Continuing my track-by-track appreciation of Lana Del Rey’s newest album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd…
Track 7: ‘Kintsugi’
A couple of weeks ago, I described Del Rey’s album Blue Bannisters as “the most gorgeous therapy session you’ll ever hear.” Well, the middle section of this new album responds with a hearty “hold my beer.”
Today’s track and tomorrow’s, which fall (not accidentally, I’m sure) at the dead center of Ocean Blvd, contain some of the most raw and personal lyrics of Del Rey’s career.
‘Kintsugi’ was inspired by the deaths of three family members, events alluded to throughout the album. It’s a song about piecing yourself back together after falling apart. The title refers to a Japanese art form where broken pottery is reassembled with gold in the seams, turning something broken into something beautiful.
The chorus, “that’s how the light gets in,” comes from Leonard Cohen’s song ‘Anthem,’ which contains the line “there is a crack, a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” Cohen is one of Del Rey’s favorite artists, and one she has quoted in other songs.
In the outro, Del Rey sings “just another folk song, but anyway,” which I read as a comment on fans who aren’t happy with her turn away from more modern, hip-hop influenced songwriting and production. Most of this album could be a struggle for that crowd, but it appears to be exactly what Del Rey wants and needs to do at this point in her life.
There’s a certain point the body can’t come back from
In one year, we’ve learned the turn of the mouth
The depth that the chest cavity takes
Chucky was there for three out of three
I was there for the third ’cause I couldn’t be
There for the one who was closest to me
But I can’t say I run when things get hard
It’s just that I don’t trust myself with my heart
But I’ve had to let it break a little more
‘Cause they say that’s what it’s for[Chorus]
That’s how the light shines in
That’s how the light shines in
That’s how the light gets in (Mm-mm)[Verse 2]
So everyone was there, they were standin’, laughin’
And I’m on the side with my tears streamin’ down
There’s somethin’ about the clutch of the wrist
He thought mine was his to carve into his mouth
We’ve only got hours
And I just can’t stop cryin’ ’cause all of the ways
When you see someone dyin’
You see all your days flash in front of you
And you think about who would be with you
And then there’s Donoghue
[Bridge 1]
Daddy, I miss them
I’m in the mountains
I’m probably runnin’ away from the feelings I get
When I think all the things about them
Daddy, I miss them
I’m at the Roadrunner Café
I’m probably runnin’ away from the thoughts in the day
That have things to do with them, but they say
[Chorus]
“That’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in”
[Verse 3]
Think by the third of March, I was cracked open
Finally, the ground was cold, they wouldn’t open
Brought by the sunlight of the spirit to pour into me
There’s a name for it in Japanese, it’s “Kintsugi”
They sang folk songs from the ’40s
Even the fourteen-year old knew “Froggie Came A-Courtin”
How do my blood relatives know all of these songs?
I don’t know anyone left to know songs that I sing
[Chorus]
That’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in
[Bridge 2]
But daddy, I miss them
I’m at the Roadrunner Café
Probably runnin’ away from the feelings today
In the snow-capped mountains of the desert
Daddy, I miss them
I’m in the mountains
Probably runnin’ away, I’ve been meaning to say
That there’s nothing to do except know that this is
[Outro]
How the light gets in
Like cracking, the light gets in
It’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in
Then you’re golden, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Just another folk song, but anyway
I try so hard, but that’s okay
It’s how the light gets in
It’s how the light gets in
It’s how the light gets in
Meet Me In Montauk 
The concept of Kintsugi is quite beautiful. I had never heard about that.
I recently saw a scene in a movie that had the Kintsugi concept on it. Can’t remember which one but it was a beautiful small bowl with gold in the seams that were repaired in gold. It was beautiful
I believe it was the last episode of Ted Lasso. I commented to Dana at the time how much I love that Japanese tradition, though clearly he was sleeping through both the scene and my observation. 😜
I was NOT sleeping. I just didn’t make the connection. 🙂
You are right!
I just played a few songs from the new boygenius album for Dana. In the song “Leonard Cohen,” Lucy Dacus sings “Leonard Cohen once said theres a crack in everything thats how the light gets in” as she relates a story of her and her band mates getting to know each other through the songs they love. It was Phoebe Bridgers who played Cohen’s “Anthem” as an example of a song without a chorus that she loved.
I love this Japanese tradition, and I love the new boygenius album and its testament to friendship.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-are-talking-about-practice-and-ted-lasso/id1505748380?i=1000534860004 Apparently, there’s a whole podcast about Kintsugi; this ep focuses on Ted Lasso. 🙂
Thank you Amy I’m sure that was where I saw it ❤️