West Coast

"West Coast" by Lana Del Rey is a multi-layered song that primarily explores the conflict between love and ambition. The lyrics depict a woman who is deeply in love but also feels the pull of her own goals and the allure of the West Coast as a symbol of fame and a new life. The song serves as both a dedication to the West Coast of the United States and a narrative of a tumultuous relationship. The protagonist is torn between a passionate, intoxicating romance and the pursuit of her own 'music,' which can be interpreted as her artistic calling or personal identity. The line "I'm leaving you for the music" encapsulates this central theme of choosing self-realization over the comfort of a relationship.

The song also delves into the atmosphere and mythology of California. Del Rey references "silver starlets" and "Queens of Saigons," evoking images of old Hollywood glamour and its associated tragedies. This creates a backdrop that is both glamorous and melancholic, reflecting the dual nature of the West Coast dream. The opening line, "Down on the West Coast, they got a sayin' / 'If you're not drinkin', then you're not playin'," sets a hedonistic tone, suggesting a lifestyle that is both exciting and potentially destructive. This reflects the internal struggle of the narrator as she navigates a world of excess while trying to hold onto a meaningful connection.

The shifting tempos in the song are crucial to its meaning. The verses have a driving, urgent pace, mirroring the pull of ambition and the fast-paced lifestyle of the West Coast. In contrast, the chorus slows down dramatically, creating a dreamy, hazy atmosphere that reflects the intoxicating and all-consuming nature of her love. This musical contrast highlights the two opposing forces in the narrator's life, making the listener feel the tension and the push-and-pull of her emotions. Del Rey herself stated that the slow, shifting tempo was important because it mirrored her mental state during the song's creation.

The narrative unfolds with an observation about the West Coast lifestyle, suggesting a hedonistic environment where indulgence is expected. The opening lines, "Down on the West Coast, they got a sayin' / 'If you're not drinkin', then you're not playin'", immediately establish a specific cultural setting. However, the protagonist sees something more in her partner, a latent talent or passion symbolized by the line, "But you've got the music in you, don't you?". This introduces a central conflict: the intoxicating allure of a place and a lifestyle versus the deep, personal connection she feels.

There's a recurring sense of departure and internal conflict. The singer declares she is leaving her lover, but only "for the moment," hinting at an unresolved struggle between her personal desires and her ambitions, which are tied to the West Coast. This push-and-pull dynamic is a core theme, as she admits, "You're falling hard, I push away, I'm feelin' hot to the touch." This line conveys a mix of attraction and resistance, a common motif in Del Rey's work where love is often intense and complicated.

The chorus shifts to a slower, dreamier pace, painting a vivid picture of her lover: "I can see my baby swingin' / His Parliament's on fire and his hands are up." This imagery suggests a moment of pure, uninhibited joy and rebellion, a snapshot of freedom that she cherishes. The scene is intimate and personal, set on a balcony, where she confesses her love. The mention of him being "crazy y Cubano como yo" adds a layer of shared wildness and cultural connection, further deepening their bond.

The song continues to explore the mythology of the West Coast, mentioning its "icons," "silver starlets," and "Queens of Saigons." These references create a backdrop of Hollywood glamour and tragedy, a world that is both enticing and potentially disillusioning. The lyrics also touch upon the West Coast's love for movies and rock and roll groupies, again contrasting this external world with the internal "music" she sees in her lover. This contrast highlights her struggle: is she drawn to the promise of fame and the West Coast dream, or to the authentic connection she shares with this person?

The emotional tension escalates with the lines, "You push it hard, I pull away, I'm feeling hotter than fire / I guess that no one ever really made me feel that much higher." This admission reveals the intensity of her feelings, a passion that is almost overwhelming. The use of Spanish, "Te deseo, cariño, boy, it's you I desire," adds a raw, unfiltered layer to her declaration of longing. It's a moment of surrender to her feelings, even amidst the confusion and conflict. The song, therefore, is not just about a place, but about a state of being, torn between two powerful forces: the magnetic pull of a lover and the equally strong pull of personal ambition and self-discovery, all set against the iconic, dreamlike landscape of the American West Coast.

"West Coast" was written by Lana Del Rey and her frequent collaborator Rick Nowels. Del Rey composed the lyrics and melody, while Nowels contributed the chords. The initial version of the song was created with Nowels and was inspired by classic rock. Del Rey was also influenced by her time spent in California, wanting to capture a "West Coast sound" with an "East Coast flavor." She aimed for a psychological track rather than a simple ode to the location.

Initially, Del Rey had completed her album Ultraviolence in December 2013 but was unsatisfied with the demo for "West Coast." A chance meeting with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and then again on a night out, led to a collaboration. Del Rey traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to re-record the song and other tracks for the album with Auerbach at his studio, Easy Eye Sound. She wanted Auerbach to bring a more casual, looser vibe to the song. The recording process was notable for being "99% live," with Del Rey singing in a room adjacent to the seven-piece band recording the instrumentation, using a Shure SM58 microphone to achieve a bluesy feel. Auerbach produced the track, playing electric guitar, shaker, 12-string acoustic guitar, and synthesizer. Nick Movshon played bass and drums.

The song was released as the lead single from Ultraviolence on April 14, 2014. Del Rey first performed a snippet of the song a cappella at a show in Las Vegas on April 11, 2014, before premiering the full version at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 13, 2014.

The rhyme scheme in "West Coast" is not strictly formal, leaning more towards a free verse structure with intermittent rhymes that give it a conversational and fluid feel. For example, in the first verse, "sayin'" rhymes with "playin'," and in the second verse, "icons" is paired with "Saigons." The focus is less on a rigid pattern and more on creating a lyrical flow that complements the song's atmospheric quality.

The most significant aspect of the song's rhythm is the dramatic tempo shift between the verses and the chorus. The verses are driven by a moderately fast, hypnotic surf-rock guitar rhythm at approximately 123 beats per minute (BPM), creating a sense of forward momentum and urgency. This rhythm propels the narrative of ambition and the fast-paced West Coast lifestyle. In stark contrast, the chorus slows down to a languid, dreamlike 65 BPM. This rhythmic deceleration creates a hazy, intoxicating feel, musically embodying the all-consuming nature of the love and desire she feels. The interplay between these two distinct rhythmic sections is a key element of the song's structure and emotional impact, mirroring the central conflict between ambition and romance. The lyrical rhythm often follows the musical rhythm, with more words and a faster delivery in the verses and a more drawn-out, sensual delivery in the choruses.

"West Coast" is marked by a number of distinctive literary and musical stylistic techniques:

• Tempo Shift: The most notable musical technique is the dramatic shift in tempo between the verses and the chorus. The verses have a moderately fast tempo (around 123 BPM), driven by a surf-rock guitar riff, while the chorus slows down significantly to a hazy, dream-like tempo (around 65 BPM). This change, reminiscent of The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out," creates a feeling of being a "two-in-one song" and musically represents the song's central conflict between ambition and love.
• Vocal Delivery: Lana Del Rey employs a unique vocal style, described as "breathy," "anxious," and "sensual." Her voice shifts between a more restrained delivery in the verses and a sweeping, cinematic style in the chorus. She also uses layered vocals and reverb to create an ethereal, haunting atmosphere. Her tone is often just above a whisper, adding to the song's intimate and mysterious quality.
• Instrumentation: The song features a more guitar-oriented sound than Del Rey's previous work, a result of the collaboration with Dan Auerbach. The instrumentation includes electric guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, shaker, synthesizer, bass, and drums, creating a sound that blends psychedelic rock, soft rock, and surf rock. The use of a surf-rock style guitar is particularly evocative of the California setting.
• Narrative Voice: The song is told from a first-person perspective, creating a personal and intimate narrative. The lyrics are both specific in their imagery and emotionally ambiguous, drawing the listener into the narrator's internal conflict.
• Bilingual Lyrics: The inclusion of the Spanish phrase "Te deseo, cariño, boy, it's you I desire" adds a layer of raw, direct emotion. It serves to emphasize the depth of her passion in a way that feels more immediate and unfiltered.
• Allusion: The song contains allusions to the 1970s Laurel Canyon music scene, with influences from bands like the Eagles and The Beach Boys mentioned by Del Rey. The chorus's vocal style has also been compared to Stevie Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen."

"West Coast" was met with widespread critical acclaim upon its release and is considered a significant song in Lana Del Rey's discography and a standout track of 2014. Critics praised its unconventional composition, particularly the dramatic tempo shift, and Del Rey's evolving, more guitar-oriented sound. Several publications, including Consequence of Sound, NME, and Spin, listed it as one of the best songs of the year.

Commercially, the song performed well, debuting at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was Del Rey's highest debut at the time. It also became her first single to enter Billboard's Rock Airplay chart, peaking at number 26. In the UK, it reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was the lead single for her third studio album, Ultraviolence, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making it her first number-one album in the US.

The accompanying music video, directed by Vincent Haycock, also received positive attention and a nomination for Best Cinematography at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. The black-and-white visuals, filmed in Marina del Rey and Venice, California, perfectly complemented the song's melancholic and cinematic feel. The song's influence can be seen in its contribution to the popularization of a more psychedelic and rock-infused sound within alternative pop. It marked a clear artistic evolution for Del Rey, moving away from the more hip-hop-influenced beats of her debut album towards a more organic, band-driven sound. "West Coast" remains a fan favorite and a key track that solidified Lana Del Rey's status as a unique and influential artist.

"West Coast" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that enhance its thematic depth.

• The West Coast: The most prominent symbol is the West Coast itself. It represents more than just a geographical location; it symbolizes ambition, fame, freedom, and the hedonistic pursuit of dreams. It's a place where "it all could happen," embodying both promise and potential peril.
• Music: The recurring line, "you've got the music in you, don't you?" serves as a powerful metaphor. 'Music' symbolizes an inner passion, a life force, or an artistic calling. For the narrator, leaving her lover "for the music" is a metaphor for choosing her own path and ambition over love.
• "His Parliament's on fire and his hands are up": This vivid image is a metaphor for complete abandon and surrender to the moment. It paints a picture of reckless freedom and ecstatic celebration, capturing the wild and intense nature of their relationship.
• Imagery of Hollywood and California Culture: References to "silver starlets," "Queens of Saigons," "golden gods," and "Rock 'n' Roll groupies" are symbolic of the glamorous yet often tragic mythology of Hollywood. This imagery creates a sense of disillusionment with fame and establishes a contrast between the artificiality of this world and the genuine connection the narrator feels with her lover.
• Fire and Heat: The lyrics "feelin' hot to the touch" and "hotter than fire" symbolize the intense passion and desire within the relationship. Fire also appears visually in the music video, with flames engulfing Del Rey, symbolizing lust, passion, and perhaps destruction.

Several recurring phrases and motifs in "West Coast" contribute to its thematic depth and memorability:

• "Down on the West Coast": This phrase opens two of the verses and firmly grounds the song in its geographical and symbolic setting. Its repetition reinforces the West Coast as not just a place but a state of mind and the source of the narrator's conflict and desire.
• "You've got the music in you, don't you?": This question is repeated in the verses and serves as a central motif. It's directed at her lover, but also reflects the narrator's own artistic ambitions. The 'music' symbolizes an inner passion and creative force, a recurring theme of finding authenticity amidst the superficiality of the world the song describes.
• The Push and Pull Dynamic: The motif of pushing away and pulling closer is explicitly stated in the lyrics, "You're falling hard, I push away" and "You push it hard, I pull away." This recursiveness emphasizes the tumultuous, push-pull nature of the relationship, a common theme in Lana Del Rey's music.
• "I'm in love": The simple declaration "I'm in love" is repeated in the chorus, grounding the song's hazy, dreamlike atmosphere in a raw, undeniable emotion. Its repetition, combined with the slow tempo, makes it feel like a mantra or a dazed confession.
• The Balcony Setting: The image of being on a balcony with her lover appears in the chorus. This setting creates a sense of intimacy and observation, a private moment overlooking the world, which enhances the song's cinematic quality.