
  +
*The phrase "I'll pick you up" also appears in "[[Happiness Is a Butterfly (song)|Happiness Is a Butterfly]]".
  +
*Fast cars are also mentioned in "[[Video Games (song)|Video Games]]" and "[[Children of the Bad Revolution (song)|Children of the Bad Revolution]]".
  +
*War is also mentioned in "[[Ride (song)|Ride]]", "[[Get Free (song)|Get Free]]" and "[[When the World Was at War We Kept Dancing (song)|When The World Was At War Before We Kept Dancing]]".
  +
*Dancing 'till dawn is also mentioned in "[[Prom Song (Gone Wrong) (song)|Prom Song (Gone Wrong)]]".
  +
*Weather is also mentioned in "Shades Of Cool", "[[The Blackest Day (song)|The Blackest Day]]" and "[[Heroin (song)|Heroin]]".
  +
*Del Rey describing her partner as who is scared to lose alludes in "[[Honeymoon (song)|Honeymoon]]".
  +
*A party is also mentioned in "[[St. Tropez (song)|St. Tropez]]", "[[Party Girl (song)|Party Girl]]", "[[Motel 6 (song)|Motel 6]]", "[[Art Deco (song)|Art Deco]]", "[[Thunder (song)|Thunder]]" and in the poem "[[Violet Bent Backwards over the Grass (poem)|Violet Bent Backwards over the Grass]]".
  +
*Blues are mentioned in "[[Terrence Loves You (song)|Terrence Loves You]]", "[[Love (song)|Love]]" and "[[Tired of Singing the Blues (song)|Tired Of Singing The Blues]]".
  +
*Being strong and going fast are mentioned in "[[Never Let Me Go (song)|Never Let Me Go]]".
  +
*A letter is also mention in "[[Lust for Life (song)|Lust for Life]]".
  +
  +
==Official versions==
  +
*Album version — 5:06
  +
**Instrumental version — 5:02
  +
*Demo version — Unknown
   
 
==Lyrics==
  
==Lyrics==
  +
===Album version===
⚫
{{Scroll box
  
−
|content = <poem>
 +
{{Scroll box|content=<poem>
  +
(One, two, three, four)
⚫
You don't ever have to be stronger than you really are
 
  +
⚫
When you're lying in my arms
 
  ⚫
You don't ever have to
−
Baby
  
  ⚫
Be stronger than you really are
⚫
You don't ever have to
 
  +
When you're lying in my arms, baby
⚫
Go faster than your fastest pace
 
  +
You don't ever have to
  ⚫
Go faster than your fastest pace
 
Or faster than my fastest cars
  
Or faster than my fastest cars
  +
⚫
</poem>
  
  +
I shouldn't have done it, but I read it in your letter
−
}}
  
  +
You said to a friend that you wish you were doing better
  +
I wanted to reach out, but I never said a thing
  +
  +
I shouldn't have done it, but I read it in your letter
  +
You said to a friend that you wish you were doing better
  +
I wanted to call you, but I didn't say a thing
  +
  +
(One, two, three, four)
  +
Oh, I'll pick you up if you come back to America
  +
Just hit me up
  +
'Cause this is crazy love
  +
I'll catch you on the flipside
  +
If you come back to California, you should just hit me up
  +
We'll do whatever you want, travel wherever, how far
  +
We'll hit up all the old places
  +
We'll have a party, we'll dance till dawn
  +
I'll pick up all of your Vogues and all of your Rolling Stones
  +
Your favorite liquor off the top shelf
  +
I'll throw a party, all night long
  +
  +
You don't ever have to
  +
Be stronger than you really are
  ⚫
When you're lying in my arms
  +
And honey, you don't ever have to
  +
Act cooler than you think you should
  +
You're brighter than the brightest stars
  +
You're scared to win, scared to lose
  +
I've heard the war was over if you really choose
  +
The one in and around you
  +
You hate the heat, you got the blues
  +
Changing like the weather, oh, that's so like you
  +
The Santa Ana moves you
  +
(Two, three, four)
  +
  +
Oh, I'll pick you up if you come back to America
  +
Just hit me up
  +
'Cause this is crazy love
  +
I'll catch you on the flipside
  +
If you come back to California, you should just hit me up
  +
We'll do whatever you want, travel wherever, how far
  +
We'll hit up all the old places
  +
We'll have a party, we'll dance till dawn
  +
I'll pick up all of your Vogues and all of your Rolling Stones
  +
Your favorite liquor off the top shelf
  +
I'll throw a party, all night long
  +
  +
Oh, I'll pick you up if you come back to America
  +
Just hit me up
  +
'Cause this is crazy love
  +
I'll catch you on the flipside
  +
If you come back to California, you should just hit me up
  ⚫
</poem>}}
  +
  +
===Demo version===
  ⚫
{{Scroll box|content=<poem>
  +
'''[Snippet]:'''
  +
...gazing at horizons but never quite reaching them
  +
(One, two, three, four)...
  +
  +
...And still I tell you every time, oh...
  +
</poem>}}
  +
  +
==Credits==
  +
'''Personnel'''
  +
*[[Lana Del Rey]] — songwriting, additional production, vocals, programming, synthesizer, horns
  +
*[[Zach Dawes|Zachary Dawes]] — songwriting, production, piano
  +
*[[Jack Antonoff]] — production, engineering, mixing
  +
*[[Laura Sisk]] — engineering, mixing
  +
*Jonathan Sher — assistant engineering
  +
*John Rooney — assistant engineering
  +
*John Congleton — engineering
  +
*[[Dean Reid]] — engineering, mixing, bass guitar
  +
*[[Kieron Menzies]] — engineering, mixing, synthesizer, mellotron
  +
*Nicolas Jodoin — assistant engineering
  +
*Travis Pavur — assistant engineering
  +
*[[The Last Shadow Puppets|Loren Humphrey]] — drums
  +
*Darren Weiss — drums
  +
*Mike Riddleberger — drums
  +
*Sean Hutchinson — drums
  +
*Evan Weiss — guitar
  +
*[[Benji Lysaght]] — guitar
  +
*[[The Last Shadow Puppets|Tyler Parkford]] — hammond B3
  +
*Woozy Biff — harp
  +
*[[Mikey Freedom Hart]] — mellotron, piano
  +
*Adam Ayan — mastering
  +
*Chris Gehringer — mastering
  +
*Will Quinnell — assistant mastering
  +
  +
'''Technical'''
  +
*Mastered at Sterling Sound
  +
*Recorded at Valentine Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States / Hampstead Studios, London, United Kingdom / Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States / Electric Lady Studios, New York, United States
  +
*Mixed at Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States
   
 
==References==
  
==References==
 
{{Reflist}}
  
{{Reflist}}
  +
{{Navbox album NFR}}
  +
 
[[Category:Songs]]
  
[[Category:Songs]]
  +
[[Category:Released songs]]
 
[[Category:Norman Fucking Rockwell songs]]
  
[[Category:Norman Fucking Rockwell songs]]
  +
[[Category:Unreleased music videos]]
  +
[[Category:Music videos]]

Latest revision as of 19:58, 21 March 2024

This article is about the song produced by Zach Dawes for Norman Fucking Rockwell!. For the 2014 unreleased song of the same name, see California (unreleased song).

"California" (previously referred to as "You Don't Ever Have To") is a song by Lana Del Rey from her sixth studio album Norman Fucking Rockwell!. It was co-written with Zach Dawes and produced by Del Rey herself, Dawes and Jack Antonoff.

Background[]

Del Rey posted a snippet of the song on Instagram on April 3, 2019.[1][dead link] On July 30, 2019, fans discovered the official title was "California" after using Shazam to identify the snippet from Instagram.

It has been confirmed that the track belonged to a scrapped album with The Last Shadow Puppets along with "Thunder".[citation needed] A snippet of the demo version leaked on August 27, 2020. A second snippet leaked on September 9, 2020.

Music video[]

A homemade video for the song was filmed, but was never officially released.[2][dead link] A still from the music video was leaked on August 3, 2020.[3]

Cross-references[]

Official versions[]

  • Album version — 5:06
    • Instrumental version — 5:02
  • Demo version — Unknown

Lyrics[]

Album version[]

(One, two, three, four)

You don't ever have to
Be stronger than you really are
When you're lying in my arms, baby
You don't ever have to
Go faster than your fastest pace
Or faster than my fastest cars

I shouldn't have done it, but I read it in your letter
You said to a friend that you wish you were doing better
I wanted to reach out, but I never said a thing

I shouldn't have done it, but I read it in your letter
You said to a friend that you wish you were doing better
I wanted to call you, but I didn't say a thing

(One, two, three, four)
Oh, I'll pick you up if you come back to America
Just hit me up
'Cause this is crazy love
I'll catch you on the flipside
If you come back to California, you should just hit me up
We'll do whatever you want, travel wherever, how far
We'll hit up all the old places
We'll have a party, we'll dance till dawn
I'll pick up all of your Vogues and all of your Rolling Stones
Your favorite liquor off the top shelf
I'll throw a party, all night long

You don't ever have to
Be stronger than you really are
When you're lying in my arms
And honey, you don't ever have to
Act cooler than you think you should
You're brighter than the brightest stars
You're scared to win, scared to lose
I've heard the war was over if you really choose
The one in and around you
You hate the heat, you got the blues
Changing like the weather, oh, that's so like you
The Santa Ana moves you
(Two, three, four)

Oh, I'll pick you up if you come back to America
Just hit me up
'Cause this is crazy love
I'll catch you on the flipside
If you come back to California, you should just hit me up
We'll do whatever you want, travel wherever, how far
We'll hit up all the old places
We'll have a party, we'll dance till dawn
I'll pick up all of your Vogues and all of your Rolling Stones
Your favorite liquor off the top shelf
I'll throw a party, all night long

Oh, I'll pick you up if you come back to America
Just hit me up
'Cause this is crazy love
I'll catch you on the flipside
If you come back to California, you should just hit me up

Demo version[]

[Snippet]:
...gazing at horizons but never quite reaching them
(One, two, three, four)...

...And still I tell you every time, oh...

Credits[]

Personnel

  • Lana Del Rey — songwriting, additional production, vocals, programming, synthesizer, horns
  • Zachary Dawes — songwriting, production, piano
  • Jack Antonoff — production, engineering, mixing
  • Laura Sisk — engineering, mixing
  • Jonathan Sher — assistant engineering
  • John Rooney — assistant engineering
  • John Congleton — engineering
  • Dean Reid — engineering, mixing, bass guitar
  • Kieron Menzies — engineering, mixing, synthesizer, mellotron
  • Nicolas Jodoin — assistant engineering
  • Travis Pavur — assistant engineering
  • Loren Humphrey — drums
  • Darren Weiss — drums
  • Mike Riddleberger — drums
  • Sean Hutchinson — drums
  • Evan Weiss — guitar
  • Benji Lysaght — guitar
  • Tyler Parkford — hammond B3
  • Woozy Biff — harp
  • Mikey Freedom Hart — mellotron, piano
  • Adam Ayan — mastering
  • Chris Gehringer — mastering
  • Will Quinnell — assistant mastering

Technical

  • Mastered at Sterling Sound
  • Recorded at Valentine Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States / Hampstead Studios, London, United Kingdom / Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States / Electric Lady Studios, New York, United States
  • Mixed at Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States

References[]

  1. ↑ Del Rey, Lana (April 3, 2019). "u don’t ever have to be stronger than u really are when ur lying in my arms baby u don’t ever have to go faster than ur fastest pace or faster than my fastest cars". Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzZMLcjQk-/.
  2. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CDO2gzqHpDb/
  3. ↑ Lanaism (August 3, 2020). "A leaked picture from Lana Del Rey’s “California” unreleased music video.". Twitter. https://twitter.com/LanaismPoland/status/1290417139480961027. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
NFR one line
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.