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"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

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

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