Nate Jones Though it was released a year ago, Lana Del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness” is storming up the charts thanks to a house remix from French DJ Cedric Gervais. Del Rey is no stranger to sadness in any season, but in the festive time of sun and surf, her inherent melancholy sticks out even more. Is there any way to cheer her up? Below, we’ll make our best effort.
I got my red dress on tonight
Dancing in the dark in the pale moonlight
That’s a start! “Dancing in the Dark” is actually one of Springsteen’s happiest songs!
Got my hair up real big beauty queen style
High heels off, I’m feeling alive
So far, so good. One verse in, and this summer is actually sounding pretty great.
Oh, my God, I feel it in the air
Telephone wires above, all sizzling like a snare
Honey I’m on fire, I feel it everywhere
Nothing scares me anymore
Again, no sadness here. This actually sounds like Lana’s having the time of her life? She’s even quoting a second Springsteen song.
Kiss me hard before you go
Summertime sadness
I just wanted you to know
That baby you’re the best
Here we get our first mention of the titular summertime sadness. And yet—one again, the verse it’s in is full of more happiness. Young lovers, kissing their hearts out. We thought we needed to cheer Lana Del Rey up, but you guys, she’s starting to cheer us up.
I’ve got that summertime, summertime sadness
S-s-summertime, summertime sadness
Got that summertime, summertime sadness
Oh, oh oh
She can say it as many times as she wants, but at this point we’re going to need some proof.
I’m feelin’ electric tonight
Cruising down the coast goin’ ’bout 99
Got my bad baby by my heavenly side
I know if I go, I’ll die happy tonight
Finally, in the remix’s last verse, we get our first hint of negative emotion. But even the brief mention of death here comes in a happy moment; like Morrissey, Del Rey is so blissed-out that to die by her boy’s side would be a heavenly way to die. That’s a very peculiar definition of sadness.
The full remix lyrics are below! You can listen to the song at the bottom of the post!
I got my red dress on tonight
Dancing in the dark in the pale moonlight
Got my hair up real big beauty queen style
High heels off, I’m feeling alive
Oh, my God, I feel it in the air
Telephone wires above, all sizzling like a snare
Honey I’m on fire, I feel it everywhere
Nothing scares me anymore
Kiss me hard before you go
Summertime sadness
I just wanted you to know
That baby you’re the best
I’ve got that summertime, summertime sadness
S-s-summertime, summertime sadness
Got that summertime, summertime sadness
Oh, oh oh
I’ve got that summertime
I’ve got that summertime
I’ve got that summertime
I’ve got that summertime, summertime sadness
I’ve got that summertime
I’ve got that summertime
I’ve got that summertime
I’ve got that summertime, summertime sadness
I’m feelin’ electric tonight
Cruising down the coast goin’ ’bout 99
Got my bad baby by my heavenly side
I know if I go, I’ll die happy tonight
Oh, my God, I feel it in the air
Telephone wires above are sizzling like a snare
Honey I’m on fire, I feel it everywhere
Nothing scares me anymore
Kiss me hard before you go
Summertime sadness
I just wanted you to know
That baby you’re the best
I’ve got that summertime, summertime sadness
S-s-summertime, summertime sadness
Got that summertime, summertime sadness
Oh, oh oh
I’ve got that summertime, summertime sadness
S-s-summertime, summertime sadness
Got that summertime, summertime sadness
Oh, oh oh
I’ve got that summertime, summertime sadness
S-s-summertime, summertime sadness
Got that summertime, summertime sadness
Oh, oh oh
