"Say Yes to Heaven" (also registered as "Yes to Heaven") is a song by Lana Del Rey officially released as a single on May 19, 2023. It is an outtake from Ultraviolence, Honeymoon, and Lust for Life.
Background[]
The song was recorded during October 2013[S 1] in the same sessions as "I Can Fly", "Fine China", "Shades of Cool", "Sad Girl", "Is This Happiness", and "Your Girl", and was originally intended to be included on Ultraviolence before being cut. This version was produced by Rick Nowels and did not leak before its surprise release in 2023.[1][S 2][S 3] The instrumental of this version leaked in lossless format on August 9, 2023.
The song was reworked by James Ford together with "Fine China" in late March/early April 2014 with the goal of once again including it on Ultraviolence. Even still, the record company held by its claim that the song was inappropriate for the album and Ford's version was also scrapped. This version of the song leaked with an audio tag on February 12, 2018. The untagged version leaked on March 30, 2023.
Another version of the song was produced by STINT in the latter half of 2014, after the release of Ultraviolence. This version was deemed "too overwhelming" and did not make the final cut on Honeymoon, which was already in production. This version leaked on May 4, 2021.
In early 2015, fashion brand Hugo Boss showed interest in using the song in their then-upcoming fragrance campaign. The version they showed interest in was the one produced by Ford in 2014, but for the sake of the campaign, many producers, including Stephen Kozmeniuk (known professionally as Koz) and Tom Neville, created their own versions, described by an insider as "contemporary" and "dramatic".[S 1][S 2][S 4] Because of the potential campaign, the song was dropped from the Honeymoon tracklist. Ultimately, neither version of the track was approved and the song was dropped by Hugo Boss.
During 2016 recording sessions for Lust for Life, the song was once again sent to various producers, including Fred Gibson. The versions made then were described by an insider as more "electronic" and "upbeat". The song was ultimately cut from the tracklist because of its leak.[S 1][S 2][S 4]
Del Rey acknowledged the song during an Instagram livestream on July 27, 2017, mentioning that it is amongst her favorite unreleased songs and that she would include it on a compilation album of her favorite leaked songs, if she ever were to release one.[2]
On January 4, 2023, it was revealed that what were originally considered the first and second versions of the song, are actually edits created by instrumentalist Patrick Warren in 2016, who quickly created his own versions of the song while being tricked by someone pretending to be Del Rey. Using stems from the original Nowels version, as well as his own instrumentation, he created these two versions. Three snippets of Warren's first and second stem edits leaked on August 15, 2016, and a full but edited file of the second stem edit leaked on December 24, followed by the unedited version leaking on January 28, 2017. A second snippet of the first stem edit leaked on October 2, 2020, and a full but edited version surfaced the following day. On November 27, 2024, the Fred Gibson version of the song resurfaced, and it was later found that he had played it at a Rooftop Live in London.
The song is rumored to have over 100 mixes,[S 5] with over 90 of them having been produced by Rick Nowels.[S 6]
Critical reception and accolades[]
"Say Yes to Heaven" received positive reviews from music journalists, who described it as "dreamy",[3][4][5] "heavenly",[3] and "melancholy".[5] Davis praised Del Rey's "playful" vocals and her songwriting for capturing a sense of "stoic, timeless, and implicitly flawed yearning" in the song.[5] Vito commended Del Rey's "signature, poetic ambiguity" and the sonic pallette that "[she became] so good at crafting".[6] Nylon's Sophia June called the song a "simple gut-punch about submission and yearning"[7] and Alternative Press's Sadie Bell called the song a "sweet, lovelorn ballad".[8]
The song was inducted into the Billions Club - an award given to artists for songs that reach one billion streams on Spotify in the form of a plaque - in 2025.
Cross-references[]
- A red dress is also mentioned in "Carmen", "Criminals Run the World", "Cruel World", "Off to the Races", and "Summertime Sadness".
- Heaven is also mentioned in "Living Legend", "Match Made in Heaven", "Television Heaven", "Watercolor Eyes", "Young and Beautiful", "You & Me", and "Ultraviolence", among several others.
- The sea is also mentioned in "Get Free", "Queen of Disaster", "Brooklyn Baby", and "Dragonslayer".
- The song's chorus is thematically similar to "give Heaven a try" from "You & Me".
- The lyric "give peace a chance" could be a reference to "Peace". It could also be a reference to John Lennon's 1969 Plastic Ono Band track "Give Peace a Chance".
- Dancing is also mentioned in "California", "Lust for Life", "Prom Song (Gone Wrong)", "If You Lie Down with Me", "When the World Was at War We Kept Dancing", and "The Grants", among several others.
Official versions[]
- Single version (produced by Rick Nowels) — 3:29
- Instrumental version — 3:29
- Sped Up version — 2:36
- Stem edit 1 (edited by Patrick Warren) — Unknown
- Edited version — 4:10
- Stem edit 2 (edited by Patrick Warren) — 4:10
- Radio edit — 3:04[9]
- Ultraviolence version 2 (produced by James Ford) — 3:35
- Honeymoon version 3 (produced by STINT) — 3:31
- Honeymoon version 4 (produced by Koz) — Unknown
- Honeymoon version 5 (produced by Tom Neville) — Unknown
- Lust for Life version 6 (produced by Fred Gibson) — 3:06
Official remixes[]
- Sim0ne & Melo Nada Remix — 4:13
- Amandus 99 +++ Danzinger 99 Remix — 2:11
- Anyma Remix — 3:42
- Dot Major Remix — 4:03
Lyrics[]
If you dance, I'll dance
And if you don't, I'll dance anyway
Give peace a chance
Let the fear you have fall away
I've got my eye on you
I've got my eye on you
Say yes to Heaven
Say yes to me
Say yes to Heaven
Say yes to me
If you go, I'll stay
You come back, I'll be right here
Like a barge at sea
In the storm, I stay clear
'Cause I've got my mind on you
I've got my mind on you
Say yes to Heaven
Say yes to me
Say yes to Heaven
Say yes to me
If you dance, I'll dance
I'll put my red dress on, get it on
And if you fight, I'll fight
It doesn't matter now, it's all gone
I've got my mind on you
I got my mind on you
Say yes to Heaven
Say yes to me
Say yes to Heaven
Say yes to me
I've got my eye on you
I've got my eye on you, mm
I've got my eye on you
I've got my eye on you
Commercial release[]
Digital release[]
- Say Yes to Heaven - Single
|
Label: Polydor, Interscope Format: Digital download Released: May 19, 2023 Barcode: N/A Photography: Lana Del Rey Design: N/A |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Say Yes to Heaven" | 3:29 |
| 2. | "Say Yes to Heaven" (Sped Up) | 2:36 |
- Say Yes to Heaven (Sim0ne and Melo Nada Remix) - Single
|
Label: Polydor, Interscope Format: Digital download Released: May 21, 2023 Barcode: N/A Photography: N/A Design: Uncredited |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Say Yes to Heaven" (Sim0ne & Melo Nada Remix) | 4:13 |
- Say Yes to Heaven (Amandus 99 +++ Danzinger 99 Remix) - Single
|
Label: Polydor, Interscope Format: Digital download Released: May 21, 2023 Barcode: N/A Photography: N/A Design: Uncredited |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Say Yes to Heaven" (Amandus 99 +++ Danzinger 99) | 2:11 |
- Say Yes to Heaven (Anyma Remix) - Single
|
Label: Polydor, Interscope Format: Digital download Released: May 21, 2023 Barcode: N/A Photography: N/A Design: Uncredited |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Say Yes to Heaven" (Anyma Remix) | 3:42 |
- Say Yes to Heaven (Dot Major Remix) - Single
|
Label: Polydor, Interscope Format: Digital download Released: May 21, 2023 Barcode: N/A Photography: N/A Design: Uncredited |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Say Yes to Heaven" (Dot Major Remix) | 4:03 |
Physical release[]
|
Label: Interscope Records Format: 7" picture disc vinyl in plastic sleeve Released: November 14, 2023 Barcode: 602458275919 Photography: Neil Krug Design: Unknown |
|---|
- Side A
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Say Yes to Heaven" | 3:29 |
- Side B
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Black Beauty" | 5:14 |
Credits[]
Personnel[a]
- Lana Del Rey — songwriting, vocals
- Rick Nowels — songwriting, production, electric guitar, Hammond organ
- Patrick Warren — guitar, marimba, strings
- Dean Reid — drum programming, mixing
- Tim Pierce — electric guitar
- Brian Griffin — percussion
- Roy English — drum programming
- Kieron Menzies — engineering
- John Christopher Fee — engineering
- Trevor Yasuda — engineering
- Chris Rockwell — engineering
- Ruairí O'Flaherty — mastering
Technical
- Mastered at Nonograph Mastering, Los Angeles, California
Charts and certifications[]
Weekly charts[]
|
Year-end charts[]
|
Certifications[]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[44] | 2× Platinum | 140,000 |
| Belgium (BEA)[45] | Gold | 20,000 |
| France (SNEP)[46] | Gold | 100,000 |
| Poland (ZPAV)[47] | Platinum | 50,000 |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[48] | Silver | 200,000 |
| United States[49] | Gold | 500,000 |
| Streaming | ||
| Greece (IFPI Greece)[50] | Gold | 1,000,000 |
References[]
- ↑ Reid, Dean (May 19, 2023). "Never thought I’d see the day when this song got an official release. Thrilled it finally came out in it’s original version. Congrats @honeymoon". https://www.instagram.com/p/CsbuU0kpW4D/.
- ↑ Celebrity Snapchat Diaries (July 27, 2017). "Lana Del Rey | Instagram Live Stream | 27 July 2017". YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_uPbknbxcc. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kahn, Jamie (May 31, 2023). ""Say Yes to Heaven, Say Yes to Me": A Love Letter to Lana Del Rey's Magical, Not-So-New Single". Atwood. https://atwoodmagazine.com/syth-lana-del-rey-say-yes-to-heaven-song-review/. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
- ↑ Brandle, Lars (May 19, 2023). "Lana Del Rey Gives Belated Release to 'Say Yes To Heaven': Stream It Now". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lana-del-rey-say-yes-to-heaven-stream-it-now-1235331758/. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Davis, Ted (October 6, 2023). "The Meaning Behind the Yearning "Say Yes to Heaven" by Lana Del Rey". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231107185440/https://americansongwriter.com/the-meaning-behind-the-yearning-say-yes-to-heaven-by-lana-del-rey/.
- ↑ Vito, Jo (May 19, 2023). "Lana Del Rey Finally Releases "Say Yes to Heaven": Stream". Consequence. https://consequence.net/2023/05/lana-del-rey-say-yes-to-heaven-stream/. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
- ↑ June, Sophia (May 19, 2023). "Lana Del Rey's "Say Yes To Heaven" Is About Submission & Yearning". Nylon. https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/lana-del-rey-say-yes-to-heaven-lyrics-explained. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
- ↑ Bell, Sadie (May 19, 2023). "Hear Lana Del Rey's surprise release of fan-favorite, 2012 track "Say Yes To Heaven"". Alternative Press. https://www.altpress.com/lana-del-rey-say-yes-to-heaven-listen/. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
- ↑ ISRC: GBUM72304886
- ↑ "Credits / Say Yes To Heaven / Lana Del Rey". Tidal. https://listen.tidal.com/album/295290674/credits. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ↑ "CZ - SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. https://ifpicr.cz/hitparada/30?weekId=2839. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ↑ "IFPI Charts" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230531110405/https://ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ↑ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 22. nedēļa [Music Consumption Top/ 22nd week]" (in Latvian). LAIPA. https://www.parmuziku.lv/chart?type=2&week=2023-W22&limit=100&id=5e472896c97ba. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "2023 21-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100) [2023 The most listened to of the 21st week (TOP 100)]" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s21-2/. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/artist/lana-del-rey/chart-history/i12/. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20: from 19/05/2023 to 25/05/2023". IFPI. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. https://archive.is/ZRT7f. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven". VG-lista. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Oficjalna Lista Sprzedaży [Official Charts List]" (in Polish). OLiS. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230601191317/https://olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-sprzedazy/single-w-streamie. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ↑ "RIAS Top Charts Week 21 (19 - 25 May 2023)". RIAS. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230530083749/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "SK - SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100". IFPI ČR. https://ifpicr.cz/hitparada/43?weekId=2839. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ↑ "BGM Chart – Week 20 of 2023" (in Korean). Circle Chart. https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1060&targetTime=20&hitYear=2023&termGbn=week&yearTime=3. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/artist/lana-del-rey/chart-history/vtm/. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ↑ "The Official best-selling vinyl albums and singles of 2023". OCC. https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-best-selling-vinyl-albums-and-singles-of-2023/. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ↑ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/hot-rock-songs/. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ↑ "Rock & Alternative Airplay Songs". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/rock-airplay-songs/. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ↑ "March 2024 Single Accreds". Australian Recording Industry Association. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k9o2q7p7o4awhqx/AACmNLVzO9Ob5MeNhMvsiMsda?e=2&preview=March+2024+Single+Accreds.pdf&dl=0f. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2024". Ultratop. Hung Medien. https://www.ultratop.be/nl/goud-platina/2024/singles. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ↑ "French certifications – Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. http://snepmusique.com/les-certifications/?categorie=Tout&interprete=Lana+Del+Rey&titre=Say+Yes+to+Heaven. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-wyroznien. Retrieved April 26, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Say Yes to Heaven in the search box.
- ↑ "British certifications – Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven". British Phonographic Industry. https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/19430-3320-1. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ↑ "American certifications – Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven". Recording Industry Association of America. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Lana+Del+Rey&ti=Say+Yes+to+Heaven&format=&type=#search_section. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ↑ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 43/2023" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. https://web.archive.org/web/20231102175946/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by BlackoutZone, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by BlackoutZone, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by BlackoutZone, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Honeymoun, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by BlackoutZone, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Eclipse, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.