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.
@GNRLoves Fascinating and impressive interpretation! =D =D Well-described and looked into with much depth and research... :) :) I really liked all of the path of thoughts that you have enlightened me with that I had not previously seen or considered. Very cool! Whats funny is, a lot of the time, I was looking to describe how I felt and you worded it perfectly! Once I read it, I was like, "that's exactly how I was feeling! Yaay!" lol =D ;) A lot of it made complete sense, in other words, once you...
@GNRLoves Fascinating and impressive interpretation! =D =D Well-described and looked into with much depth and research... :) :) I really liked all of the path of thoughts that you have enlightened me with that I had not previously seen or considered. Very cool! Whats funny is, a lot of the time, I was looking to describe how I felt and you worded it perfectly! Once I read it, I was like, "that's exactly how I was feeling! Yaay!" lol =D ;) A lot of it made complete sense, in other words, once you stated it. THANK YOU! VERY HELPFUL!! All the way through!! =D =D
@GNRLoves Ahh I'm not done reading your interpretation yet, which is great so far. But had to stop to point out "land of gods and monsters" is NOT LA. La is the city of angels she goes to after all the hell on earth.
@GNRLoves Ahh I'm not done reading your interpretation yet, which is great so far. But had to stop to point out "land of gods and monsters" is NOT LA. La is the city of angels she goes to after all the hell on earth.
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.
@GNRLoves Fascinating and impressive interpretation! =D =D Well-described and looked into with much depth and research... :) :) I really liked all of the path of thoughts that you have enlightened me with that I had not previously seen or considered. Very cool! Whats funny is, a lot of the time, I was looking to describe how I felt and you worded it perfectly! Once I read it, I was like, "that's exactly how I was feeling! Yaay!" lol =D ;) A lot of it made complete sense, in other words, once you...
@GNRLoves Fascinating and impressive interpretation! =D =D Well-described and looked into with much depth and research... :) :) I really liked all of the path of thoughts that you have enlightened me with that I had not previously seen or considered. Very cool! Whats funny is, a lot of the time, I was looking to describe how I felt and you worded it perfectly! Once I read it, I was like, "that's exactly how I was feeling! Yaay!" lol =D ;) A lot of it made complete sense, in other words, once you stated it. THANK YOU! VERY HELPFUL!! All the way through!! =D =D
@GNRLoves Ahh I'm not done reading your interpretation yet, which is great so far. But had to stop to point out "land of gods and monsters" is NOT LA. La is the city of angels she goes to after all the hell on earth.
@GNRLoves Ahh I'm not done reading your interpretation yet, which is great so far. But had to stop to point out "land of gods and monsters" is NOT LA. La is the city of angels she goes to after all the hell on earth.