Songfacts®:

• This dreamy ballad was released as the first single from the "Paradise" edition of Born To Die. It is one of nine additional nine tracks on the set.
• The song was produced by legendary knobmeister Rick Rubin and written by Del Rey and Justin Parker, who also co-penned the singer's breakout hit "Video Games."
• Del Rey recorded the song at the Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California. The Shangri-La has been the home to the likes of Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton, as well as The Band who made recordings there for their documentary/movie, The Last Waltz.
• The song's ten minute music video was directed by Anthony Mandler (Rihanna, Fun, Drake) and finds Del Rey taking shelter in a series of different men. Del Rey told Radio.com that she considers Mandler, who also helmed the singer's clip for "National Anthem" and her short film Tropico to be her "directorial soulmate," She explained: "I always give him these mood boards and storyboards that he goes through and makes all of the visions I have come to life. He never says no and he asks me why do I want it to be about the kindness of strangers, like in the case of 'Ride' — why am I with different men and things like that? I tell him it's not about being submissive to men or anything like that. It's about not really knowing anyone close to you who can help you, and being really lucky enough to finding people who you just meet randomly, who can take care of you until you can take care of yourself."
• The video received criticism for appearing to glamorize prostitution. "I can see how that video would raise a feminist eyebrow," Del Rey conceded to The Guardian. "But that was more personal to me – it was about my feelings on free love and what the effect of meeting strangers can bring into your life: how it can make you unhinged in the right way and free you from the social obligations I hope we're growing out of in 2014."
  
  She added that the clip reflected her actual life, "100%."
• This was used on Pretty Little Liars in the Season 4 finale, "A Dangerous gAme," during a love scene between Spencer and Toby.