Video Games – Remastered by Lana Del Rey Lyrics Meaning – Nostalgia Infused with Modern Longing
Lyrics
Pull up in your fast car
Whistling my name
Open up a beer
And you say, “Get over here
And play a video game”
I’m in his favourite sundress
Watchin’ me get undressed
Take that body downtown
I say, “You the bestest”
Lean in for a big kiss
Put his favourite perfume on
Go play your video game
It’s you, it’s you, it’s all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you wanna do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It’s better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
And, baby, now you do
Singin’ in the old bars
Swingin’ with the old stars
Livin’ for the fame
Kissin’ in the blue dark
Playin’ pool and wild darts
Video games
He holds me in his big arms
Drunk and I am seeing stars
This is all I think of
Watchin’ all our friends fall
In and out of Old Paul’s
This is my idea of fun
Playin’ video games
It’s you, it’s you, it’s all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you wanna do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It’s better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
And, baby, now you do
(Now, now you do)
(Now you do)
(Now you do)
(Now, now you do)
(Now you do)
(Now you do)
It’s you, it’s you, it’s all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you wanna do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It’s better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
And, baby, now you do
(Now, now you do) Hmm, hmm, hmm
(Now you do)
(Now you do)
Now you do
(Now, now you do)
(Now you do)
(Now you do)
Lana Del Rey’s ‘Video Games’ isn’t just a song; it’s a poignant embodiment of romantic nostalgia wrapped in the delicate tissue of modern yearnings. The ‘Remastered’ tag not only implies a crisper sound but also a revisitation of the almost haunting allure that characterizes Del Rey’s music so distinctively.
The melancholic strains of the song weave together a story of love, or perhaps infatuation, in the digital age. Yet, it’s not the technology that sits at the heart of ‘Video Games’ but the timeless narrative of human desire and the lengths we go to satisfy it – even if it’s just for the fun of playing the game.
The Enthralling Soundscape: Melody Meets Melancholy
From the first reverberating chords, ‘Video Games’ plunges the listener into a world where the intoxicating blend of strings and harps underscores Del Rey’s ethereal vocals. The remastered version elevates this soundscape, giving every sigh and whisper the gravity it deserves – amplifying the sense of longing that the lyrics drip with.
It’s a melody that dances on the border of hope and despair, tethering on the edge of dreamy illusion and stark reality. Each note seems to be carefully crafted to pull at the heartstrings, pushing listeners to the brink of emotional vulnerability.
An Ode to Toxic Romance?
The beguiling nature of ‘Video Games’ lies not just in its melancholic tune but also in its depiction of a relationship that walks the tightrope between devotion and destruction. Del Rey’s songwriting prowess is evident as she intertwines the thrills of a questionable romance with the heady abandonment of personal caution.
She alludes to being a player in her lover’s game, both figuratively and literally, reflecting a power dynamic that many listeners find painfully relatable. There’s an understanding here that the game might be rigged, but the character in the song still plays, held fast by the allure of attention and affection.
Step Into Lana’s Cinematic World
Listening to ‘Video Games’, one is transported into a Lana Del Rey-directed film; each stanza frames a different scene rich with Americana nostalgia. Whether it’s the ‘sundress’ or the ‘old bars’, the imagery is vivid, conjuring a world that’s both personal and entirely cinematic.
Del Rey’s aptitude for storytelling through her music videos and lyrics has always set her apart, and this remastered track is no exception. The visual themes in ‘Video Games’ are a pastiche of vintage romanticism, longing, and a dusting of the quasi-glam that defines her aesthetic.
The Emblematic Chorus: ‘Heaven is a Place on Earth with You’
Arguably, the most memorable line of ‘Video Games’ is the chorus’ bold claim that ‘Heaven is a place on earth with you’, echoing the purest forms of romantic idealism. These words juxtapose the mundanity of ‘playin’ pool and wild darts’ signifying that even the simplest moments can be transcendent when shared with the object of one’s love.
Yet, there’s wisdom in the contradiction as Del Rey seems to question whether this envisioning of heaven is just an illusion, one that’s necessary to sustain the game at hand. The lyric encapsulates the hopeful essence that someone can make life worth living, weaving love with an existential depth that resonates profoundly.
The Hidden Meaning: Love, or a Higher Stakes Game?
‘Video Games’ might ostensibly be about romance, but Del Rey scratches at the surface to reveal the higher stakes at play. Is this a love song, or an exposition on the games we play in pursuit of fulfillment? The remastered track invites listeners to question whether the protagonist is truly in control or merely a piece in her lover’s game.
The songs’ cyclical structure, with its repetitive chorus and verses, mirrors the cyclical nature of the love games people play, hinting at a deeper commentary on the repetitive patterns in unhealthy relationships. The revelation that the ‘world was built for two’ is both romantic and melancholic, suggesting that life’s purpose hinges precariously on the presence of another.
