"How to Disappear" (stylized in sentence case) is a song by Lana Del Rey from her sixth studio album, Norman Fucking Rockwell!. It was written and produced with Jack Antonoff.
Background[]
The song was first teased on her Instagram on October 4, 2018.[1] Del Rey later deleted the snippet, but it has since been unarchived. This version was originally a piano ballad. On October 27, 2018, Del Rey held a livestream during which Jack Antonoff could be heard working on another instrumental of the song. The production was changed for the album to an up-tempo track.
Del Rey premiered the song with a live performance in 2018, in which she revealed it was the last song she recorded for the album.[2] "Fuck It I Love You" was later revealed to actually be the last song recorded for the album after she went back and added more songs to it.
Live performances[]
Del Rey premiered the song with a live performance at an Apple Event on October 30, 2018.[2] The lyrics of this version featured some differences.
Cross-references[]
- A beer is also mentioned in "Blue Banisters" and "Video Games".
- California is also mentioned in "Angels Forever, Forever Angels", "Freak", "Fuck It I Love You", "If I Die Young", "Shades of Cool", and the two songs of the same name.
- From the live version, Del Rey sings about Jim in several other songs, including "Ultraviolence" and "Hundred Dollar Bill". In the album version, that name is replaced with "Joe".
- New York is also mentioned in many of Del Rey's songs, some of which are "Old Money", "Ultraviolence" and "Hit it & Run".
- Del Rey makes other general references to having children in the songs "Blue Banisters", "Dance Till We Die", "Sweet" and "Have a Baby".
- The yard is also mentioned in "Venice Bitch".
- Del Rey also uses the phrase "whatcha" in "Tomorrow Never Came" and "Oooh Baby".
Official versions[]
- Album version — 3:48
- Instrumental version — 3:48
Lyrics[]
Album version[]
John met me down on the boulevard
Cry on his shoulder 'cause life is hard
The waves came in over my head
Whatcha been up to, my baby?
Haven't seen you around here lately
All of the guys tell me lies but you don't
You just crack another beer
And pretend that you're still here
This is how to disappear
This is how to disappear
Joe met me down at the training yard
Cuts on his face 'cause he fought too hard
I know he's in over his head
But I love that man like nobody can
He moves mountains and pounds them to ground again
I watch the guys getting high as they fight
For the things that they hold dear
To forget the things they fear
This is how to disappear
This is how to disappear
Now it's been years since I left New York
I got a kid and two cats in the yard
The California sun and the movie stars
I watch the skies getting light as I write
As I think about those years
As I whisper in your ear
I'm always going to be right here
No one's going anywhere
Live premiere version[]
John met me down at the boulevard
I cried on his shoulder 'cause life is hard
The waves came in over my head
Whatcha been up to, my baby?
I haven't seen you around here lately
All of the guys tell me lies but you don't
You just crack another beer
And pretend that you're still here
And this is how to disappear
This is how to disappear
Jim met me down at the training yard
Got cuts on his face 'cause he fought too hard
I know he's in over his head
But I love that man like nobody can
He moves mountains and turns them to ground again
And I watch the guys getting high as they fight
For the things that they hold dear
To forget the things they fear
And this is how they disappear
This is how they disappear
Well now it's been years since I left New York
And I got a kid and two cats in the yard
The California sun and the movie stars
And I watch the skies getting light as I write
As I think about those years
And I whisper in your ear
I'm always going to be right here
No one's going anywhere
I'm always going to be right here
No one's going anywhere
Credits[]
- Personnel
- Lana Del Rey — songwriting, production, vocals
- Jack Antonoff — songwriting, production, engineering, mixing, programming, acoustic guitar, drums, electric guitar, keyboards, percussion, piano, vibraphone
- Laura Sisk — engineering, mixing
- Jonathan Sher — assistant engineering
- Tate McDowell — assistant engineering
- Chris Gehringer — mastering
- Will Quinnell — assistant mastering
- Technical
- Mastered at Sterling Sound
- Recorded at Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States / Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States
- Mixed at Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States