Hollywood's Dead (song)

Lana Del Rey
Writer(s)	Lana Del Rey
Producer(s)	Chris Braide
Recorded	April 23, 2011
Length	3:44 (See official versions)
From

"Hollywood's Dead" is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey. It was recorded in April 2011 and was produced by Chris Braide. A demo of the song leaked on September 11, 2012, alongside "Damn You", with the final versions of both songs - produced in 2012 - leaking on November 14, 2023. It is speculated to be an outtake from the Born to Die sessions.

Background

On Facebook, Del Rey would write "Luv New Song w Very Favourite Super Producer Chris Braide". When asked what song she was referring to, she replied, "Called Hollywoods Dead".

A snippet of the song's final version surfaced during March 2012, prior to the demo of the song leaking. The final version would later leak on November 14, 2023.

Del Rey acknowledged the song during an Instagram livestream on July 27, 2017, singing a portion of the song and mentioning that it is amongst her favorite unreleased songs and that she would include it on a compilation album of her favorite leaked songs, if she ever were to release one.

Cross-references

• The song references many celebrities such as Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. Other songs that reference these icons include "Body Electric", "Elvis", and "Marilyn Monroe".
• Directly references "Cruel World".
• "Blue" things are described in many songs, including "Old Money" and "Methamphetamines".
• Hollywood is mentioned in songs such as "Daytona Meth", "Lust for Life", and the song of the same name.
• The 1950s are mentioned in "Marilyn Monroe" and "Methamphetamines".
• Blue suede shoes are also mentioned in "California".

Official versions

• Final version — 3:44
• Demo version — 3:26

Lyrics

Final version

Our kind of love, it was once in a lifetime
It couldn't last, it was doomed from the first time
And you were '50s cool in blue suede shoes
But it was a cover for all of the trouble you got into

I always fall for the wrong guy
Things that are bad always taste nice
That's what girls like me do, lose you

Don't tell me it's over, don't tell me it's over
Hollywood's dead, Elvis is cryin'
Vicious in flames, Bolan is dyin'
And in the light, you're sickeningly beautiful
Say goodbye, you're sickeningly beautiful

This kind of life wasn't meant for the good girl
Try as I might, in the end, it's a cruel world
And you are livin' proof, Sinatra aloof
But you were an actor who only went after the ones who swooned

I always fall for the same type
Gangsters in Vegas on game night
That's what girls like me like, the limelight

Don't tell me it's over, don't tell me it's over
Hollywood's dead, Elvis is crying
Marilyn's sad, Hendrix is lyin' there
In the light, you're sickeningly beautiful
Say goodbye, you're sickeningly beautiful

If you should go before me, then know
That I always loved you
There's no one above you, babe

Don't tell me it's over, don't tell me it's over
Hollywood's dead, Elvis is crying
Lennon, wake up, Cobain, stop lyin' there
In the light, you're sickeningly beautiful
Say goodbye, you're sickeningly beautiful
Say goodnight, you're so beautiful

Hollywood's dead
Hollywood's dead
Hollywood's dead, yeah
Hollywood's dead
Hollywood's dead
Hollywood's dead, yeah

Demo version

Our kind of love, it was once in a lifetime
It couldn't last, it was doomed from the first time
And you were '50s cool in blue suede shoes
But it was a cover for all of the trouble you got into

I always fall for the wrong guy
Things that are bad always taste nice
That's what girls like me do, lose you

Don't tell me it's over, don't tell me it's over
Hollywood's dead, Elvis is cryin'
Vicious in flames, Bolan is dyin'
And in the light, you're sickeningly beautiful
Say goodbye, you're sickeningly beautiful

This kind of life wasn't meant for the good girl
Try as I might, in the end, it's a cruel world
And you are livin' proof, Sinatra aloof
But you were an actor who only went after the ones who swooned

I always fall for the same type
Gangsters in Vegas on game night
That's what girls like me like, the limelight

Don't tell me it's over, don't tell me it's over
Hollywood's dead, Elvis is crying
Marilyn's sad, Hendrix is lyin' there
In the light, you're sickeningly beautiful
Say goodbye, you're sickeningly beautiful

If you should go before me, then know
That I always loved you
There's no one above you, babe

Don't tell me it's over, don't tell me it's over
Hollywood's dead, Elvis is crying
Lennon, wake up, Cobain, stop lyin' there
In the light, you're sickeningly beautiful
Say goodbye, you're sickeningly beautiful
Say goodnight, you're so beautiful

Hollywood's dead
Hollywood's dead
Hollywood's dead, yeah
Hollywood's dead
Hollywood's dead
Hollywood's dead, yeah

(Cut!)