Changes: Never Let Me Go (song)

Revision as of 07:39, 29 June 2017

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

References to Sid and Nancy, a film portraying the relationship of Sid and his girlfriend Nancy.
Del Rey mentions a quote from Scarface, references to this film can also be found in "Live or Die" and "Playground".
The lyric "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 in "Noir", "Serial Killer", "Betty Boop Boop" and "Guns and Roses".

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 29: / Line 29: @@
 Hold me in your arms, love me like your best friends did
-Promise I won’t hurt you, kid
+Promise I won't hurt you, kid
 Hold me really tight until the stars look big
 Never let me go
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 Just believe, come on
-If you love me hardcore, then don’t walk away
+If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
-It’s a game, boy, I don’t wanna play
+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
+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
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 I can be your Nancy, you can be my Sid
 Get into some trouble like our parents did
-Hey, they’ll never know
+Hey, they'll never know
 'Cause, baby, we were born to be bad, move on
@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 Just believe, come on
-If you love me hardcore, then don’t walk away
+If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
-It’s a game, boy, I don’t wanna play
+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
+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
@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 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?”
+I came over, "Hello, can you be mine?"
-Can you be mine
+Can you be mine?
 Can you be mine?
-If you love me hardcore, then don’t walk away
+If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
-It’s a game, boy, I don’t wanna play
+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.
+Baby, it's a sweet life, sing it like song
-It’s a short trip, only getting one.
+It's a short trip, only getting one
-You can count on me, my love, more than anyone,
+You can count on me, my love, more than anyone
-Never let me go.
+Never let me go
-If you love me hardcore, then don’t walk away
+If you love me hardcore, then don't walk away
-It’s a game, boy, I don’t wanna play
+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
+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