"Gods & Monsters" (also written as "Gods and Monsters", registered as "Gods",[1] and referred to as "In the Land of Gods and Monsters") is a song written by Lana Del Rey and Tim Larcombe, produced by the latter. It serves as the sixth track from her second major-label EP Paradise.
Background[]
Del Rey first mentioned the song as "In the Land of Gods and Monsters" during an interview with Spanish radio station Catalunya Ràdio on June 15, 2012.[2]
On May 7, 2017, various snippets of the official instrumental, a cappella, and TV track versions of the song leaked online from a sampler CD. On May 5, 2018, the full instrumental and a cappella leaked in lossless format. On April 18, 2020, the full TV track leaked.
Composition[]
The song is in the key of G♯ minor with at 96 BPM. It is a soft rock ballad that lyrically deals with innocence and hedonism. The song features signature sounds from Haynie that are reminiscent of his work on "Million Dollar Man".
Critical reception[]
The track received mostly positive reviews from critics. Jesse Cataldo of Slant noted that, from Paradise, only "Gods & Monsters" and "Burning Desire" were "on the same level as Born to Die...attaining a similar degree of snappy, mesmerizing languorousness."[3] A contributor from Sputnikmusic wrote about the song's ironic reflection on Del Rey's career and "the damaging nature of addiction to fame", while praising the song's "shock factor".[4] David Edwards of Drowned In Sound described "Gods & Monsters" as a "moment of frustration" on the EP, commenting that the song "simply drags".[5]
Use in media[]
In 2014, "Gods and Monsters" was used in promotional material for the "Who Killy Lucy?" storyline from British soap opera Eastenders.[6] That same year, the song was performed by American actress Jessica Lange on episode three of Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story: Freak Show, "Edward Mordrake (Part 1)".[7] The cover was released to streaming services on October 22, 2014.
The song is also featured in the 2016 film El Bosco: El jardín de los sueños, a Spanish documentary about The Garden of Earthly Delights, an Early Netherlandish masterwork by Hieronymus Bosch.[8]
Tropico short film[]
- Main article: Tropico (film)
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | December 6, 2013 |
| Length | 27:08 | |
| Director | Anthony Mandler | |
| Producer | Heather Heller | |
| Filmed | June 2013 | |
| Location | Los Angeles, California | |
| Vevo views | 11 million+ views | |
Description[]
The song is one of three from Paradise that were featured in Del Rey's 2013 short film, Tropico, acting as the soundtrack to the eponymous second chapter of the triptych. This middle sequence opens with Del Rey performing a reading of Walt Whitman's "I Sing the Body Electric", and a flash forward in time to present-day Los Angeles. Del Rey's character is shown to work as a stripper, while Shaun Ross' character is a convenience store clerk and part of a gang. "Gods & Monsters" plays over clips of the lover's debauched revelry. Once the song ends, Del Rey recites Allen Ginsberg's "Howl" over scenes of wealthy business men surprising their friend on his birthday with strippers. The event proves to be a setup as Ross and his gang barge into the room with guns, emptying the wallets of each of the businessmen.
Tropico EP[]
- Main article: Tropico (EP)
To accompany the release of the short film, an EP featuring the tracks "Body Electric", "Gods & Monsters", and "Bel Air" was released exclusively to iTunes on December 6, 2013. This EP also includes a digital copy of the short film itself.
Cross-references[]
- Del Rey tells someone to grab/touch her waist in "Go Go Dancer" and "Love Song".
- God is mentioned in many Del Rey songs, most notably "God Knows I Tried", "Life Is Beautiful", and "Wolf T-Shirt", among others.
- The lyric "me and God, we don't get along" has the same syntax as "me and my momma, we don't get along" from "My Momma".
- Angels are also mentioned in "Angels Forever, Forever Angels", "Don't Call Me Angel", "Arcadia", and the poem "Never to Heaven".
- Liquor is also mentioned in "California", "Motel 6", "Heroin", and "Carmen".
- Jim Morrison is also referenced in "Hollywood" and the poem "Tessa DiPietro".
- Motels are also mentioned in "Motel 6" and the title of "Mermaid Motel".
- Groupies are also mentioned in "Groupie Love" and "West Coast".
- Drugs are also referenced in "Heroin", "Disco", and "Jump", among some other songs.
- A garden is also mentioned in "Cherry", "Off to the Races", "Bartender", and "Burnt Norton (Interlude)".
Official versions[]
- Album version – 3:57
- Instrumental version – 3:58
- A cappella version – 3:58
- Clean version – 3:57
- TV Track version – 3:58
- Paradise Tour rehearsal session – 4:03
Official remixes[]
- Balistiq Remix – 3:33
- Balistiq Instrumental – 3:31
- Club Clique Remix – 4:13
- Mokadem Remix – 4:42
- Mokadem Instrumental – 4:45
- Village Remix – 4:39
Lyrics[]
(L.A., L.A.)
(L.A., L.A.)
In the land of gods and monsters, I was an angel
Livin' in the garden of evil
Screwed up, scared, doin' anything that I needed
Shinin' like a fiery beacon
You got that medicine I need
Fame, liquor, love, give it to me slowly
Put your hands on my waist, do it softly
Me and God, we don't get along, so now I sing
No one's gonna take my soul away
I'm livin' like Jim Morrison
Headed towards a fucked up holiday
Motel sprees, sprees and I'm singin'
Fuck yeah, give it to me, this is heaven, what I truly want
It's innocence lost, innocence lost
In the land of gods and monsters, I was an angel
Lookin' to get fucked hard
Like a groupie incognito posin' as a real singer
Life imitates art
You got that medicine I need
Dope, shoot it up, straight to the heart, please
I don't really wanna know what's good for me
God's dead, I said, "baby, that's all right with me"
No one's gonna take my soul away
I'm livin' like Jim Morrison
Headed towards a fucked up holiday
Motel sprees, sprees and I'm singin'
Fuck yeah, give it to me, this is heaven, what I truly want
It's innocence lost, innocence lost
When you talk, it's like a movie and you're makin' me crazy
'Cause life imitates art
If I get a little prettier, can I be your baby?
You tell me, "life isn't that hard"
No one's gonna take my soul away
I'm livin' like Jim Morrison
Headed towards a fucked up holiday
Motel sprees, sprees and I'm singin'
Fuck yeah, give it to me, this is heaven, what I truly want
It's innocence lost, innocence lost
Promotional releases[]
Gods and Monsters CD by Polydor; United Kingdom[]
Gods and Monsters CDr by Polydor and Interscope; United Kingdom & United States[]
Gods and Monsters CDr by Polydor; United Kingdom[]
Credits[]
- Personnel[a]
- Lana Del Rey – songwriting, vocals
- Tim Larcombe – songwriting, production, keys, guitars, drums
- Emile Haynie – additional production, additional keys, drums
- Dan Heath – strings arrangement, horns
- Robert Orton – mixing
- John Davis – mastering
- Technical
- Published by EMI / Leonard Street Songs Publishing
- Recorded at The Square Recording Studio, London, United Kingdom
- Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom
- Mixed at Hot Rocks Studio
