Off To The Races - Lana Del Rey

I looked up 'Off to the Races' by Lana Del Rey and found the meaning of the song 'a young girl (sex worker/addict/prostitute) being saved from the streets of Vegas by a 'sugar daddy' (older wealthy man). A little bit "pretty woman" and a lot of inspiration from "Lolita" the words "light of my life, fire of my loins" are the first lines in the book. She knows she is arousing his sexual desire and he is happy to watch her and give her money/lifestyle that would be hard to leave.'

Therefore after reading this I have got inspiration from it and have a vague plan and story for the video, I believe i am going to have it mostly narrative-based.


I have also looked up the lyrics and are going through them to have a look what sort of words are included in the song.



I think these lyrics do represent the meaning that I found when researching, because lines such as 'My old man is a bad man', this quote shows that he isn't her age and that he is a 'bad man', therefore does dodgy things, referring to the 'pimp/sugar daddy'. 'He doesn't mind I have a Las Vegas past', this sounds like she lives in a busy town and because she's mentioning it, it's not a good past. 'He loves me with every beat of his cocaine heart', this quote shows that he has taken drugs, therefore links to the 'bad man'.

'Watch me in the swimming pool bright blue ripples you, sitting sipping on your black Cristal', the use of 'watch me' implies that she's an object therefore he can watch her, but she doesn't mind because she's telling him to watch her, not stating that he is watching her.

One of the confusing, yet clever things about this song is that all the chorus' in this song aren't the same because they have a few lines that are changed such as, in the first chorus she sings 'I'm your little scarlet, starlet...' in the second chorus she sings, 'I'm your little harlot, startlet...', therefore for the video I won't be able to have a recording that I can play for every chorus.

LYRICS

My old man is a bad man but
I can't deny the way he holds my hand
And he grabs me, he has me by my heart
He doesn't mind I have a Las Vegas past
He doesn't mind I have an LA crass, way about me
He loves me with every beat of his cocaine heart

Swimming pool glimmering darling
White bikini off with my red nail polish
Watch me in the swimming pool bright blue ripples you
Sitting sipping on your black Cristal
Oh yeah

Light of my life, fire of my loins
Be a good baby, do what I want
Light of my life, fire of my loins
Give me them gold coins, gimme them coins

And I'm off to the races, cases of Bacardi chasers
Chasing me all over town
Cause he knows I'm wasted, facing
Time again at Riker's Island and I won't get out
Because I'm crazy, baby I need you to come here and save me
I'm your little scarlet, starlet singing in the garden
Kiss me on my open mouth
Ready for you

My old man is a tough man but
He's got a soul as sweet as blood red jam
And he shows me, he knows me
Every inch of my tar black soul
He doesn't mind I have a flat broke down life
In fact he says he thinks it's why he might like about me
Admires me, the way I roll like a Rolling Stone

Likes to watch me in the glass room bathroom, Chateau Marmont
Slippin' on my red dress, puttin' on my makeup
Glass film, perfume, cognac, lilac
Fumes, says it feels like heaven to him

Light of his life, fire of his loins
Keep me forever, tell me you own me
Light of your life, fire of your loins
Tell me you own me, gimme them coins

And I'm off to the races, cases of Bacardi chasers
Chasing me all over town
Cause he knows I'm wasted, facing
Time again at Riker's Island and I won't get out
Because I'm crazy, baby I need you to come here and save me
I'm your little scarlet, starlet singing in the garden
Kiss me on my open mouth

Now I'm off to the races, laces
Leather on my waist is tight and I am fallin' down
I can see your face is shameless, Cipriani's basement
Love you but I'm going down
God I'm so crazy, baby, I'm sorry that I'm misbehaving
I'm your little harlot, starlet, Queen of Coney Island
Raising hell all over town
Sorry 'bout it

My old man is a thief and I'm gonna stay and pray with him 'til the end
But I trust in the decision of the Lord to watch over us
Take him when he may, if he may
I'm not afraid to say that I'd die without him
Who else is gonna put up with me this way?
I need you, I breathe you, I never leave you
They would rue the day I was alone without you
You're lying with your gold chain on, cigar hanging from your lips
I said "Hon' you never looked so beautiful as you do now, my man."

And we're off to the races, places
Ready, set the gate is down and now we're goin' in
To Las Vegas chaos, Casino Oasis, honey it is time to spin
Boy you're so crazy, baby, I love you forever not maybe
You are my one true love, you are my one true love

You are my one true love