Tomorrow Never Came
by Lana Del Rey (featuring Sean Lennon)

Album: Lust For Life (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song about a crumbling romance is a collaboration with Sean Lennon, the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Lyrics from the song reference Sean's famous mother and father, including the line "I wish we could go back to your country house. And put on the radio and listen to our favorite song by Lennon and Yoko."
  • Lana Del Rey recalled the story of the song during an interview with Courtney Love for Dazed:

    "I don't know if you've ever felt this way, but when I wrote it I felt like it wasn't really for me. I kept on thinking about who this song was for or who could do it with me, and then I realised that he would be a good person.

    I didn't know if I should ask him because I actually have a line in it where I say, 'I wish we could go back to your country house and put on the radio and listen to our favourite song by Lennon and Yoko.' I didn't want him to think I was asking him because I was namechecking them. Actually, I had listened to his records over the years and I did think it was his vibe, so I played it for him and he liked it. He rewrote his verse and had extensive notes, down to the mix.

    And that was the last thing I did, decision-wise. I haven't mixed the record, but the fact that 'Love' just came out and Sean kind of finished up the record, it felt very meant-to-be. Because that whole concept of peace and love really is in his veins and in his family."
  • Sean Lennon was full of praise for Del Rey. "She has exceptional taste," he commented to Flaunt magazine of his collaborator's approach to making music. "I told her that working on her song was a valuable lesson since I often modulate and take unintuitive chordal and melodic twists and turns, and she reminded me that you can be perhaps even more compelling if the melodies and chords feel natural and intuitive, not contrived or disorienting as in my music."

    "Anyway I'll never forget when she called me after I sent her what I did and her first words were 'It's perfect!,'" he added. "I almost cried with joy because I honestly don't think anyone has ever said that to me about anything I've ever done. It was a very good feeling."
  • Del Rey said that as soon as she wrote the song she knew she had to share it with Sean Lennon. Though she had reservations that he may feel strange singing about his famous parents, her fears were laid to rest.

    "I think the fact that I sing, 'Isn't life crazy now that I'm singing with Sean.' It points to the fact that we're both aware," she explained. "I didn't want it to come out exploitative in any fashion. Not that it would. Still, I wanted to be as careful as possible. I wanted it to come across layered with this sort of meta narrative mixed in. In a way it's a song about a song."
  • Lust For Life producer Rick Nowels told Genius about the collaboration:

    "We asked Sean Lennon to sing on it and when we sent him our track, he got so inspired that he ended up playing all the instruments on it. He recorded it in his studio in upstate New York. It was good talking to him over Face Time during it. He did an amazing job and he and Lana sound great together. I'm assuming he used some of his dad's vintage instruments on it, but you'd have to ask him."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.