"Serial Killer" (erroneously referred to as "Sweet Serial Killer") is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey, co-written with and produced by Peter Ibsen. It was recorded in 2011 and leaked on August 8, 2012. The track was registered to APRA AMCOS on May 8, 2015.[2]
Background[]
It has long been rumored that Del Rey and Ibsen recorded "Paradise" and the second and third demos of "This Is What Makes Us Girls" in the same session as this song, though Ibsen has since claimed this song to have been recorded on April 16, 2011.[1] The title of an original file of "Paradise" showed that it predates "Serial Killer" by an entire month. Both songs were considered for inclusion on Del Rey's debut major-label studio album, Born to Die, but were ultimately cut from consideration.
On March 29, 2022, Ibsen released the song - alongside "Paradise" - on all streaming platforms as a single under his stage name Neros. The cover art of the single included stanzas of early lyrics of the song, handwritten by Del Rey. The tracks were removed the following day.
Some of these early lyrics include, "sun setting on Melrose Place, sweet serial killer, sippin' lemonade, baby, you know I love the thrill of the rush", "keep my dark heart ins-", "stuck on you", and more.
Live performances[]
Del Rey performed the song as part of the set list on every date of the 2015 Endless Summer Tour. The first performance was on May 7 in The Woodlands, Texas, and was performed alongside other unreleased songs "Us Against the World" and "You Can Be the Boss".[3] Del Rey also performed this song live on several dates as part of her set list for her 2016 Festival Tour as well as a portion of her 2017 performances and various shows of the LA to the Moon Tour in 2018.
Cross-references[]
- Cherry cola is referenced in "Florida Kilos" and "Last Girl on Earth", among other songs.
- "Summer of Sam", "Live or Die", and "Kinda Outta Luck" also reference murder.
- The phrase "game boy" appears in "Never Let Me Go" and "Guns and Roses".
- "Wish I may, wish I might, find my one true love tonight" is interpolated in the bridge of "Caught You Boy".
- Heaven is mentioned in "Say Yes To Heaven", "Video Games", and "Television Heaven", among other songs.
- A serial killer is also mentioned in "Happiness Is a Butterfly" and "Zodiac".
- Sweet is also mentioned in "Radio", "Trash Magic", "Without You", "Fuck It I Love You", "Venice Bitch", "Meet Me in the Pale Moonlight", "West Coast", "This Is What Makes Us Girls", "Living Legend", and in the song of the same name, among many others.
Lyrics[]
Wish I may, wish I might find my one true love tonight
Do you think that it could be you?
If I pray really tight, get into a fake bar fight
While I'm walking down the avenue
If I lay really quiet, I know that what I do isn't right
I can't stop what I love to do
So I murder love in the night
Watching them fall one by one, they fight
Do you think you'll love me too?
Baby, I'm a sociopath, sweet serial killer
On the warpath, 'cause I love you just a little too much
I love you just a little too much (much, much, much)
You can see me drinking Cherry Coke, sweet serial killer
I left a love note, said, you know I love the thrill of the rush
You know I love the thrill of the rush (rush, rush, rush)
(You sent me right to heaven) Sweet serial killer
(I guess I'll see ya never) Do it for the thrill of it all
Love you just a little too much, much
(You send me right to heaven) Sweet serial killer
(I guess I'll see ya never) I love you just a little too much
Love you just a little too much, much
My black fire's burning bright, maybe I'll go out tonight
We can paint the town in blue
I'm so hot, I ignite, dancing in the dark and I shi-ine
Like a light, I'm luring you
Sneak up on you really quiet, whisper, am I what your heart desires?
I can be your ingénue
I keep you safe and inspired, baby, let your fantasies unwind
We can do what you want to do
Baby, I'm a sociopath, sweet serial killer
On the warpath, 'cause I love you just a little too much
I love you just a little too much (much, much, much)
You can see me drinking Cherry Coke, sweet serial killer
I left a love note, said, you know I love the thrill of the rush
You know I love the thrill of the rush (rush, rush, rush)
(You sent me right to heaven) Sweet serial killer
(I guess I'll see ya never) Do it for the thrill of it all
Love you just a little too much, much
(You send me right to heaven) Sweet serial killer
(I guess I'll see ya never) I love you just a little too much
Love you just a little too much, much
(Just have fun) Wanna play you like a Gameboy
(Don't want one) Lost the thrill of the same toy?
La-la, la-la, la, la-la, la-la, lie down, down
(Just have fun) Wanna play you like a Gameboy
(Don't want one) Lost the thrill of the same toy?
La-la, la-la, la, la-la, la-la, lie down, down, down
Uh!
You can see me drinking Cherry Coke, sweet serial killer
I left a love note, said, you know I love the thrill of the rush
You know I love the thrill of the rush (rush, rush, rush)
(You sent me right to heaven) Sweet serial killer
(I guess I'll see ya never) Do it for the thrill of it all
Love you just a little too much, much
(You send me right to heaven) Sweet serial killer
(I guess I'll see ya never) I love you just a little too much
Love you just a little too much, much
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ibsen, Peter *Neros* (April 16, 2021). "😂 this just floored me! I promise this is not what @lanadelrey & I intended when we created this song 10 years ago to the day.". Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNvBDxZLy9d/. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ APRA ID: GW44186553
- ↑ Williams, Dane (May 7, 2015). "Warming up for the #EndlessSummerTour @lanadelrey @blake_lee @mrbironic". Instagram. https://instagram.com/p/2XbugfQkv4/. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
Notes[]
- ↑ The track was unofficially released by Ibsen to all major streaming platforms before being taken down the following day.