Swan Song

Album: Honeymoon (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A swan song is a metaphorical phrase for the final performance of a poet, actor or composer's career. It is derived from the ancient belief that swans sing a beautiful song in the moment just before death.

    This Honeymoon track finds Del Rey crooning of this being her "swan song" before she stops singing and moves onto the next chapter of her life with her lover.
  • Speaking in a 2022 interview, Lana Rel Rey said this song makes her cry.

    Put your white tennis shoes on and follow me
    Why work so hard when you could just be free?
    You got your moment now, you got your legacy
    Let's leave the world for the ones who change everything


    "It's the antithesis of hopefulness," Del Rey told Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele for W magazine. "It's about trying to find beauty in giving up. If I had my way, I would continue to persist in all areas of my life, but it can be quite challenging because I can be too trusting too soon. The burn that can come from that really can incinerate your whole thinking life and your daily processes. At the end of every album, I say goodbye and thank you - very Old Hollywood style - and yet I cannot help but just continue to write."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.