Get down, get your Crystal Method on
You were like, tall, tan, drivin' 'round the city
Flirtin' with the girls like, "You're so pretty."
"Springsteen is the king, don't you think?"
I was like, "Hell yeah, that guy can sing."
Like ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-oh
You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, spin me 'round like a child
Your skin so golden brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Drive fast, I can almost taste it now
L.A., I don't even have to fake it now
You were like so sick, everybody said it
You were way ahead of the trend, ge-get it
Elvis is the best, hell yes
Honey, put on that party dress
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/l/lana+del+rey/american_21047820.html ]
Like ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-oh
You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, spin me 'round like a child
Your skin so golden brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Everybody wants to go fast
But they can't compare
I don't really want the rest
Only you can take me there
I don't even know what I'm saying,
But I'm praying for you.
You make me crazy, you make me wild
Just like a baby, spin me 'round like a child
Your skin so golden brown
Be young, be dope, be proud
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
Like an American
Ooh-ooh ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ooh ooh-ooh
This Song by Lana Del Rey demonstrates that the American Dream and American Exceptionalism still persist in contemporary America, however, in this song, similar to Springsteen, she critiques such ideologies. She refers multiple times to Springsteen, which can be interpreted as rebellion she demonstrates. For her, the American Dream is taken as making it big in the music industry by going to LA. She references LA, as the destination, and as well as the symbolic car plays a role in her analogy of reaching the American Dream. The first line plays on the American Dream, while the second line critiques such a "dream" with the reality of a situation. The chorus, "like an American", singles Americans out, demonstrating American Exceptionalism and how all are expected to be "young, dope, and proud". In conclusion, by maintaining the desire to achieve the American Dream, yet simultaneously aware of the limitations on that and the reality of the situation, Lana Del Rey demonstrates the ideology of the American Dream as well as American Exceptionalism.
This was a great song really enjoyed it. Im not sure but I also got the fact that she said "be young, be dope, be proud like an American". This could kinda be like the Marlboro Man of todays society that the media wants to portray. The idea of youth in our country and how all the money is spent on plastic surgery to preserve youth. How to be golden tanned and young with ambition makes you an Ideal American.
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