"Carmen" is a song written by Lana Del Rey and Justin Parker and produced by Emile Haynie and Jeff Bhasker. Taken from Lana's first major-label album Born to Die, the song served as the album's second promotional single worldwide, following "Off to the Races". An acapella demo of the song was leaked in early 2012.
Cross-references
- The lyric "mind like a diamond" is also in "JFK".
- References to Coney Island are also present in "Mermaid Motel", "Off to the Races" and "TV In Black & White".
Lyrics
Final
Darlin', darlin', doesn't have a problem
Lyin' to herself 'cause her liquor's top shelf
It's alarmin', honestly, how charming she can be
Fooling everyone, tellin' 'em she's having fun
She says, "You don't wanna be like me
Don't wanna see all the things I've seen
I'm dyin', I'm dyin'"
She says, "You don't wanna get this way
Famous and dumb at an early age
Lyin', I'm lyin'"
The boys, the girls, they all like Carmen
She gives them butterflies, bats her cartoon eyes
She laughs like God, her mind's like a diamond
Audio tune lies, she's still shining
Like lightning, whoa, like lightning
Carmen, Carmen, stayin' up till mornin'
Only seventeen but she walks the streets so mean
It's alarmin', truly, how disarmin' you can be
Eatin' soft ice cream, Coney Island queen
She says, "You don't wanna be like me
Lookin' for fun, gettin' high for free
I'm dyin', I'm dyin'"
She says, "You don't wanna get this way
Streetwalk at night, and a star by day
It's tirin', tirin
The boys, the girls, they all like Carmen
She gives them butterflies, bats her cartoon eyes
She laughs like God, her mind's like a diamond
Audio tune lies, she's still shining
Like lightning, whoa, like lightning
Baby's all dressed up with nowhere to go
That's the little story of the girl you know
Relyin' on the kindness of strangers
Tyin' cherry knots, smilin', doin' party favors
Put your red dress on, put your lipstick on
Sing your song, song, now, the camera's on
And you're alive again
Mon amour, je sais que tu m'aimes aussi
Tu as besoin de moi
Tu as besoin de moi dans ta vie
Tu ne peux vivre sans moi
Et je mourrai sans toi
Je tuerais pour toi
The boys, the girls, they all like Carmen
She gives them butterflies, bats her cartoon eyes
She laughs like God, her mind's like a diamond
Audio tune lies, she's still shining
Like lightning, whoa, like lightning
Like lightning, whoa, like lightning
Darling, darlin', doesn't have a problem
Lyin' to herself 'cause her liquor's top shelf
Acapella demo
The boys, the girls, they all like Carmen
She gives them butterflies, bats her cartoon eyes
She laughs like God, her mind’s like a diamond
Audio tune lies, she’s still shining. shining, shining
Darlin’, darlin’, doesn't have a problem
Lyin’ to herself ‘cause her liquor’s top shelf
It’s alarmin’, honestly, how charming she can be
She's fooling everyone, tellin’ ‘em she’s having fun
The night descends and there goes Carmen
Only seventeen, but she walks the streets so mean
The men, they stop when she walks by 'em
Whisper "Who is she?" La princessa de la silence (?)
Her walk is art; her words are lightning
Striking everyone when she passes by them
Carmen, darlin’, doesn't have a problem
She's lyin’ to herself ‘cause her liquor’s top shelf
It’s alarmin’, honestly, how charming she can be
She's fooling everyone, tellin’ ‘em she’s having fun
She looks animated like cartoon baby
With her tiara smile and her shortcake heart
She looks animated like cartoon baby
with her champagne sex (?) and her cocaine heart
She's like a light that you can't turn off
Getting too bright and you need to stop
But you can't turn off and you're getting hot
And your body keeps twistin', movin', twistin', movin', shakin', yeah
twistin', movin', shakin', yeah
Dance til dawn, yeah, you dance til you drop
Carmen, Carmen, doesn't have a problem
Lyin' to herself ‘cause her liquor’s top shelf
It’s alarmin’, honestly, how disarming she can be
Fooling everyone, when inside you know you're dyin'
Carmen, Carmen, doesn't have a problem
Lyin’ to herself ‘cause her liquor’s top shelf
Music Video
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | April 21, 2012 |
| Length | 5:16 | |
| Director | Lana Del Rey | |
| Producer | Unknown | |
| Filmed | Unknown, 2012 | |
| Location | Unknown | |
| Vevo views | N/A | |
Credits
Personnel
- Vocal production — Justin Parker
- French vocals — Lenha Labelle
- Drums — Emile Haynie
- Guitar — Emile Haynie
- Keyboards — Emile Haynie
- Additional keyboards — Jeff Bhasker
- Additional strings — Jeff Bhasker
- Strings arrangement and conducting — Larry Gold
- Strings assisting — Steve Tirpak
- Mixing — Manny Marroquin
- Assistant mixing — Erik Madrid & Chris Galland
Photoshoot by Nicole Nodland (Unknown, 2012)
