Never Let Me Go (song)

Lana Del Rey
Writer(s)	Lana Del Rey Steven Mertens
Producer(s)	Steven Mertens
Recorded	2010
Length	4:06 (See official versions)
From

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

Background

A concept 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 California indie rock band Pavement.

Composition

A soft rock ballad, "Never Let Me Go" is 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 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.

Cross-references

• Reference to Sid and Nancy, a biopic portraying the relationship of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, 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. The phrase was subsequently used in "Lust for Life".
• References to a "game being played" are present in "Noir", "Serial Killer", "Betty Boop Boop", "Dark but Just a Game", and "Guns and Roses".
• To be "born bad" is also referenced in "So Legit" and "Kinda Outta Luck".
• Del Rey uses the word "kid" in "Ultraviolence", "Old Money", and "Love".
• Being wild is also mentioned in "Nectar of the Gods", "Cherry Blossom", "Wild at Heart", and "Wild One".

Official versions

• Studio version — 4:06
• Concept demo — 1:11

Lyrics

Studio version

(Mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm)

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
Put your foot to the floor, will you walk my way?
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
L.A.'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 and move on
Built to go fast and 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
Put your foot to the floor, will you walk my way?
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
Put your foot to the floor, will you walk my way?
Tell me that you need me more and more every day
Never let me go, just stay

Concept demo

Hold me in your arms, I'm not gonna hurt you, kid
[?] like your best friends did
Hold me in your arms, I'm not gonna hurt you, kid
[?] like your best friends did

[?] gonna love you, kid
Come on, come over
You're [?]
Pick you up a snow cone, four-leaf clover, baby
Come inside, boy, [?]
I can be the big shot
Come on, baby, don't stop now

Honey, D-Dan's calling!

[?], promise I won't hurt you, kid
You can be the [?]
[?]
Bet you wanna big snow cone, four-leaf clover
You can read your [?] sci-fi like Dune
Promise that you'll never get-

You can read your favorite book, it's Dune
In your favorite month and mine, it's June
Never