Gods & Monsters

Or the Gods and Monsters are the people in the world of Hollywood. The Gods are the celebrities that are worshiped just because they are famous and everyone thinks they're so amazing. The Monsters are the addictions, sins and all of the trouble that comes along with being in that world - "The garden of evil"

She was an angel because she was innocent when she was first brought into that world. She was already addicted to alcohol, but wanted fame and love.

Eventually she got into the world of the monsters and if she was addicted to things, her life with the Gods/Celebs would be over, but she still sings. She kept telling herself if God is dead, no one can take her soul away. When you're a celebrity, it takes your soul away in a sense because you have to grow up fast and your whole world changes and eventually you get into things that take the innocence away.

I suppose some people can't understand the meaning of metaphors or just simply using an artistic approach to explain a situation other than using bubbly pop catchy phrases to get your point across. I think the entire song is a metaphor about living a dirty lifestyle. "I was an angel, living in the Garden of Evil." "Put your hands on my waist do it softly, me and God, we don't get along, so now I sing. No ones gonna take my soul away, I'm living like Jim Morrison." Yup, party rocker promiscuous lifestyle just about sums it up. While I understand the general public isn't use to hearing words like "God's dead!" in songs, it doesn't mean this artist is worshiping Satan. I see it as a way of saying "Living a fucked up, care free life in a world where everyone is living like there is no such thing as sinning." But, "God's dead" just about sums it up too if you have the ability to open your mind and wrap your brain around the possibility that some songs or lyrics aren't going to be straight forward and to the point.

To me this song is one of three things: fictitious, biographical or autobiographical.

It could be pure fiction, a story of an unnamed young woman.

It could be biographical, most likely about Pamela Courson - Jim Morrison's love. Del Rey has written in the form of a persona before, so this wouldn't be totally unheard of. Born to Die is full of references to Lolita, from the 'heart-shaped sunglasses' of Diet Mountain Dew to the track Lolita itself. Moreover, in the video for National Anthem, Del Rey portrays both Marilyn Monroe and Jacqueline Kennedy. However, I am not fully convinced that the song is wholly about Courson.

Finally, it could be about Lana Del Rey herself - I think this is the most likely explanation.

The song could also be a response to LA Woman by The Doors - at the very least there are some interesting allusions.

One thing, however, is certain. 'The land of Gods and Monsters' refers to LA.

I will now take it lyric by lyric.

'In the land of gods and monsters, I was an angel. Living in the garden of evil, Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed.'

The land of Gods and Monsters, as I have mentioned, refers to LA. For many, Los Angeles, and specifically Hollywood, is a sort of paradise, the culmination of the American Dream. 'The Gods' refers to the icons in LA - the Marilyn Monroes, the adored, the promise of what Hollywood has to offer. 'Monsters' refers to the vices that permeate LA, whether excessive wealth, drugs, alcohol or fame.

I was an angel - this could be a response to LA Woman, in which Morrison sings 'are you a lucky little lady in the city of light? Or just another lost angel?’ Del Rey answers that she was an angel. Her use of the past tense is significant. She is no longer an angel. This begs the question: what is she now? An angel would be expected to live under God. If she is no longer an angel it suggests she has succumbed to the dark side of LA - the monsters.

Living in the garden of evil - this is an obvious play on words - the Garden of Eden. In the Book of Genesis, the Garden of Eden was the paradise created by God for Adam and Eve. However, evil entered the Garden in the form of the snake, and tempted Eve to sin by eating the forbidden fruit. This is in keeping with the previous line - LA has become a place of evil and sin, it is no longer the paradise it appeared to be, and Del Rey has fallen from grace.

Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed - she has turned to the dark side of LA in order to survive - this could refer to alcohol and drugs (Del Rey has reportedly had alcohol problems in the past) or even prostitution, whether literal or metaphorical. (Del Rey has also alluded to prostitution in the video for Ride - however, I am in no way suggesting she has personal experience, it is merely part of the story of the song and the lifestyle that goes with it.)

Shining like a fiery beacon - this would seem to possibly be another reference to LA Woman, in which Morrison sings 'I see your hair is burning, hills are filled with fire'. Alternatively, beacons are often lit as a sign of distress - could it be a cry for help? Or is she burning bright, and will inevitably burn out.

You've got that medicine I need, Fame, liquor, love, give it to me slowly - who is she speaking to here? Possibly the city itself. She has become addicted to the lifestyle in the city and all that comes with it.

Put your hands on my waist, do it softly - this is an image of seduction. She is still being drawn in to the city. Again, the question is raised – to whom is she speaking? Los Angeles or a specific person? Perhaps Morrison, who represents the dark side of life in LA for a troubled but brilliant artist.

Me and God, we don't get along, so now I sing - if the land is one of 'Gods and Monsters', and she doesn't get along with God, that suggests she has joined or associates with the monsters. Again this comes back to the dark side of LA and the American Dream.

No one's gonna take my soul away, I'm living like Jim Morrison - Del Rey will not compromise who she is or what she does. This is highly existential - she will live in the moment, true to herself. If that means being drawn to darkness, that's where she'll go. Morrison was the ultimate self-destructive artist. He lived on his own terms and could not be tamed or controlled. He was a poet, an artist, an intangible chameleon, a Dionysus. He did what he wanted and allowed others to pick up the pieces - which they inevitably did. He lived fast, and died young - a member of the infamous '27 club'. Ultimately his lifestyle got the better of him, and he died in Paris. In some ways his death could be seen as an escape - he was tired of the fame and the rock star persona, he wanted to be a serious artist and viewed his lyrics as poetry. However, he has been immortalised in his music. Perhaps this is why no one can take Del Rey's soul? She has poured it into her own music. Just like Morrison, she is living life on her own terms, full of the vice of LA, the 'monsters'.

Headed towards a fucked-up holiday - as mentioned above, Jim Morrison died in Paris. Does Del Rey see herself heading for a similar fate? 'Jim wanted to be like a shooting star; now you see him, now you don't, but for that brief moment he burns as the brightest star in the galaxy.' - Danny Sugerman, friend of Morrison. Is this line indicative of a death wish, much like Morrison?

Motel, sprees, sprees and I'm singing - this is a definite allusion to LA Woman, where Morrison sings 'Motel, money, murder, madness'. Both money and murder have connections with the word spree - a spending spree and a killing spree are both commonly recognised terms, and both indicate a form of insanity or 'madness', crazy excess, going overboard. This line is the strongest connection between LA Woman and Gods & Monsters.

Fuck, yeah, give it to me This is heaven, what I truly want – she sounds like she is trying to convince herself of something, as though there is a gnawing suspicion that something is still missing. She is taking on all of the excess LA can throw it her, and challenging to give more. Also, if LA is the land of Gods and monsters, then she feels like she is heaven when she has achieved everything she thinks it has to offer.

It’s innocence lost. Innocence lost. – this is in keeping with the line ‘I was an angel’. She has been corrupted by the land of Gods and monsters.

In the land of gods and monsters, I was an angel, lookin' to get fucked hard. – again, Del Rey suggests that she was an angel, innocent and naïve. However, she was looking for trouble and looking for fulfillment outside herself. She wasn’t looking to ‘fuck hard’, she was looking to ‘get fucked hard’. This requires another person. Her happiness depends on an external factor, she is incomplete. This is in keeping with a lifestyle of fame – she needs to feel loved by others.

Like a groupie incognito posing as a real singer, Life imitates art – this line seems to be autobiographical. Del Rey sees herself more as a groupie, following the famous ones rather than being a famous one herself. She cannot quite believe that the world has bought the lie that she is a true artist; she doesn’t feel worthy or that she is one. She went to LA and was catapulted into this position, and any moment the rug will be pulled out from under her.

You got that medicine I need Dope, shoot it up straight to the heart please – now the medicine has changed from the previous reference. All that matters now is the drugs, and the dose is intense – straight to the heart. She needs a greater and greater fix in order to survive.

I don't really wanna know what's good for me – she knows this lifestyle isn’t good for her, and people have tried to tell her; perhaps her parents in her days of alcohol abuse? However, she is shutting that part of herself off, she doesn’t want to face reality. The

God's dead, I said 'baby that's alright with me' – This could be a reference to Nietzsche, who famously declared ‘God is dead.’ Nietzsche was referring to the fact that the modern world has in many ways made God redundant. Could Del Rey be suggesting that she doesn’t need God as long as she’s in LA and living the dream? She has replaced God with her lifestyle. Also, if this is the land of Gods and Monsters, and God’s dead, she has now entirely moved to the dark side of the lifestyle, only the monsters remain. Before she didn’t get along with God, but he was still around. Now he’s entirely gone.

No one’s gonna take my soul away, Living like Jim Morrison. Headed towards a fucked up holiday. Motel, sprees, sprees, and I’m singing, Fuck yeah give it to me, this is heaven, what I truly want It's innocence lost. Innocence lost. – see above for chorus.

When you talk it's like a movie and you're making me crazy – who is she talking to here? Again the theme of movies is in keeping with LA and Hollywood. Like a movie implies an idyllic existence and has romantic connotations, which links back to the earlier image of seduction.

Cause life imitates art – a repetition of an earlier line. She has become immersed in art and the façade of LA.

If I get a little prettier, can I be your baby? You tell me life isn't that hard. – she feels the pressure to conform to the expectations of her lifestyle, and doesn’t feel worthy as she is. She is looking to be the best version of herself, but only superficially. The person she is speaking to tells her life isn’t that hard, again, a very simplistic view.

No one’s gonna take my soul away, I'm living like Jim Morrison. Headed towards a fucked up holiday. Motel, sprees, sprees, and I’m singing, Fuck yeah, give it to me, this is heaven, what I truly want. It's innocence lost. Innocence lost.

I think some of the lyrics in this song have a hint of sarcasm in them. Like when she sings, "I was an angel lookin to get fcked hard." I think she is saying a lot of guys hit on her and kind of told her she was just asking for it. And when she sings, "this is heaven, what I truly want," she is trying to convince herself that it is. and she finally gives in to the liquor and sex and what not. and I think when she sings, 'no one's gonna take my soul away," that was something someone said to convince her to give into sin.

i find this song quite enigmatic, but here i go with what i think about it. i think it all revolves in the lines "its innocence lost, innocence lost", the lyrics start saying that in the land of gods and monsters she was an angel living in the garden of evil. its about this girl, full of innocence and purity that lives in this evil place. she gets consumed by life there full of drugs, alcohol, sex and ends living 'like jim morrison'. she then realizes that god is 'dead' as she stopped being that innocent and pure 'angel' she had been. she also says that no one s gonna take my soul away because of her new lifestyle but shes so consumed by this world that she dosent care anymore.

well hope you like my point of view :) bye and thanks! realtruth.

This song, at least on the surface, is about the internal conflict many people face about the temptations or 'sin' of the world. These include drugs, sex, and other typical things that come with fame (think sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll). She takes these and sexualizes them in an analogy throughout several lines;

"fame, liquor, love, give it to me slowly"

In the chorus, she's kidding herself (or whoever the narrator is);

"No one's gonna take my soul away" is her way of saying that despite all the things she does, she will still be that "angel", or at least she hopes she will. However, by the end of the chorus, she's admitted the truth; all of this has taken away her innocence.

Also in the chorus, she mentions "living like Jim Morrison". Jim Morrison's life was plagued by drug abuse and a lot of sex with groupies. I believe when she says "headed towards a fucked up holiday", she is referring to the date of his death, July 3rd. This is obviously right before the America's Independence Day, July 4th. Both Morrison and Lana Del Rey are American, so this is appropriate. This life she is living will one day lead to her death.

The religious theme throughout I'm not really sure about. Gods and monsters could represent the seemingly prominent figures in the music industry, or other people in her surroundings. God isn't painted as a caring one in this song, but one of destruction, wrath, and conflict with Lana. She wants to think of herself as an angel among monsters, but she's really not that innocent.

Why does everyone have to argue over something that they nor no one knows the true meaning in behind? WHO CARES. Just because you voiced an opinion over another's and it is contrary to their's doesn't mean anything. Your opinion over another's does not mean you are MORE CORRECT.

The beauty in this song is that it can mean something so different to every person. THAT is what great songs are meant to do. Inspire. Create. Shake you up. Make you think. It should mean something different to every person who listens to it. To sit around and correct people on their interpretation is just silly. Even if you are/ may be right, fine. What did you get for it? A sense of accomplishment from someone "out there you've never met" commenting the same way you are that you don't even know?? Sad.

Just live, share your thoughts if you so choose to, and let others do just the same.

Does anyone else hear "speed sprees" instead of "sprees sprees"?

My interpretation of the lyrics

"No one’s gonna take my soul away" = There is no God (or Devil) to take me to the afterlife. Living in the now. "Living like Jim Morrison." = Living fast and hard, pretty direct meaning. "Headed towards a fucked up holiday." = Getting "fucked up" aka high/drunk/etc and doing "fucked up" things double entendre. "Motel, sprees, sprees, and I’m singing," = Painting a picture of sleazy (motel) sex and reckless drinking / drug use "Fuck yeah give it to me, this is heaven, what I truly want" = Ties back into the religious themes + the notion that life on earth is the only "heaven" we get. To the narrator that heaven happens to be casual sex. Can be interpreted as regretful or reckless abandon.
"It's innocence lost. Innocence lost." = self explanatory

"In the land of gods and monsters,I was an angel." = Some have said this is to indicate that she was once pure. I see this as using tongue in cheek religious imagery to convey that she was beautiful or an object of attention for the "Gods and monsters" aka her sexual encounters "Living in the garden of evil" = Play on words of "Garden of Eden" perhaps to convey "living in sin" "Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed." = self explanatory "Shining like a fiery beacon" = Again the notion that she is desirable or an object of attention, perhaps because of her innocence (a beacon for the gods and monsters) "You got that medicine I need Fame, liquor, love, give it to me slowly. Put your hands on my waist, do it softly." = her experiences, what she wants or thinks she wants "Me and God we don’t get along, so now I sing." = Doesn't believe in god or religion ... NOT that she is a worshiper of satan or the illuminati /eyeroll

"I was an angel, lookin' to get fucked hard." = Literally and figuratively (sex, but also being used, emotional abuse) "Like a groupie incognito posing as a real singer, Life imitates art" = She became something by claiming to be it "You got that medicine I need Dope, shoot it up straight to the heart please" = Encapsulates the need of drug addiction but also potentially a metaphor for Love or addiction to the concept of love. "I don't really wanna know what's good for me" = Doesn't want people telling her how to live, or even to listen to her own doubts about her lifestyle. "God's dead, I said 'baby that's alright with me'." = Indifference toward religion, or perhaps the death of religious values in modern society.

"When you talk it's like a movie and you're making me crazy, 'Cause life imitates art." = Not really sure how the life imitates art fits in here - maybe because the person she is talking to represents a movie character and he drives her crazy in the same way the character does. "If I get a little prettier, can I be your baby?" = Desperation for love and the fixation on physical beauty. "You tell me life isn't that hard." = A carefree idealism (which sums up the song)

In the land of Gods and Monsters I was an angel (WAS meaning she doesn't feel she is anymore because of addiction, and when I say she, I don't exactly mean Lana) Living in the garden of evil (Which is Earth, because there are so many evil things around us each day like drugs, alcohol and other sins.) Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed (You do anything you need to do for the things you are addicted to) Shining like a fiery beacon

You got that medicine that I need Fame, liquor, love, give it to me slowly Put your hands on my waist do it softly Me and God, we don't get along, so now I sing (She could feel that she doesn't get along with God because she has become addicted to many things and isn't innocent anymore and could possibly blame God for that happening to her or she could have lost belief due to sins and the way the world she lives in is. OR maybe "me" isn't exactly herself, but actually the monsters - addictions, sex, drugs, alcohol, etc. She sings now to get all of her emotions out about it)

No one's gonna take my soul away Living like Jim Morrison Heading towards a fucked up holiday Motel, sprees, sprees, and I'm singing (No one can take her soul away because of her sins if she doesn't believe in God anymore or if she has no relationship with him anymore. Obviously some have commented about Jim Morrison, she's living like him in the fact that of the drugs and sex. Heading towards death because of her wild lifestyle)

Fuck yeah, give it to me This is heaven What I truly want Is innocence lost? Innocence lost? (She's saying give it all to her because it's heaven to her. If it were about being addicted to drugs, if you have the drugs you are needing then it's heaven to you at the time. It is possible that she's being sarcastic about it. "What I truly want" It's probably not really what she wants. She's asking if her innocence lost because she wants to be herself again. She doesn't want to be addicted and sin, but it's too late.)

In the land of Gods and Monsters I was an angel Looking to get fucked hard Like a groupie incognito Posing as a real singer Life imitates art

You got that medicine that I need Dope, shoot it up, straight to the heart please I don't really wanna know what's good for me God's dead, I said 'Baby that's alright with me' (When she started out in the "land of gods and monsters" celebrity world (LA/Hollywood) she was only looking for fame, liquior and love, but now she's gotten into darker things such as drugs and have become addicted to the monster.) No one's gonna take my soul away (she keeps telling herself that because it's better to believe that you're sinning and going to hell, i suppose) Living like Jim Morrison Heading towards a fucked up holiday Motel, sprees, sprees, and I'm singing

Fuck yeah, give it to me This is heaven What I truly want Is innocence lost? Innocence lost?

When you talk, it's like a movie and you're making me crazy 'Cause life imitates art

If I get a little prettier, can I be your baby? You tell me life isn't that hard (She doesn't believe it's not that hard because she's struggling)

No one's gonna take my soul away Living like Jim Morrison Heading towards a fucked up holiday Motel, sprees, sprees, and I'm singing

Fuck yeah, give it to me This is heaven What I truly want Is innocence lost? Innocence lost?

I could be way off, but that's just some of how I feel. I don't really know the full meaning of it, but definitely about struggling with addiction.

This song has nothing to do with religion, it is all a metaphor. God is hollywood, who tries to control Lana and change her as she gets more famous. Monsters are those who have already been changed by hollywood. Angels are newbies to hollywood who have not be changed yet (like Lana)

I think the whole meaning of the song is Lana saying she won't let fame change her. She's living like Jim Morrison, true to herself.