"Driving in Cars with Boys" is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey. The track was co-written with David Sneddon and James Bauer-Mein of The Nexus in 2010, who produced the two versions from the Born to Die sessions. The song was later reworked by Paul Epworth[S 1] in 2014 for Ultraviolence. It is registered to ASCAP[1] and HFA.[2]
Background[]
The first version of the song, recorded in 2010, leaked on September 27, 2011. The second version, recorded in 2011, leaked on February 18, 2012. The third version, recorded in 2014, leaked on March 30, 2023. The original filenames of the three versions are: "Driving In Cars With Boys 091110 1327", "Driving In Cars With Boys 090311 1448", and "Driving In CHURCHapi 21Feb14 Lim". This suggests the first version was produced on November 9, 2010, the second on March 9, 2011, and the third on February 21, 2014.
According to The Guardian, Del Rey's team sent to them a Born to Die sampler consisting of "nearly 19 tracks" in mid-2011.[3] Among other unreleased songs, the sampler included "Driving in Cars with Boys", affirming its proximity to an official release on her debut album.
Cross-references[]
- "Miss America" is referenced in "Trash Magic" and "Mermaid Motel".
- Blue mascara is also mentioned in "Pin Up Galore".
- Del Rey mentions Billy's pickup truck and mentions his name in many other songs, including "Motel 6" and "Unidentified Flying Bill".
- "Poison ivy" is a nickname of Del Rey's also used in "Ultraviolence".
- The phrase "live fast, die young" also appears in "Never Let Me Go" and in the monologue from the "Ride" music video.
- Direct reference to "Ridin'".
- Del Rey sings about being dangerous in "Dangerous Girl" and "Noir".
- The phrase "girls just wanna have fun", a reference to the 1983 Cyndi Lauper song, also appears in "Bartender".
- Rock 'n' roll is also mentioned in "Backfire" and "St. Tropez".
- Cars are also mentioned in "Video Games", "California", "Bartender", and "Children of the Bad Revolution", among many other songs.
- White noise is also mentioned in "Candy Necklace".
Official versions[]
- Version 1 (produced by The Nexus) – 4:16
- Version 2 (produced by The Nexus) – 4:01
- Version 3 (produced by Paul Epworth) – 4:06
Lyrics[]
Version 1[]
They say I'm wastin' time, they say that I'm no good
Summer of my life, not doin' what I should
Call me poison ivy 'cause I'm far from good
But pretty from afar, like a dark star
They say I'm dangerous, they think I'm really bad
I'm just makin' up for what I never had
Go out every night whenever I feel sad
Oh, this drive-by love got me crazy like a drug
I wear my red lipstick, got my makeup on
Stumble into trouble, siren with a sad song
They all got girlfriends but I'm the one that they want
Miss America with the blue mascara on
I spent my whole life drivin' in cars with boys
Ridin' 'round town, drinkin' in the white noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
I spent my whole life wasted in bars with boys
Playin' rock 'n' roll, dancin' in the loud noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
Mommy's Mercedes or Billy's pickup truck
Come home late at night and baby picks me up
Tell him, "Just drive on and d-don't ever stop
Don't take me home again, take me to a new land"
I wear my red lipstick, grab my coat and gun
Wonder if this is it, it's darkest before dawn
Sometimes I wanna give in but I just have to go on
Miss America, now I'm gone, baby, gone
I spent my whole life drivin' in cars with boys
Ridin' 'round town, drinkin' in the white noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
I spent my whole life wasted in bars with boys
Playin' rock 'n' roll, dancin' in the loud noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
I was born to live fast, die young
Leave a beautiful corpse, live my life on the run
I got my cash and my Louis Vuitton, diamonds and guns
Girls just wanna, just wanna have fun
I spent my whole life drivin' in cars with boys
Ridin' 'round town, drinkin' in the white noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
I spent my whole life wasted in bars with boys
Playin' rock 'n' roll, dancin' in the loud noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
I spent my whole life wasted in bars with boys
Playin' rock 'n' roll, dancin' in the loud noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
Versions 2 & 3[]
They say I'm wastin' time, they say that I'm no good
Summer of my life, not doing what I should
Call me poison ivy 'cause I'm far from good
But pretty from afar, like a dark star
They think I'm dangerous, they think I'm really bad
I'm just making up for what I never had
Go out every night whenever I feel sad
Oh, this drive-by love got me crazy like a drug
I wear my red lipstick, got my makeup on
I'm Miss America, now I'm gone, baby, gone
I spent my whole life driving in cars with boys
Ridin' 'round town, drinkin' in the white noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
I spent my whole life wasted in bars with boys
Playin' rock 'n' roll, dancin' in the loud noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
Mommy's Mercedes or Billy's pickup truck
Come home late at night and baby picks me up
Tell him, "Just drive on and d-don't ever stop
Don't take me home again, take me to a new land"
I wear my red lipstick, got my coat and gun
I'm Miss America, now I'm gone, baby, gone
I spent my whole life driving in cars with boys
Ridin' 'round town, drinkin' in the white noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
I spent my whole life wasted in bars with boys
Playin' rock 'n' roll, dancin' in the loud noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
I was born to live fast, die young
Leave a beautiful corpse, live my life on the run
I got my cash and my Louis Vuitton, diamonds and guns
Girls just wanna, just wanna have fun
I spent my whole life drivin' in cars with boys
Ridin' 'round town, drinkin' in the white noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
I spend my whole life driving in cars with boys
Ridin' 'round town, drinkin' in the white noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
I spent my whole life wasted in bars with boys
Playin' rock 'n' roll, dancin' in the loud noise
Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go
Now we know, baby, now we know
References[]
- ↑ ASCAP Work ID: 883183263
- ↑ HFA Song Code: D6837C
- ↑ Lester, Paul (May 13, 2011). "Lana Del Rey (No 1,022)". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/may/13/new-band-lana-del-ray. Retrieved January 22, 2025.