"Live or Die" is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey. It was recorded in 2011 and the demo version was leaked on October 14, 2012, with a heavily fan-edited final version leaking on March 1, 2015. The unedited final version leaked on August 6, 2015. The song was produced by Jarrad Rogers.
Background
It is speculated to be an outtake from the Born to Die sessions. A finalised version of the song also known as "Version 2" of the song leaked on March 1, 2015, although fan-edited with added beats, shortened introduction and choruses, and sound effects including a gunshot and dropping bullets.[1] The unedited second version leaked in full on August 6, 2015, alongside "Wayamaya", "Hangin' Around", "Joshy & I", "Cry Me a River", and a fan-made second version of "Jealous Girl".
Cross-references
- References to "Noir".
- The phrase "suicide blonde" also appears in "She's Not Me".
- Del Rey talks about soldiers in "Hit & Run".
- Directly references Tony Montana (played by Al Pacino) and Michelle Pfeiffer, stars in the movie Scarface; references to the film can also be found in the eponymous "Scarface", "Never Let Me Go" and "Playground".
- Bugsy Malone is also mentioned in "Dum Dum".
- The line "I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em" is also used in "Summer of Sam" and murder is referenced in other ways in "Serial Killer" and "Kinda Outta Luck".
- The phrase "Queen of Saigon" also appears in "West Coast" and "National Anthem".
- Cherry pies are mentioned in many of Del Rey's songs, such as "Cola", "Trash Magic" and "Caught You Boy".
Lyrics
Version one
Baby, you my Bugsy Malone and I'm your suicide blonde
You could be my film noir star, I'm your Queen of Saigon
If they don't think we're good together
Baby, just forget 'em and let bygones be bygones
Baby, I can't go it alone 'cause you're the one that I want
You can be my Tony Montana and I can be your Pfeiffer fire
I can take you higher
I can get you hooked on love and desire
Hello, pretty baby, you can be my cherry pie
I know what you've done and I can be your alibi
So tonight, are you gonna be my soldier?
Are we gonna be Bonnie and Clyde?
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
Are you gonna be my lover?
Are we gonna be true love's suicide?
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em, just for fun (eh)
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em, one by one (eh)
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
So tonight, are you gonna be my soldier? (eh)
Are we gonna be Bonnie and Clyde? (eh)
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
Baby, you Sylvester Stallone and I could be your Adrian
With tender lips I got you in the ring to say my name again
Say my name again, say my name again (huh)
Baby, I can't go it alone 'cause you're the one that I want
You can be my Tommy Mottola and I can be Mariah, tiger
Scream a little higher
I can get you high on love and desire
Not since Bonnie and Clyde was two kids
So good at bein' bad, bad, bad
I'm flirtin' with the checkout counter, baby
"Put the money in the bag!"
So tonight, are you gonna be my soldier?
Are we gonna be Bonnie and Clyde?
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
Are you gonna be my lover?
Are we gonna be true love's suicide?
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em, just for fun (eh)
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em, one by one (eh)
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
So tonight, are you gonna be my soldier? (eh)
Are we gonna be Bonnie and Clyde? (eh)
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
Would you kill for me?
Would you die for me?
Put your hands where I can see them
Put them in the air
So tonight, are you gonna be my soldier?
Are we gonna be Bonnie and Clyde?
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
Are you gonna be my lover?
Are we gonna be true love's suicide?
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em, just for fun (eh)
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em, one by one (eh)
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
So tonight, are you gonna be my soldier? (eh)
Are we gonna be Bonnie and Clyde? (eh)
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
Version two
(Die, die, die, die)
Baby, you my Bugsy Malone and I'm your suicide blonde
You could be my film noir star, I'm your Queen of Saigon
If they don't think we're good together
Baby, just forget 'em and let bygones be bygones
Baby, I can't go it alone 'cause you're the one that I want
You can be my Tony Montana and I can be your Pfeiffer fire
I can take you higher
I can get you hooked on love and desire
Hello, pretty baby, I can be your cherry pie
You walk into the room, my heart goes boom
Send me to the sky
So tonight, are you gonna be my soldier?
Are we gonna be Bonnie and Clyde?
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
Are you gonna be my lover?
Are we gonna be true love's suicide?
(Suicide, suicide)
It's either live or die
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em just for fun (hey)
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em one by one (hey)
It's either live or die, boy
It's either live or die
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em just for fun (hey)
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em one by one (hey)
It's either live or die, boy
It's either live or die
(Die, die, it’s either live or die)
Baby, you Sylvester Stallone and I could be your Adrian
With tender lips I got you in the ring, just say my name again
Say my name again, say my name again
Say my name, say my name
Say my name again
Baby, I can't go it alone 'cause you're the one that I want
You can be my Tommy Mottola and I can be Mariah, tiger
(Meow)
I can get you hooked on drugs and desire
Hello, pretty baby, I can be your cherry pie
You walk into the room, my heart goes boom
Send me to the sky
So tonight, are you gonna be my soldier?
Are we gonna be Bonnie and Clyde?
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
Are you gonna be my lover?
Are we gonna be true love's suicide?
(Suicide, suicide)
It's either live or die
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em just for fun (hey)
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em one by one (hey)
It's either live or die, boy
It's either live or die
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em just for fun (hey)
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em one by one (hey)
It's either live or die, boy
It's either live or die
Would you kill for me?
Would you die for me?
Put your hands where I can see them
Put them in the air
So tonight, are you gonna be my soldier?
Are we gonna be Bonnie and Clyde?
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die
Are you gonna be my lover?
Are we gonna be true love's suicide?
(Suicide, suicide)
It's either live or die
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em just for fun (hey)
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em one by one (hey)
It's either live or die, boy
It's either live or die
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em just for fun (hey)
I be murderin' 'em, murderin' 'em one by one (hey)
It's either live or die, boy
It's either live or die
It's either live or die, boy
It's either live or die
(Die, die, die)