Meaning and Lyrics of Dealer by Lana Del Rey

Song Lyrics meaning of Dealer by Lana Del Rey

About Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey, born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant on June 21, 1985, in New York City, is a singer-songwriter who has redefined modern pop with her cinematic soundscapes and haunting lyrics. Her career began in earnest in 2011 with the release of “Video Games,” which captured the melancholic essence of a disenchanted American dream and propelled her into the limelight. Since then, Lana has been lauded for her unique blend of baroque pop, indie rock, and trip-hop influences, creating a darkly romantic aesthetic that resonates deeply with audiences. Del Rey’s discography is a tapestry of emotional depth and sonic experimentation. Albums like *Born to Die* (2012), which features hits like “Summertime Sadness” and “Born to Die,” established her as a significant figure in the pop landscape, while *Ultraviolence* (2014) showcased a rawer sound, helmed by the production prowess of Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys. Her follow-up, *Lust for Life* (2017), expanded her artistic palette, incorporating more collaborative efforts, including the standout track “Lust for Life” featuring The Weeknd. One compelling example of her recent work is the song “Dealer,” from the album *Blue Banisters* (2021). This track encapsulates Lana’s signature lyrical themes of love, addiction, and nostalgia, layered over lush instrumentation and ethereal vocals. The song’s poignant exploration of complex relationships and emotional dependency reflects her ongoing evolution as an artist, while its production mirrors the intimate yet grand style that has become her hallmark. Lana Del Rey’s cultural impact cannot be overstated; she’s influenced a wave of artists who embrace vulnerability and introspection in their music, redefining what it means to be a pop star in the 21st century. With each release, she continues to push boundaries, infusing her work with literary allusions and cinematic imagery, solidifying her status as a modern-day icon in an industry that often prioritizes superficiality over substance. As she carves her unique path through the musical landscape, it’s clear that Lana Del Rey is here to stay, captivating listeners with her hauntingly beautiful and often enigmatic artistry.

Meaning of Dealer by Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey’s “Dealer,” featuring the ever-charismatic Miles Kane, is a poignant exploration of addiction, disillusionment, and the aching void left by failed relationships and substance reliance. The track, embedded within the ethereal soundscape characteristic of Del Rey’s oeuvre, is a masterclass in atmospheric composition—evoking the melancholy of a twilight cityscape where promises become smoke and mirrors.

Opening Up with A Lament

The song opens strong with Kane’s gravelly vocals, which juxtapose perfectly with Del Rey’s haunting timbre. The opening lines immediately set a somber tone: “Please don’t try to find me through my dealer.” Here, the dealer emerges as a metaphor—not just for substances but for escapism itself. There’s an immediacy in the plea, underscored by a sense of urgency and desperation. It hints at a deeper commentary on how relationships can become transactional and toxic, much like the drug culture that is intrinsically linked to the American Dream—one that promises fulfillment yet delivers heartbreak.

The repetition of “He won’t pick up his phone” creates an almost obsessive, cyclical feeling akin to that of dependency—both on substances and on the people we surround ourselves with. This cycle mirrors the artist’s own tumultuous narrative around love and loss, a theme woven throughout Del Rey’s discography.

Chorus: The Economic Exchange of Pain

The chorus is where the track truly delves into its core psychological themes. “I check in, I wreck it, I turn it around” feels like an exercise in self-sabotage; it speaks to the pattern of self-destruction that can accompany addiction and toxic relationships. The lines “I gave you all my money” echo a deeper truth about emotional investment—how, in moments of vulnerability, we often give our all to people or substances that do not reciprocate. There is a sense of existential struggle here: feeling depleted yet still tied to the cycle of giving without receiving.

The rhetorical questioning in “Why can’t you be good for something?” speaks volumes about the disillusionment faced by the protagonist—an assertion of frustration aimed at not just a lover or dealer but at the very nature of dependency itself. The notion of wanting something tangible in return, contrasted with the absence of “not one shirt off your back,” is particularly sharp. It’s a maddening realization that no matter how much one invests—be it financially, emotionally, or spiritually—one is often left with nothing but empty promises and broken dreams.

Verse Two: The Swap of Healing for Harm

In the second verse, the focus shifts slightly to the concept of healing—or the lack thereof. “Please don’t try my doctor either / He won’t take any calls” furthers the disconnect and reveals the parallels between the dealer and the doctor. Both serve as figures of supposed salvation but are ultimately revealed to be just as unhelpful. The “spirit healer” becomes a poignant metaphor for the false hopes we seek in our darkest hours—a reminder of the emptiness in both substance and professional avenues of escape.

As Kane reiterates the feeling of isolation—“he’s gone now for the weekend”—it encapsulates the fleeting nature of solace. One minute we grasp onto hope, and the next, it slips through our fingers, leaving us grappling with the harsh reality: it’s us against the world, often exacerbated by our own choices.

Outro: The Echo of Disconnect

The outro, striking in its repetition, circles back to the beginning. The closing lines, with Kane and Del Rey almost fading into a static reality—“555 / All circuits are busy, goodbye”—suggest an inescapable loop of despair. The use of phone metaphors deepens the sense of disconnection, as if the protagonist is attempting to reach out for help and finds nothing but silence, further emphasizing alienation. The imagery of “busy tones” suggests that every possible avenue for escape has been exhausted, and the result is profound isolation.

Conclusion: A Dark Reflection on Dependency

“Dealer” stands out as a raw and unflinching reflection on the realities of addiction and interpersonal disillusionment. Lana Del Rey and Miles Kane showcase a haunting narrative: one of crashing highs and devastating lows, of searching for solace in all the wrong places. With its lush production and lyrical introspection, the track carves a niche in their respective discographies as a raw testament to the human condition—a visceral reminder that sometimes, we give everything away and still have nothing left. The song, much like its creators, is a compelling, dark, and provocative reflection that lingers well beyond its runtime.

Lyrics of Dealer by Lana Del Rey

Verse 1: Miles Kane
Please don't try to find me through my dealer
He won't pick up his phone
Please don't try my father either
He ain't been home for years
I know I'm no spirit-seeker
I can't sleep through the tears
I get lost in the ether

Chorus: Lana Del Rey, Lana Del Rey & Miles Kane
I check in, I wreck it, I turn it around
I gave you all my money, gave you all my money
Gave you all my money, gave you all my money
I don't wanna live
I don't wanna give you nothing
'Cause you never give me nothing back
Why can't you be good for something?
Not one shirt off your back
Why can't you be good for something?
Not one shirt off your back

Verse 2: Miles Kane
Please don't try to find me through my dealer
He won't pick up his phone
Please don't try my doctor either
He won't take any calls
He's no f*****g spirit healer
We just can't stop to talk
But he's gone now for the weekend

Chorus: Lana Del Rey
I check in, I wreck it, and I'll explain
I gave you all my money, gave you all my money
Gave you all my money, gave you all my money
I don't wanna live
I don't wanna give you nothing
'Cause you never give me nothing back
Why can't you be good for something?
Not one shirt off your back
Why can't you be good for something?
Not one shirt off your back

Outro: Miles Kane & Lana Del Rey
555
Please don't try to find me through my dealer (9275, 555)
He won't pick up his phone (Now you've got a busy tone)
All circuits are busy, goodbye
All circuits are busy, you're high
Please don't try my father either (All circuits are busy, goodbye)
He ain't been home for years (All circuits are busy, you're high)

Discography Lana Del Rey

Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd

Release: 2023-03-24
Label: Polydor Records
Popularity: 👏👏👏👏
1. The Grants
2. Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd
3. Sweet
4. A&W
5. Judah Smith Interlude
6. Candy Necklace (feat. Jon Batiste)
7. Jon Batiste Interlude
8. Kintsugi
9. Fingertips
10. Paris, Texas (feat. SYML)
11. Grandfather please stand on the shoulders of my father while he’s deep-sea fishing (feat. RIOPY)
12. Let The Light In (feat. Father John Misty)
13. Margaret (feat. Bleachers)
14. Fishtail
15. Peppers (feat. Tommy Genesis)
16. Taco Truck x VB
Tracklist Collapse

Blue Banisters

Release: 2021-10-22
Label: Polydor Records
Popularity: 👏👏👏👏
1. Text Book
2. Blue Banisters
3. Arcadia
4. Interlude – The Trio
5. Black Bathing Suit
6. If You Lie Down With Me
7. Beautiful
8. Violets for Roses
9. Dealer
10. Thunder
11. Wildflower Wildfire
12. Nectar Of The Gods
13. Living Legend
14. Cherry Blossom
15. Sweet Carolina
Tracklist Collapse

Chemtrails Over The Country Club

Release: 2021-03-19
Label: Polydor Records
Popularity: 👏👏👏👏
1. White Dress
2. Chemtrails Over The Country Club
3. Tulsa Jesus Freak
4. Let Me Love You Like A Woman
5. Wild At Heart
6. Dark But Just A Game
7. Not All Who Wander Are Lost
8. Yosemite
9. Breaking Up Slowly
10. Dance Till We Die
11. For Free
Tracklist Collapse

Upcoming Events for Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey Night :: Chemtrails over Chelsea's - 2024-08-23

Price Range: $10 – 10 USD
Location: Chelsea’s Live, Baton Rouge

Reading Festival 2024 - Saturday Day Tickets - 2024-08-24

Price Range: $195 – 195 GBP
Location: Richfield Avenue, Reading

Reading Festival 2024 - Saturday Day Tickets - 2024-08-24

Price Range: $0 – 175 GBP
Location: Bramham Park, Leeds
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