Gramma (Blue Ribbon Sparkler Trailer Heaven) (song)

• Lana Del Ray
• Kill Kill

Lana Del Rey as Lana Del Ray /Sparkle Jump Rope Queen
Writer(s)	Lana Del Rey David Kahne
Producer(s)	David Kahne
Recorded	2008
Released	January 4, 2010
Length	3:55 (See official versions)
From
Lana Del Ray track listing
"Oh Say Can You See"
"For K, Pt. 2"

Lana Del Rey as Lizzy Grant
Writer(s)	Lana Del Rey David Kahne
Producer(s)	David Kahne
Recorded	2008
Released	October 21, 2008
Length	3:50 (See official versions)
Kill Kill track listing
"Yayo"

"Gramma (Blue Ribbon Sparkler Trailer Heaven)" (registered as "Gramma" and also referred to as "Grandma", "Blue Ribbon", and "Blue Ribbon Sparkler") is a song written by Lana Del Rey and David Kahne, and produced by the latter. The song was recorded in 2008 for Del Rey's debut studio EP Kill Kill, and was re-released in 2010 as the fourth track from her debut studio album Lana Del Ray.

Background and writing

The song is written about Del Rey's paternal grandmother, Cynthia Kirk Grant.

In a 2008 interview with Index magazine, Del Rey spoke of the writing of the song:

"...that was the last song we recorded and 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."

On his website, producer David Kahne wrote:

"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 final version of the song was mastered on February 26, 2008. Del Rey uploaded the song as "Blue Ribbon" to her Myspace page under the stage name Sparkle Jump Rope Queen in 2008. It was also titled "Blue Ribbon Trailer" on one of the song's music videos uploaded to Del Rey's YouTube. No demos exist as the song was written in studio with Kahne. Two early mixes of the song were discovered on Kahne's website on September 26, 2013; the song's instrumental then leaked on November 19.

The song was reliably scrobbled as "Grandma" on last.fm in 2008 by Van Wilson, a former A&R executive for 5 Points Records and proponent of Del Rey's early career.

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.

Lizzy Grant - Gramma (Live)

2009 - Mexicali Live

Music videos

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".
• Asking if one is wrong to do something 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 wavin' for me
Gramma said that somewhere out there, there's a good man
Waitin' 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 wavin' 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 wavin' 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 wavin' 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 wavin' 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
Waitin' for me

Gramma said she'll leave the lights on for me (For me)
Gramma said the flags are wavin' for me (For me)
Gramma said that somewhere out there, there's a good man
Waitin' for me
Gramma said she'll leave the lights on for me (For me)
Gramma said the flags are wavin' for me (For me)
Gramma said that somewhere out there, there's a good man
Waitin' for me