Lana Del Rey piggybacked on the success of Born to Die by releasing an EP titled Paradise in November of 2012. She included the EP in a special edition of the album as well.
The eight-song Paradise finds Del Rey delivering more of the baroque pop featured on her debut and fewer of the trip-hop beats. On opening track ‘Ride,’ she channels Bruce Springsteen, one of her more surprising influences.
This release marks the start of Del Rey’s obsession with Americana and the 1950s and 60s, threads that have run through both her lyrics and her visuals ever since. She delivers an elegant cover of the 1951 classic ‘Blue Velvet’ and describes her artistic parentage this way on ‘Body Electric’: “Elvis is my daddy, Marilyn’s my mother.” On today’s track she name drops Springsteen and Elvis, again.
‘American’ was used to great effect at the end of writer-director B.J. Novak’s Vengeance. Earlier in the film, the main character says he “loves America, not in the faded Lana Del Rey way,” but by the end this song scores a moment of disillusionment and dread.
Play house, put my favorite record on
Get down, get your crystal method on
You were like tall, tan, driving ’round the city
Flirtin’ with the girls like, “you’re so pretty”
“Springsteen is the King, don’t ya think?”
I was like, “Hell yeah, that guy can sing”
Like ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
[Chorus]
You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, spin me ’round like a child
Your skin so golden brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
[Verse 2]
Drive fast, I can almost taste it now
L.A., I don’t even have to fake it now
You were like so sick, everybody said it
You were way ahead of the trend, get, get it
“Elvis is the best, hell yes”
“Honey, put on that party dress”
Like ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
[Chorus]
You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, spin me ’round like a child
Your skin so golden brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
[Bridge]
Everybody wants to go fast
But they can’t compare
I don’t really want the rest
Only you can take me there
I don’t even know what I’m saying
But I’m praying for you
[Chorus]
You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, spin me ’round like a child
Your skin so golden brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
[Outro]
Like an American
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Like an American
Meet Me In Montauk 
Del Ray has some good musical influences, and B.J has some good taste to feature this song in his movie.
I want to rewatch Vengeance after reading today’s post. Great song. Am I overthinking it that she may be addressing America directly? It’s the bridge that most has me interpreting the song that way. Regardless, I like it. This album cover is the first image/association I had of Del Rey, though until your deep dive I’ve only listened to a song here and there prompted by Daniel or Maddie.
I appreciate her feelings about Elvis and Springsteen and the music of the 50’s and 60’s and really like this song.