"Is This Happiness" is a song by Lana Del Rey written with Rick Nowels. It was released on her second major-label studio album Ultraviolence, serving as a bonus track only available for purchase on the iTunes deluxe edition of the album.
Background[]
The song was recorded in November 2013, in the same sessions as "Shades of Cool", "Sad Girl", "Fine China", "I Can Fly", "Say Yes to Heaven" and "Your Girl".
Some alternate mixes have been said to exist, though feature only minor differences from the released version.[S 1]
Composition and critical reception[]
"Is This Happiness" is a stripped-back piano ballad with soft vocals and production. Kevin Rutherford of Radio.com referred to it as the "lightest and perhaps prettiest" song from Ultraviolence. Lyrically, the song is about weighing the good and bad that comes from a relationship.
Cross-references[]
- Hollywood is often mentioned in many of Del Rey's songs including "Hit it & Run", "Hollywood's Dead", "Lust for Life", "Terrence Loves You" and the song of the same name.
- "Got your gun" is a phrase that also appears in "Cruel World" ("got your bible, got your gun") and "The Blackest Day" ("got my new car and my gun").
- Del Rey references her dad in "Cola", "Hope" and "Ride".
- Violet is also mentioned in "Cinnamon Girl" and "Valley of the Dolls".
- The phrase "you like to rage" also appears in demos 2 & 3 of "Beautiful People Beautiful Problems".
- Hills are also mentioned in "Arcadia"
Official versions[]
- Album version — 3:44
- Clean version — 3:44
Lyrics[]
High up in the Hollywood Hills taking violet pills
Writing all of my songs about my cheap thrills
You're a hard man to love and I'm
A hard woman to keep track of
You like to rage, don't do that
You want your way, you make me so mad
Got your gun, I've got my dad
Mmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Is this happiness?
Is this happiness?
Is this happiness?
Is this happiness?
Up in the Hollywood Hills crushing violet pills
You've been trying to write a novel 'bout your cheap thrills
You think you're Hunter S. Thompson
I think you're fucking crazy as the day's long
Man to man, heart to heart
I love you but you drive me so far
Wish you were on that star
Mmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Is this happiness?
Is this happiness?
Is this happiness?
Is this happiness?
Witch Hazel, Witch Hazel
Betrayal, betrayal
One gun on the table
Headshot if you're able
Is this happiness?
Is this happiness?
Is this happiness?
Is this happiness?
References[]
Notes[]
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