Mini-critique N°246

Paroles :

My old man is a bad man

But I can't deny, the way he holds my hand

And he grabs me, he has me by my heart

He doesn't mind I have a Las Vegas past

He doesn't mind I have a L.A. crass way about me

He loves me with every beat of his cocaine heart

Swimmin' pool, glimmering darlin'

White bikini off with my red nail polish

Watch me in the swimming pool, bright blue ripples

You sittin', sippin' on your Black Cristal, yeah

Light of my life, fire of my loins

Be a good baby, do what I want

Light of my life, fire of my loins

Gimme them gold coins, gimme them coins

And I'm off to the races

Cases of Bacardi chasers

Chasin' me all over town

'Cause he knows I'm wasted

Facin' time again at Rikers Island

And I won't get out

Because I'm crazy, baby

I need you to come here and save me

I'm your little scarlet, starlet

Singin' in the garden

Kiss me on my open mouth

Ready for you

My old man is a tough man

But he got a soul as sweet as blood red jam

And he shows me, he knows me, every inch of my tar black soul

He doesn't mind I have a flat, broke-down life

In fact, he says he thinks it's what he might like about me

Admires me, the way I roll like a rollin' stone

Likes to watch me in the glass room, bathroom, Chateau Marmont

Slippin' on my red dress, puttin' on my makeup

Glass room, perfume, cognac, lilac fumes

Says it feels like heaven to him

Light of his life, fire of his loins

Keep me forever, tell me you own me

Light of your life, fire of your loins

Tell me you own me, gimme them coins

And I'm off to the races

Cases of Bacardi chasers

Chasin' me all over town

'Cause he knows I'm wasted

Facin' time again at Rikers Island

And I won't get out

Because I'm crazy, baby

I need you to come here and save me

I'm your little scarlet, starlet

Singin' in the garden

Kiss me on my open mouth

Yo, I'm off to the races, laces

Leather on my waist is tight

And I am falling down

I can see your face is shameless

Cipriani's basement

Love you, but I'm going down

God, I'm so crazy, baby

I'm sorry that I'm misbehaving

I'm your little harlot, starlet

Queen of Coney Island

Raisin' hell all over town

Sorry 'bout it

My old man is a thief

And I'm gonna stay and pray with him 'til the end

But I trust in the decision of the Lord to watch over us

Take him when He may, if He may

I'm not afraid to say that I'd die without him

Who else is gonna put up with me this way?

I need you, I breathe you, I'd never leave you

They would rue the day I was alone without you

You're lying with your gold chain on

Cigar hangin' from your lips

I said, "Hon', you never looked so beautiful

As you do now, my man"

And we're off to the races, places

Ready, set, the gate is down

And now we're goin' in

To Las Vegas, chaos, Casino Oasis

Honey, it is time to spin

Boy, you're so crazy, baby

I love you forever, not maybe

You are my one true love

You are my one true love

You are my one true love

Critique :

Dans cette chanson, Lana déclare son amour à son petit ami riche et gangster. Cependant, leur relation, digne d'un film de ''Bonnie & Clyde'', est vouée à l'échec.

Selon Internet, ''Off to the Races'' est inspirée du livre Lolita de Vladimir Nabokov, tout comme ''Carmen'', tiré du même album. Lana est une grande fan de Nabokov et son nom est tatoué sur son bras, à côté de celui du poète américain Walt Whitman.

Lana incarne un personnage (hybride de sa propre image et de Lolita) au passé criminel, fait d'alcool, de strip-tease et de dépenses excessives. Elle tombe amoureuse d'un riche gangster, profondément amoureux des femmes, de la cocaïne et de l'argent. Ce personnage n'est pas entièrement fictif : Lana a bel et bien eu un problème d'alcool étant jeune fille.

Lana court après la ville, s'incruste dans des fêtes et boit à l'excès. Bien qu'ils soient tous deux des individus mal intentionnés au passé sombre, ils s'adorent, malgré leurs nombreux défauts. Ceci s'écarte du classique de Nabokov, car la dévotion d'Humbert pour Lolita est sans réciprocité.