"Elvis" is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey, recorded in 2008. Del Rey self-produced the song and uploaded it to her Myspace under the stage name Sparkle Jump Rope Queen.[1] The song was registered to ASCAP in December 2017[2] and is also registered to ISWC.[3]
Background[]
"Elvis" remained publicly available online throughout the start of Del Rey's career started and has no discernible leak date. The original file of the song leaked on December 22, 2023. The song was included on a 20-track demo compilation put together by Del Rey in March 2009, titled Demo March 2009.
The title of the song could be seen in a January 2013 photo of Del Rey in the studio with her written notes partially visible in the background,[4] indicating that it may have been considered for inclusion on her scrapped third studio album.[S 1]
In early 2018, a promotional poster for an independent Elvis Presley documentary directed by Eugene Jarecki titled The King was released, revealing Del Rey would make a musical appearance in the film. On May 25, a fan account revealed that, through contact with the film's distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories, Del Rey would lend the song for the film.[5] On June 30, 2018, Del Rey posted about the inclusion of the song in Jarecki's film on Twitter.[6]
Cross-references[]
- Elvis Presley is mentioned in many Del Rey songs, such as "Body Electric" and "Hollywood's Dead". He is a central figure in Del Rey's short film Tropico.
- "Thank you very much" was a popular phrase used by Elvis during his concerts. A recording of him saying it is featured at the end of "Methamphetamines".
- Del Rey mentions the Chateau Marmont in "Heavy Hitter", "Off to the Races", and "She's Not Me".
- Champagne is mentioned in "Every Man Gets His Wish", "Beautiful Player", and "Let Me Love You like a Woman".
- Del Rey also sings about blue hydrangeas in "Axl Rose Husband", "Greenwich", and "Old Money".
- Hope is also mentioned in "Hope Is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman like Me to Have – but I Have It".
- Lace is also mentioned in "Go Go Dancer" and the poem "Patent Leather Do-Over".
- Florida is also referenced in "Axl Rose Husband", "Florida Kilos", and "Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd". "Florida Dark" is also an alternate title of "Kill Kill".
Lyrics[]
Platinum and vale acrylics
Skim the paper for the critics
Baby's breath and Elvis lyrics
On the copper bar
Late in motel lounges, singin'
Spotlight on the band is swingin'
Chateau Marmont memories fadin'
Hope is very far
Elvis, where are you when I need you most?
White [?] sequin jumpsuit ghost
Pick me up and make a toast
Champagne in the air
Tippin' back his head, relaxin'
"Thank you very much" and I'm laughin'
All my Chantilly lace catchin'
Baby, on the chandelier
Sweepin' scents and blue hydrangea
Summer hail and summer stranger
Baby, he's in constant danger
Help is very far
You look like a Florida native
"Are you?" I said, at the rate of
Slow molasses from the state of
Vermont with a Southern drawl
Elvis, where are you when I need you most?
White [?] sequin jumpsuit ghost
Pick me up and make a toast
Champagne in the air
Tippin' back his head, relaxin'
"Thank you very much" and I'm laughin'
All my Chantilly lace is catchin'
On the chandelier
He said he'd come to welcome, warn me
Just your diamond to adorn me
Come to be and see the one and only
For my final year, well, thank you
Elvis, where are you when I need you most?
White [?] sequin jumpsuit ghost
Pick me up and make a toast
Champagne in the air
Tippin' back his head, relaxin'
"Thank you very much" and I'm laughin'
All my Chantilly lace is catchin'
On that chandelier
It's catchin' on that chandelier
It's catchin' on that chandelier
Where are you when I need you most?
Media[]
References[]
- ↑ "Sparkle Jump Rope Queen". Myspace. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110709072027/https://myspace.com/sparklejumpropequeen.
- ↑ ASCAP Work ID: 893215509
- ↑ ISWC: T-922.469.502-7
- ↑ Postimages: January 2013 photo of Del Rey's notebook in the studio. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ↑ Imgur: Screenshot archive of May 2018 email correspondence with Oscilloscope Laboratories. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
- ↑ Del Rey, Lana (June 30, 2018). "My composition ‘Elvis’ for the new film called ‘The King’ out now directed by Eugene Jarecki". Twitter. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181002033841/https://twitter.com/LanaDelRey/status/1013084995886428163.