"Hundred Dollar Bill" (also known as "C-Note", "Gorgeous $100", "Ruby Tuesday", "Nothing More Gorgeous Than a Hundred Dollar Bill", and referred to as "100 Bill") is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey. It was recorded in 2009 and first leaked on December 20, 2011. The song is an outtake from the Born to Die sessions.[1]
Background[]
Del Rey uploaded the song to her now-defunct SoundCloud profile on March 22, 2010, alongside other songs "On Our Way", "Velvet Crowbar", "Us Against the World", "Kinda Outta Luck", and "You Can Be the Boss".[2] She also posted some lyrics to her Twitter account back in May 2009.[3]
The final version of the song was produced by Jayson Michael. Along with "Heavy Hitter" and "Hawaiian Tropic", the song's metadata attributes it to an album titled "2009 Pod Audio". A demo, known as "C-Note", leaked on April 8, 2012, and was produced by David Kahne. Another version has been confirmed to exist by Kahne, who described it as "progressive and aggressive". A snippet of another demo of the song, titled "Gorgeous $100" or "Ruby Tuesday",[S 1][S 2] leaked on October 14, 2020. The full version leaked later the same day. This version shares its instrumental with the first demo of "Diet Mountain Dew", which may imply they share the same producer, Crispin Hunt. A version described as having a rap verse is also rumored to exist.[S 3]
According to an insider, the song was mastered for release on Born to Die, before being replaced by "Lucky Ones". The mastered version of the song is said to feature violins.[S 4]
"Hundred Dollar Bill" was also a part of a June 2009 rehearsal session that included raw live versions of "Raise Me Up (Mississippi South)", "Vivian", and "Heavy Hitter". This song's take has not yet leaked.
Live performances[]
Del Rey has performed the song live two known times. The first known performance was on June 8, 2009, at The Slipper Room in New York, and the second was on January 22, 2010, at the Highline Ballroom. Footage of the first live performance is available online. Footage of the second version is rumored to exist but has not leaked.
New York rapper Kalae "All Day" Nouveau worked with Del Rey to incorporate a rap verse into a live performance of the song at the Highline Ballroom, along with "Diet Mountain Dew". Nouveau said to a fan in 2023 that she may recall also having had a studio session with Del Rey, but couldn't clearly remember.[4]
Music video[]
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | December 21, 2009 |
| Length | 4:01 | |
| Director | Lana Del Rey | |
| Producer | ||
| Filmed | 2009 | |
| Location | Unknown | |
| Vevo views | N/A | |
Background and description[]
Del Rey created her own homemade music video for the song and posted it to YouTube on December 21, 2009. Like most of her earlier music videos, it features clips of Del Rey singing along to the song and clips she gathered from miscellaneous films and videos. It also features footage of Del Rey's interview with Brea Tremblay for Index magazine that was taken in November 2008.
Cross-references[]
- Mentions of a Chevy can be found in "On Our Way", "Every Man Gets His Wish", and "Shades of Cool".
- Themes of prostitution can be found in songs such as "Kinda Outta Luck", "Last Girl on Earth", "Go Go Dancer", and various other songs.
- A party dress is also mentioned in "Cruel World", "Love Song", and "National Anthem".
- The lyric "I'm in my party dress, he say, "you such a mess" is similar to "in my party dress, I'm a fucking mess" from "Love Song".
- Direct reference to "Ultraviolence".
- Del Rey calls herself the "New Jersey queen" in "All Smiles".
- "You turn my mood from black to blue" is a similar lyric to "out of the black, into the blue" from "Get Free". Both colors are also mentioned in "I Talk to Jesus".
- Certain lyrical similarities to "Coca Cola".
- Cash is also mentioned in "Old Money". It's referred to as money in "Money Power Glory", "Money Hunny", "Religion", "Swan Song", "Dealer", and "Pawn Shop Blues".
- Roller coasters are mentioned in "Last Girl on Earth", "Coconut and Key Lime Pie", "Butterflies, Pt. 2", "Breaking My Heart", "Betty Boop Boop", "Hawaiian Tropic", and "Diet Mountain Dew".
Official versions[]
- Final version (produced by Jayson Michael) — 4:00
- "C-Note" demo (produced by David Kahne) — 3:12
- "Gorgeous $100" / "Ruby Tuesday" demo (produced by Crispin Hunt) — 3:50
Lyrics[]
Final version[]
Twenty of 'em wrapped up tight in silk
Hundred dollar bill, hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Jimmy pulls up in his blue Chevy Nova
I have been dyin' for him to come over
I’m in my party dress
He say, "You such a mess"
I am the New Jersey dance queen
He is the construction king
He knows that I be sellin' the body
My man the best 'cause he knows what’s up
He knows it’s a big bad world
Knows that I’m a good girl
He understands the sale of self
('Cause cash comes quick when looks can kill)
Hundred dollar bill, hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
(Hey, yeah)
Hundred dollar bill, hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
(Twenty of 'em wrapped up tight in silk)
J is a romantic roller coaster
He don’t do anything he supposed to
I like 'em tough and mean
Jim is the worst that I've ever seen
I am the trailer park darling
He is the one-time comeback king
He knows that I be looking to die
He says, "Baby, pay respect to the high"
He knows it’s a big bad world
Knows that I’m a good girl
He understands the sale of self
('Cause cash comes quick when looks can kill)
Hundred dollar bill, hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
(Twenty of 'em wrapped up tight in silk)
Hundred dollar bill, hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
(Twenty of 'em wrapped up tight in silk)
(Hey, yeah, oh-ah, oh-ah, hey-ah)
I like your ultraviolent swing
I like it when you treat me mean
You turn my mood from black to blue
I like your ultraviolent swing
I like it when you treat me mean
You turn my mood from black to blue
(Hey, yeah, twenty of 'em
Wrapped up tight in)
Hundred dollar bill, hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
(Hey, yeah)
Hundred dollar bill, hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
(Twenty of 'em wrapped up tight in silk)
Hundred dollar bill, hundred dollar bill
(I need your love)
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
(I need your love)
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Hundred dollar bill, hundred dollar bill
(I need your love)
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
(I need your love)
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
(Yeah, twenty of 'em wrapped up tight in silk)
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Ooh, ah, hey, yeah
"C-Note" demo[]
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
But twenty of 'em wrapped up tight in silk
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Hey-ah
Jimmy pulls up in his blue Chevy Nova
I have been dyin' for him to come over
I’m in my party dress
He say, "You’re such a mess"
I am the New Jersey dance queen
He is the construction king
He knows that I be sellin' the body
My man the best 'cause he knows what’s up
He knows it’s a big bad world
Knows that I’m a good girl
He understands the sale of self
'Cause cash comes quick when looks can kill
And there's nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
But twenty of 'em wrapped up tight in silk
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Hey-ah
J is a romantic roller coaster
He don’t do anything he supposed to
I like 'em tough and mean
Jim is the worst that I've ever seen
I am the trailer park darling
He is the one-time comeback king
He knows that I be looking to die
He said, "Baby, pay respect to the high"
I'm not invincible
But cash come quick when looks can kill
And there's nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Twenty of 'em wrapped up tight in silk
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
I like your ultraviolent swing
I like it when you treat me mean
You turn my mood from black to blue
Ruby Tuesday's or Citgo
I loved you then, you'll always know
I loved you then, you'll always know
That there's nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothin' more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
"Gorgeous $100" demo[]
Gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
But twenty of 'em wrapped up tight in silk
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Jimmy pulls up in his blue Chevy Nova
I have been dying for him to come over
I'm in my party dress
He say, "You such a mess”
I am the New Jersey dance queen
He is the construction king
He knows that I be selling the body
My man the best 'causе he knows what's up
He knows it's a big bad world (Ah)
Knows that I'm a good girl (Ah-ah)
He undеrstands of sale of self
'Cause cash come quick when looks can kill
And there's nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
But twenty of them wrapped up tight in silk
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Mmm
J is a romantic roller coaster
He don't do anything he’s supposed to
I like 'em tough and mean
Jim is the worst that I've ever seen
I am the trailer park darling
He is the one-time comeback king
He knows that I be waiting to die
He says, “Babygirl, beware of the high”
And there's nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
But twenty of them wrapped up tight in silk
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
I love your ultraviolent swing
I love your ultraviolence
I like it when you treat me mean
Say, "You’re stupid, but you’re gorgeous"
I need you, Jimmy
I need you, Jim
"You’re stupid, but you’re beautiful"
I trust you, but looks can kill, looks
And there's nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
But twenty of them wrapped up tight in silk
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Nothing more gorgeous than a hundred dollar bill
Ruby Tuesdays or Mobil
I love you then, I love you still
Ruby Tuesdays or Mobil
I love you then and I always will
I love your ultraviolence
I love your ultraviolence
I love your ultraviolence, yeah
I need you, Jimmy, I need you, Jimmy
I love your ultraviolent ways
References[]
- ↑ Lester, Paul (May 13, 2011). "Lana Del Rey (No 1,022)". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/may/13/new-band-lana-del-ray. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ↑ "Lanadelrey". SoundCloud. May 22, 2010. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100530082249/http://soundcloud.com/lanadelrey.
- ↑ xx (May 18, 2009). "Ruby Tuesdays or Mobil, I love you then i Love you still, you trust me not cause looks can kill. But I love your ultraviolence.". Twitter. https://twitter.com/MissDaytona/status/1839372566. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ↑ lizzyology (June 9, 2023). "Lana Del Rey Tracker (Google Spreadsheet) [Ongoing]". Lanaboards. http://lanaboards.com/topic/16346-lana-del-rey-tracker-google-spreadsheet-ongoing/?do=findComment&comment=1627103. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
Notes[]
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Honeymoun, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Eclipse, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Honeymoun, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Carcase, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.