"Off to the Races" is a song written by Lana Del Rey and Tim Larcombe and produced by Patrik Berger and Emile Haynie. Taken from Del Rey's first major-label album Born to Die, the song served as the album's first promotional single worldwide.
Background[]
"Off to the Races" was released in the UK as iTunes Single of the Week on December 20, 2011. It was then released as a digital single in the Netherlands on January 6, 2012, on the iTunes Store.
A demo version of the song, produced by Shawn Lee and Tim Larcombe was posted to Del Rey's SoundCloud page on May 22, 2010.[1] It has currently yet to resurface online after being taken down. An early mix of the song, labeled "Mix 9" which had previously only been available on out-of-circulation promotional EPs sent to press, leaked on July 25, 2016. This version contained slightly different instrumentation, it was recorded on September 26, 2011. Another early mix leaked from a French sampler of Born to Die leaked on August 14, 2016. This version is similar to the "Mix 9" one, but with slight differences in the background instrumentation.
Writing and inspiration[]
In a 2012 interview, Del Rey described "Off to the Races" as a song where you could tell by the energy that she was right in the middle of a relationship where times were happy but also chaotic. She continued about the relationship by saying: "We were traveling between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, he was gambling, I was just swimming, and yeah I mean, I used to indulge in a lot drugs and dark poetry, and pop culture, and amazing music, but I've quieted down a lot but I just reminisce about it. I live a really simple life today".[2]
Composition[]
Del Rey employs an alternative rapping technique, hip-hop beat and heavy basslines, similar to that of "National Anthem" and "Diet Mountain Dew" in the song.[3] The song samples "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force while the beat subtly samples "Dernier Domicile Connu" by François De Roubaix. Indie music website Pitchfork said the rapping technique was almost "chatting."[4] The song references the novel Lolita, with lyrics such as, "Light of my life, fire of my loins".[5]
One of the track's demos was produced by Shawn Lee and features military style snares during the chorus and has a completely different vocal track. A fan asked Lee if he could share the demo but he was not allowed to do that by the label. However, the demo was available on Del Rey's SoundCloud account for a period of time but it was downloaded only by one user.[1]
Critical reception[]
"Off to the Races" has been lyrically described as "a freak show of inappropriate co-dependency".[6] Giving the song a negative review, Pitchfork said it "...aim[s] for chatty, sparkling opulence," adding that she "doesn't have the personality to bring it off."[4] The Guardian wrote that "Off to the Races' turns Del Rey from vintage siren to R&B hoochie most convincingly. There's jazz in Del Rey's dextrous vocal, and new territory in the swoop and pow of Haynie's undertow." [7] Comparing the song to "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans", The Huffington Post blogged that the song was "...pretty good...and it sounds just as catchy...".[8] Of the song's music video, reviewer Robbie Daw commented: "...it seems the video’s producer was off to find the cheesiest footage of old shoot-'em-up '80s B-movies for this clip."[9]
Live performances[]
On November 4, 2011, at the Ruby Lounge in Manchester, United Kingdom, Del Rey performed the song live for the first time, before it was officially released. It was the final song of the set.[8] Since then, the song has been a part of the setlist of every one of Del Rey's concert tours. It has also served as the closing song of every tour except the Paradise Tour and Norman Fucking Rockwell Tour.
Music video[]
Music video | Information | |
---|---|---|
Released | December 22, 2011 | |
Length | 5:04 | |
Director | Lana Del Rey | |
Producer | ||
Filmed | N/A | |
Location | N/A | |
Vevo views | N/A |
Background and description[]
On December 22, 2011, Lana Del Rey uploaded a homemade music video for "Off to the Races" on her YouTube channel. It is composed of film clips, and does not feature Del Rey herself. The video features Latin American gangsters, femme fatale figures with guns, and a race track. It has since been privatized for unknown reasons, although unofficial uploads still exist around the web.[10]
Cross-references[]
- A "cocaine heart" is also mentioned in the demo version of "Carmen".
- A garden is also mentioned in "Bartender", "Big Eyes", "Burnt Norton", "Cherry" and "I Can Fly".
- A gold chain is also mentioned in "Be My Daddy" and "Dangerous Girl".
- Alcohol is a recurring theme in many of Del Rey's songs.
- A red dress is also mentioned in "Carmen", "Criminals Run the World", "Cruel World", "Summertime Sadness" and "Say Yes to Heaven".
- Being or acting crazy is also mentioned in "Chemtrails Over the Country Club", "Cruel World", "Ride" and in the poem "My Bedroom is a Sacred Place Now - There Are Children at the Foot of my Bed".
- Casinos are also mentioned in "Queen of the Gas Station".
- "Cipriani's Basement" alludes to "Cipriani's", an elite restaurant in the Manhattan borough of New York City.
- Coney Island is also mentioned in "Carmen", "Mermaid Motel" and "TV in Black & White", among others.
- Del Rey pleas with someone to come and save her in "Daddy Issues" and "God Bless America - and All the Beautiful Women in It".
- Del Rey refers to her nail polish in "The Blackest Day", "1949" and alludes to it in "Your Girl".
- Direct reference to the song "Without You".
- Drug references are found throughout Del Rey's songs; these include "Disco", "Hollywood" and "Yayo", among several others.
- Las Vegas is also mentioned in "Go Go Dancer", "Guns and Roses", "Hollywood's Dead" and "Noir", among several others.
- L.A. is also mentioned in "Because of You", "Birds of a Feather", "Never Let Me Go" and "1949", among several others.
- Leather is also mentioned in "Baby Blue Love", "Black Beauty", "Freak", "I Don't Wanna Go" and in the poem "Patent Leather Do-Over".
- "Light of my life, fire of my loins" is a phrase from the book "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov. In the book (and subsequent movie) Lolita has to do what her old man says to get money from him, like the lyrics "be a good baby, do what I want... gimme them gold coins, gimme them coins". Lolita also wore a "white" bikini and had on "red nail polish" in the movie. Del Rey also sings about Lolita in the song of the same name.
- Lilacs are also mentioned in "Roses Bloom For You" and "Sweet Carolina".
- Perfume is also mentioned in "The Other Woman" and "Video Games".
- Praying is also mentioned in "Tulsa Jesus Freak".
- "Rikers Island" is the name of a well-known prison located in New York City.
- Swimming pool[s] are also mentioned in "Chemtrails Over the Country Club", "Gangsta Boy", "Heavy Hitter", "Push Me Down" and "This Is What Makes Us Girls", among several others.
- The Chateau Marmont, a historic hotel in Los Angeles, California is mentioned in many of Del Rey's songs, including "Elvis", "Heavy Hitter" and "She's Not Me", among others.
- The phrase "glimmering darling" is similar to the lyric "I'm your vulgar darling in the swimming pool, glimmering" from "Moi Je Joue".
- The phrase "I love you" also appears in "Fuck It I Love You", "Pretty Baby" and "Ultraviolence", among others.
- The phrase "My old man" is also mentioned in "Heroin".
- The phrase "true love" is also mentioned in "I Talk to Jesus", "True Love on the Side" and "Ultraviolence".
- The lyric "I need you, I breathe you" is similar to the lyric "Need you, baby, like I breathe you" which appears in "Fucked My Way Up to the Top".
- The lyric "the way I roll like a rolling stone" might be a reference to the 1965 song "Like A Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan, which also appears in "Dance Till We Die".
Official versions[]
- Album version — 4:59
- Instrumental version — 4:58
- Single version — 5:01
- Radio edit — 3:54
- Demo version (unreleased) — 5:02 (produced by Shawn Lee and Tim Larcombe)
- "Mix 9" version — 5:05
- "Early Mix" version — 5:10
Lyrics[]
Album version[]
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 L.A. 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, 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
Gimmie them gold coins
Gimmie 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 Rikers 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 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 what he might like about me
Admires me, the way I roll like a rolling stone
He likes to watch me in the glass room, bathroom, Chateau Marmont
Slipping on my red dress, putting on my makeup
Glass room, 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
Gimmie them coins
And I'm off to the races
Cases of Bacardi chasers
Chasin' me all over town
'Cause he knows I'm wasted
Facing time again at Rikers 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 falling 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 till 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'd 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, "Hun, 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 going 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
Radio edit[]
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 L.A. 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, 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
Gimmie them gold coins
Gimmie 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 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 what he might like about me
Admires me, the way I roll like a rolling stone
He likes to watch me in the glass room, bathroom, Chateau Marmont
Slipping on my red dress, putting on my makeup
Glass room, 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
Gimmie them coins
And I'm off to the races, laces
Leather on my waist is tight and I am falling 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 till 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'd 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, "Hun, 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 going 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
Promotional release[]
Off to the Races CD by Stranger Records in UK[]
Credits[]
- Personnel
- Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
- Tim Larcombe — songwriting
- Patrik Berger — production, guitar, bass guitar, percussion, synthesizer, sampler, drum programming
- Emile Haynie — production, drums, additional keyboards
- Carl Bagge — strings arrangement
- Frederik Syberg — violin
- Erik Holm — viola
- Pelle Hansen — cello
- Dan Grech Marguerat — mixing
- Duncan Fuller — mixing assistance
- John Davis — mastering
- Technical
- Published by Copyright Control / EMI
- Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom
Charts[]
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[11] | 22 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] | 40 |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Lanadelrey". SoundCloud. May 22, 2010. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100530082249/http://soundcloud.com/lanadelrey.
- ↑ Lana Del Rey Addiction (August 28, 2014). "Lana Del Rey - Entrevista Legendada para a TV Italiana (2012) [Lana Del Rey - Subtitled Interview for Italian TV (2012)]" (in pt). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alJqRB9V2ZY. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ↑ Nellis, Krystina (January 30, 2012). "Album Review: Lana Del Rey - Born to Die". Drowned in Sound. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16769/reviews/4144405?search. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Zoladz, Lindsay (January 30, 2012). "Lana Del Rey: 'Born To Die' – Album review". Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16223-lana-del-rey/. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ↑ Hogan, Marc (December 20, 2011). "Lana Del Rey Plays a ‘Hood Lolita in ‘Off to the Races’". Spin. http://www.spin.com/articles/lana-del-rey-plays-hood-lolita-races. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ↑ Elan, Pryia (December 21, 2011). "Lana Del Rey, ‘Off To The Races’". NME. https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-lana-del-rey-12561-324968. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ↑ Empire, Kitty (January 29, 2012). "Lana Del Rey: Born to Die – review". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jan/29/lana-del-rey-born-die-review. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "'Off To The Races': New Lana Del Rey Song (VIDEO)". HuffPost. November 6, 2011. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/06/new-lana-del-rey-song_n_1078536.html. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ↑ Daw, Robbie (December 22, 2011). "Lana Del Rey Shoots Out Her “Off To The Races” Video". Idolator. http://idolator.com/6119802/lana-del-rey-off-to-the-races-video. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ↑ Hilleary, Mike (December 22, 2011). "Watch: Lana Del Rey - “Off to the Races” Video". Archived from the original on July 4, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140704192450/https://undertheradarmag.com/news/watch_lana_del_rey_-_off_to_the_races_video/.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
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