Changes: Never Let Me Go (song)

Revision as of 07:27, 11 February 2021

"Never Let Me Go" (also known as "Like Your Friends Did") is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey. It was recorded in 2010 and co-written and produced by Steven Mertens. The song leaked on May 18, 2012 and was registered on ASCAP ACE Repertory in March of 2017.^[1]

Background and composition

A soft rock ballad, "Never Let Me Go" runs at a length of 4 minutes and 8 seconds, set in the key of A major with a tempo of approximately 70 beats per minute. It features a four-on-the-floor drum beat which is referenced lyrically, a shimmering electric lead guitar accompanied throughout by a strumming acoustic guitar, strings, soft vocal harmonies and piano. The track has influences of surf rock and pop and is musically similar to songs such as "On Our Way" and "Hawaiian Tropic". The song tells a story of Del Rey asking a drug dealer and musician she is romantically involved with to stay with her as she follows her aspirations of a music career.

A conceptual demo of Del Rey composing the song in-studio leaked on July 7, 2016, and revealed the first verse of the song was conceived while Del Rey improvised over the song "Strings of Nashville" by Pavement, a Californian indie rock band.

Cross-references

Reference to Sid and Nancy, a biopic portraying the relationship of Sid and his girlfriend Nancy, who are also mentioned in "Backfire".
Del Rey references a quote from Scarface; references to this film can also be found in "Live or Die", "Playground" and the titular song.
The phrase "live fast, die young" also appears in "Driving in Cars with Boys" and in the "Ride" music video monologue.
The phrase "the world is ours" was a potential title of Del Rey's first major-label studio album, now known as Born to Die.^[2]
References to a "game being played" are present in "Noir", "Serial Killer", "Betty Boop Boop" and "Guns and Roses".
To be "born bad" is also referenced in "So Legit" and "Kinda Outta Luck".
Del Rey uses the phrase "kid" in "Ultraviolence", "Old Money" and "Love".

Official versions

Studio version — 4:08
Concept demo — 1:12

Lyrics

(Mm-mm, mm-mm)

Hold me in your arms, love me like your best friends did
Promise I won't hurt you, kid
Hold me really tight until the stars look big
Never let me go

All the world is ours, like they say in Scarface, kid
You can push your drugs and I can make it big
Sing at CBGB's, have a real good gig
Hey, you never know

'Cause, baby, we were born to live fast and die young
Born to be bad, have fun
Honey, you and me can be one
Just believe, come on

If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
It's a game, boy, I don't wanna play
I just wanna be yours, like I always say
Never let me go

Boy, we're in a world war, let's go all the way
Play your four to the floor, really walk away
Tell me that you need me more and more every day
Never let me go
Just stay

We gonna go far, I can already taste it, kid
LA's gonna look real good
Drive me in your car until the sky gets big
Never let me go

Send me to the stars, tell me when I get there, kid
I can be your Nancy, you can be my Sid
Get into some trouble like our parents did
Hey, they'll never know

'Cause, baby, we were born to be bad, move on
Built to go fast, stay strong
Honey, you and me and no one
Just believe, come on

If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
It's a game, boy, I don't wanna play
I just wanna be yours, like I always say
Never let me go

Boy, we're in a world war, let's go all the way
Play your four to the floor, really walk away
Tell me that you need me more and more every day
Never let me go
Just stay

I remember when I saw you for the first time
You were laughin', sparklin' like a new dime
I came over, "Hello, can you be mine?"
Can you be mine?
Can you be mine?

If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
It's a game, boy, I don't wanna play
I just wanna be yours, like I always say
Never let me go

Baby, it's a sweet life, sing it like song
It's a short trip, only getting one
You can count on me, my love, more than anyone
Never let me go

If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
It's a game, boy, I don't wanna play
I just wanna be yours, like I always say
Never let me go

Boy, we're in a world war, let's go all the way
Play your four to the floor, really walk away
Tell me that you need me more and more every day
Never let me go
Just stay

References

↑ ASCAP IPI: 579892274
↑ (2011). "LANA DEL REY INTERVIEW – HOLLYWOOD SADCORE". Flush Magazine. [Access date: July 9, 2016]

[1] ASCAP IPI: 579892274

[2] (2011). "LANA DEL REY INTERVIEW – HOLLYWOOD SADCORE". Flush Magazine. [Access date: July 9, 2016]

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 |image = Image:Unreleased.png
 |artist = Lana Del Rey
-|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>Unknown
+|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Steven Mertens]]
-|producer = Unknown
+|producer = Steven Mertens
 |recorded = 2010
+|time = 4:08<br><small>(See [[#Official versions|official versions]])</small>
-|time = 4:08
 |Source = [[File:Unreleased_Logo.png|125px|link=Category:Unreleased songs]]
 }}
+"'''Never Let Me Go'''" (also known as "'''Like Your Friends Did'''") is an unreleased song by [[Lana Del Rey]]. It was recorded in 2010 and co-written and produced by [[Steven Mertens]]. The song leaked on May 18, 2012 and was registered on ASCAP ACE Repertory in March of 2017.<ref>ASCAP IPI: 579892274</ref>
+==Background and composition==
-"'''Never Let Me Go'''" is an unreleased song by [[Lana Del Rey]]. It was recorded in 2010 and leaked on May 18, 2012. The producer of the song is remains unknown and it is not registered on any major service.
+A soft rock ballad, "Never Let Me Go" runs at a length of 4 minutes and 8 seconds, set in the key of A major with a tempo of approximately 70 beats per minute. It features a four-on-the-floor drum beat which is referenced lyrically, a shimmering electric lead guitar accompanied throughout by a strumming acoustic guitar, strings, soft vocal harmonies and piano. The track has influences of surf rock and pop and is musically similar to songs such as "[[On Our Way (song)|On Our Way]]" and "[[Hawaiian Tropic (song)|Hawaiian Tropic]]". The song tells a story of Del Rey asking a drug dealer and musician she is romantically involved with to stay with her as she follows her aspirations of a music career.
+A conceptual demo of Del Rey composing the song in-studio leaked on July 7, 2016, and revealed the first verse of the song was conceived while Del Rey improvised over the song "Strings of Nashville" by Pavement, a Californian indie rock band.
-==Cross-references==
+==Cross-references==
-*The song references ''Sid and Nancy'', a film portraying the relationship of Sid Vicious and his girlfriend. Another reference to ''Sid and Nancy'' is found in "[[Backfire (song)|Backfire]]".
+*Reference to ''Sid and Nancy'', a biopic portraying the relationship of Sid and his girlfriend Nancy, who are also mentioned in "[[Backfire (song)|Backfire]]".
+*Del Rey references a quote from ''Scarface'';'' ''references to this film can also be found in "[[Live or Die (song)|Live or Die]]", "[[Playground (song)|Playground]]" and the [[Scarface (song)|titular song]].
+*The phrase "live fast, die young" also appears in "[[Driving in Cars with Boys (song)|Driving in Cars with Boys]]" and in the "[[Ride (song)|Ride]]" music video monologue.
+*The phrase "the world is ours" was a potential title of Del Rey's first major-label studio album, now known as [[Born to Die (album)|''Born to Die'']].<ref>[http://www.flushthefashion.com/music/lana-del-rey-hollywood-sadcore/ (2011). "LANA DEL REY INTERVIEW – HOLLYWOOD SADCORE". ''Flush Magazine''. [Access date: July 9, 2016<nowiki>]</nowiki>]</ref>
+*References to a "game being played" are present in "[[Noir (song)|Noir]]", "[[Serial Killer (song)|Serial Killer]]", "[[Betty Boop Boop (song)|Betty Boop Boop]]" and "[[Guns and Roses (song)|Guns and Roses]]".
+*To be "born bad" is also referenced in "[[So Legit (song)|So Legit]]" and "[[Kinda Outta Luck (song)|Kinda Outta Luck]]".
+*Del Rey uses the phrase "kid" in "[[Ultraviolence (song)|Ultraviolence]]", "[[Old Money (song)|Old Money]]" and "[[Love (song)|Love]]".
+== Official versions ==
-*It contains a quote from the movie ''Scarface'', which the song "[[Scarface (song)|Scarface]]" is presumably about.
+* Studio version — 4:08
+* Concept demo — 1:12
 ==Lyrics==
 {{Scroll box
 |content=<poem>
-Mm-mm, mm-mm.
+(Mm-mm, mm-mm)
-Hold me in your arms,
+Hold me in your arms, love me like your best friends did
+Promise I won't hurt you, kid
-Love me like your best friends did.
+Hold me really tight until the stars look big
-Promise I won’t hurt you, kid.
+Never let me go
-Hold me really tight,
-Until the stars look big,
-Never let me go.
-All the world is ours,
+All the world is ours, like they say in Scarface, kid
+You can push your drugs and I can make it big
-Like they say in Scarface, kid.
+Sing at CBGB's, have a real good gig
-You can push your drugs,
+Hey, you never know
-And I can make it big,
-Singing CBGB's,
-Have a real good gig,
-Hey you never know.
-'Cause baby we were,
+'Cause, baby, we were born to live fast and die young
-Born to live fast and die young,
+Born to be bad, have fun
+Honey, you and me can be one
-Born to be bad, have fun,
+Just believe, come on
-Honey, you and me can be one,
-Just believe, come on.
-If you love me hardcore,
+If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
+It's a game, boy, I don't wanna play
-Then don’t walk away.
+I just wanna be yours, like I always say
-It’s a game boy,
+Never let me go
-I don’t wanna play.
-I just wanna be yours,
-Like I always say,
-Never let me go.
-Boy, we’re in a world war,
+Boy, we're in a world war, let's go all the way
+Play your four to the floor, really walk away
-Let’s go all the way.
+Tell me that you need me more and more every day
-Play your foot of the floor,
+Never let me go
-Really walk away.
+Just stay
-Tell me that you need me more,
-And more every day,
-Never let me go, just stay.
-We gonna go far,
+We gonna go far, I can already taste it, kid
+LA's gonna look real good
-I can already taste it, kid,
+Drive me in your car until the sky gets big
-LA's gonna look real good,
+Never let me go
-Drive me in your car,
-Until the sky gets big,
-Never let me go.
-Send me to the stars,
+Send me to the stars, tell me when I get there, kid
+I can be your Nancy, you can be my Sid
-Tell me when I get there, kid.
+Get into some trouble like our parents did
-I can be your Nancy,
+Hey, they'll never know
-You can be my Sid.
-Get into some trouble,
-Like our parents did,
-Hey, they’ll never know.
-'Cause baby we were,
+'Cause, baby, we were born to be bad, move on
-Born to be bad, move on.
+Built to go fast, stay strong
+Honey, you and me and no one
-Built to go fast, stay strong,
+Just believe, come on
-Honey, you and me and no one,
-Just believe, come on.
-If you love me hardcore,
+If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
+It's a game, boy, I don't wanna play
-Then don’t walk away.
+I just wanna be yours, like I always say
-It’s a game boy,
+Never let me go
-I don’t wanna play.
-I just wanna be yours,
-Like I always say,
-Never let me go.
-Boy, we’re in a world war,
+Boy, we're in a world war, let's go all the way
+Play your four to the floor, really walk away
-Let’s go all the way.
+Tell me that you need me more and more every day
-Play your foot of the floor,
+Never let me go
-Really walk away.
+Just stay
-Tell me that you need me more,
-And more every day,
-Never let me go, just stay.
-I remember when I saw you,
+I remember when I saw you for the first time
+You were laughin', sparklin' like a new dime
-For the first time,
+I came over, "Hello, can you be mine?"
-You were laughing,
+Can you be mine?
-Sparking like a new dime.
-I came over,
-“Hello, can you be mine?”
-Can you be mine,
 Can you be mine?
-If you love me hardcore,
+If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
+It's a game, boy, I don't wanna play
-Then don’t walk away.
+I just wanna be yours, like I always say
-It’s a game boy,
+Never let me go
-I don’t wanna play.
-I just wanna be yours,
-Like I always say,
-Never let me go.
-Baby it’s a sweet life,
+Baby, it's a sweet life, sing it like song
+It's a short trip, only getting one
-Sing it like song.
+You can count on me, my love, more than anyone
-It’s a short trip,
+Never let me go
-Only getting one.
-You can count on my love,
-More than anyone,
-Never let me go.
-If you love me hardcore,
+If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
+It's a game, boy, I don't wanna play
-Then don’t walk away.
+I just wanna be yours, like I always say
-It’s a game boy,
+Never let me go
-I don’t wanna play.
-I just wanna be yours,
-Like I always say,
-Never let me go.
-Boy, we’re in a world war,
+Boy, we're in a world war, let's go all the way
+Play your four to the floor, really walk away
-Let’s go all the way.
+Tell me that you need me more and more every day
-Play your foot of the floor,
+Never let me go
-Really walk away.
+Just stay
-Tell me that you need me more,
-And more every day,
-Never let me go, just stay.
 </poem>
 }}
-,
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
 [[Category:Songs]]
 [[Category:Unreleased songs]]