Looking for America by Lana Del Rey

Description: This is a social justice song that clearly stands at opposition with pro-gun movements. Lana Del Rey sets the scene for the first two lines, then delivers a punch to the gut: “Pulled over to watch the children in the park, we used to only worry for them after dark.” Then the chorus comes in to bring the message home. Nearly every song of Lana’s is a masterpiece, and this is no exception. Even on protest, Del Rey’s soothing vocals seems to make it feel like everything is going to be ok.

  • Music alone: The guitar accompaniment that’s present from the very beginning of the song is barely there, even throughout the song. It seems that the guitar is the only element aside from the vocals, and a couple quiet synths toward the very end of the track. Again, this minimal orchestration causes the listener to pay more attention to the lyrics.
  • Lyrics alone: Some of the strongest lyrics in the song that directly connect to the song’s message are:
    • “I’m still looking for my own version of America, one without the gun, where the flag can freely fly. No bombs in the sky, only fireworks when you and I collide. It’s just a dream I had in mind.”
    • “I used to go to drive-ins and listen to the blues. So many things that I think twice about before I do.”
  • Vocal delivery alone: Del Rey’s vocals are characteristically sweet and sad. No a lot of dynamic change is heard, except on the line, “I used to go to drive-ins and listen to the blues. So many things that I think twice about before I do.” Her vocals are also multiplied at the chorus, later softly and dreamily harmonizing with herself on “mind,” giving a choir or crowd feeling and hinting at the idea of participation.
  • Overall understanding: The lyrics of this song are very straightforward, but the music itself is very gentle and dreamy. This is not uncharacteristic of Lana’s style as an artist. Nevertheless, I think it adds to the many layers of this song and makes it a good song to discuss.