High By The Beach

Album: Honeymoon (2015)
Charted: 60 51
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This sun-drenched torch song with a trap beat finds Del Rey dissing her bad boy lover and determining to dump him. The only way she can get away from her disastrous beau is to get high by the beach.
  • Del Rey told Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe the story of the song. "It started with the chorus," she said. "I was driving by the beach a lot. This was probably one of the last ones on the record. Even with the harmonies, it almost sounded monotone. But with the beat, it has this trap influence."
  • We hear Del Rey lashing out in anger, telling her lover:

    Don't need your money, money to get me what I want
    Lights, camera, action
    I'll do it on my own


    The "lights, camera, action" line was previously used by the singer on "Put Me in a Movie," a track from her 2010 album, Lana Del Ray.
  • The song's music video gives us an alternative interpretation of the lyrics as we see Del Rey being stalked by a helicopter carrying a photographer at a beachside house. The singer pulls out a guitar case from beneath a pile of rocks, opens the case and removes a large firearm from it, which she uses to shoot down the helicopter. Based on the clip, it seems the target of Del Ray's ire is the way the media portrays her rather than the singer's bad boy lover.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Actors With Hit Songs

Actors With Hit SongsMusic Quiz

Many actors have attempted music, but only a few have managed a hit. Do you know which of these thespians charted?

Movie Stars In Music Videos

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.

Famous Singers' First Films

Famous Singers' First FilmsSong Writing

A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."