I wrote about Lana Del Rey’s new album, Ultraviolence, about a month ago, and in that post I declared that I finally understood her appeal.
I’ve listened to the album many times since and my admiration has only deepened. It’s definitely music for a certain mood, but it’s a mood I gravitate toward — you guessed it… melancholy.
But in addition to the sad soul sound of the record, I really like what Del Rey is doing lyrically. So many popular artists write exclusively about love and/or their own fame. Also their asses, based on the current Billboard chart.
But Del Rey’s lyrics are wide-ranging and fascinating. She writes about her past, her family, her struggle with addiction. And best of all, she embraces irony and satire, even when she herself is one of its targets.
Today’s SOTD is written from the perspective of a Brooklyn hipster, a label that has been placed on Del Rey. She’s poking fun at the image while embracing it.
They say I’m too young to love you
I don’t know what I need
They think I don’t understand
The freedom land of the seventies
I think I’m too cool to know ya
You say I’m like the ice I freeze
I’m churning out novels like
Beat poetry on Amphetamines
I say
I say
[Chorus]
Well, my boyfriend’s in a band
He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed
I’ve got feathers in my hair
I get down to Beat poetry
And my jazz collection’s rare
I can play most anything
I’m a Brooklyn baby
I’m a Brooklyn baby
[Verse 2]
They say I’m too young to love you
They say I’m too dumb to sing
They judge me like a picture book
By the colors, like they forgot to read
I think we’re like fire and water
I think we’re like the wind and sea
You’re burning up, I’m cooling down
You’re up, I’m down
You’re blind, I see
But I’m free
I’m free
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
I’m talking about my generation
Talking about that newer nation
And if you don’t like it
You can beat it
Beat it, baby
You never liked the way I said it
If you don’t get it, then forget it
So I don’t have to fucking explain it
[Chorus – Variation]
And my boyfriend’s in a band
He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed
I’ve got feathers in my hair
I get high on hydroponic weed
And my jazz collection’s rare
I get down to beat poetry
I’m a Brooklyn baby
I’m a Brooklyn baby
[Outro]
Yeah my boyfriend’s pretty cool
But he’s not as cool as me
Cause I’m a Brooklyn baby
I’m a Brooklyn baby
Meet Me In Montauk 
Good stuff. A bit like Aimee Mann meets Lorde. She’s one ass reference away from a top 40 hit.😄