"Gramma (Blue Ribbon Sparkler Trailer Heaven)" (registered as "Gramma" and also known as "Blue Ribbon" or "Blue Ribbon Sparkler") is a song written by Lana Del Rey and David Kahne. The song was recorded in 2008 for Del Rey's first EP, Kill Kill, and re-released during 2010 as a track from her debut studio album, Lana Del Ray.
Background and writing[]
In an interview with Index magazine in 2008, Del Rey explained "Gramma (Blue Ribbon Sparkler Trailer Heaven)" was the last song [her and David Kahne] recorded. She explains, "I already had the choruses, and I got to write the verses while I was living in a trailer in New Jersey. The best part of it was the light rail that ran from the Park to Hoboken. I wrote the verses on that, back and forth, because that's the best view of the city. I think that was one of my happiest times, and I think that makes for happiness in the verses. And I remember telling my grandma, 'I wish I could meet someone.' And she said, 'When I was young, we didn't have the chance or the choice to try and see a lot of people - you had to meet a man and that was kind of it - but don't be afraid to meet everybody.' And I thought, you're the first person in my family who's ever made me feel like it's okay to want to try and find the right thing." Kahne said on his website that "Lizzy's Gramma is so important in her life. While we were recording, Lizzy had a picture of her Gramma holding her on her lap. Lizzy was crying and her Gramma has such a sweet smile on her face, in the sun at the beach".
The song was uploaded as "Blue Ribbon" by Del Rey to her Myspace page under the stage name Sparkle Jump Rope Queen in 2008.
No demos of this song exist as it was written in the studio, as confirmed by Kahne.[1] "Gramma" is one of two songs from Lana Del Ray that do not have demo versions, the other being "Smarty". The song was mastered on February 26, 2008.[citation needed]
Live performances[]
Del Rey performed the song live 3 known times. The first known performance was on October 24, 2008, at the CMJ showcase held at The Living Room in New York City, New York. The second known performance was on December 2, 2008, at The National Underground, and the third performance on August 20, 2009, at Mexicali Live. Footage of this live performance is available online.
Music video(s)[]
Music video | Information | |
---|---|---|
Released | N/A | |
Length | 3:58 | |
Director | Lana Del Rey | |
Producer | ||
Filmed | Unknown | |
Location | Unknown | |
Vevo views | N/A |
Music video | Information | |
---|---|---|
Released | N/A | |
Length | 4:05 | |
Director | Lana Del Rey | |
Producer | ||
Filmed | Unknown | |
Location | Unknown | |
Vevo views | N/A |
Music video | Information | |
---|---|---|
Released | N/A | |
Length | 4:01 | |
Director | Lana Del Rey | |
Producer | ||
Filmed | Unknown | |
Location | Unknown | |
Vevo views | N/A |
Music video | Information | |
---|---|---|
Released | N/A | |
Length | 4:00 | |
Director | Lana Del Rey | |
Producer | ||
Filmed | Unknown | |
Location | Unknown | |
Vevo views | N/A |
Music video | Information | |
---|---|---|
Released | N/A | |
Length | 4:10 | |
Director | Lana Del Rey | |
Producer | ||
Filmed | Unknown | |
Location | Unknown | |
Vevo views | N/A |
Music video | Information | |
---|---|---|
Released | N/A | |
Length | 3:56 | |
Director | Lana Del Rey | |
Producer | ||
Filmed | Unknown | |
Location | Unknown | |
Vevo views | N/A |
Background and description[]
Del Rey made six known music videos for the song "Gramma (Blue Ribbon Sparkler Trailer Heaven)". All of them surfaced on the internet. One of them was uploaded to YouTube on October 21, 2008, by Del Rey herself under the title "Blue Ribbon Sparkler". The videos feature clips of films and shots of Del Rey herself, similar to the style of many of her homemade music videos.
Cross-references[]
- The "A-M-E-R-I-C-A" chant is also used in "Come When You Call Me America". Other spelling chants also appear in "Lolita" and "Jealous Girl".
- Trouble is also mentioned in "True Love on the Side" and "On Our Way".
- The phrase "pretty party nation" is similar to "flower motel nation/motel flower nation" from "1949" and "pro-ana nation" from "Boarding School".
- Questioning whether one is being wrong is prevalent in "Is It Wrong".
Official versions[]
- Lana Del Ray/Kill Kill version — 3:55
- Instrumental version — 4:02
- Mix 3 — 4:04
- Mix 5 — 4:04
Lyrics[]
Gramma said she'll leave the lights on for me
Gramma said the flags are waving for me
Gramma said that somewhere out there there's a good man
Waiting for me
A-M-E-R-I-C-A
All I wanna do is play
See the city every day
Pretty party nation
Tell me that you think I'm good
Happy that I make you glad
'Cause I don't wanna think I'm bad, Gramma
I don't wanna think I'm bad
Gramma said she'll leave the lights on for me
Gramma said the flags are waving for me
Gramma said that somewhere out there there's a good man
Waiting for me
Gramma said she'll leave the lights on for me
Don't you know you don't need a thing?
Gramma said that somewhere out there there's a good man
Waiting for me
T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Trouble's what feels good to me
Crazy ass since I was three
Now I'm out to get ya
But I done better lately, ma
And I'm in love with everyone
And I don't wanna think I'm wrong
Just for feelin' pretty
Gramma said she'll leave the lights on for me
Gramma said the flags are waving for me
Gramma said that somewhere out there there's a good man
Waiting for me
Gramma said she'll leave the lights on for me
Gramma said the flags are waving for me
Gramma said that somewhere out there there's a good man
Waiting for me
I wanna be the whole world's girl, gramma
I wanna be the whole world's girl
I wanna be the whole world's girl, gramma
Tell me, do you think that's wrong?
Don't cry, honey, crazy girl
Don't you know you are the world?
Every time you feel unsure
Try, remember what you are
Gramma said she'll leave the lights on for me
Gramma said the flags are waving for me
Gramma said that somewhere out there there's a good man
Waiting for me
Gramma said she'll leave the lights on for me
Honey, don't you know you have everything?
Gramma said that somewhere out there there's a good man
Waiting for me
Gramma said she'll leave the lights on for me
Gramma said the flags are waving for me
Gramma said that somewhere out there there's a good man
Waiting for me
Gramma said she'll leave the lights on for me
Gramma said the flags are waving for me
Gramma said that somewhere out there there's a good man
Waiting for me
References[]
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