“Dealer” is the ninth track on Lana Del Rey’s 2021 album ‘Blue Banisters.’ The song features vocals by Miles Kane, both verses on the song, in fact. Lana only tackles the chorus of the song. The song talks about being locked away from everyone, even that special person in your life because you don’t feel like anything is moving anywhere in life.
Lana Del Rey announced her eighth studio album ‘Blue Banisters’ expected to release on July 4, 2021. Along with the surprise announcement, Lana released three brand new singles off the album, along with the title track. It has only been just over a year when Lana released her previous project ‘Chemtrails Over the Country Club‘ in March 2021.
Lana Del Rey revealed that “Dealer” was almost included in her last project ‘Chemtrails Over the Country Club.’ She told that the album was not perfect without this song in it. About the song, she also said; “I think I need to add that song, “Dealer”, where I’m just screaming my head off. People don’t know what it sounds like when I yell. And I do yell.”
Listen to “Dealer” by Lana Del Rey Ft. Miles Kane
Lana Del Rey “Dealer” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
In the two verses by Miles Kane, the singer talks about his disassociation with society – even the people who are closest to him. ‘Dealer’ might be his weed dealer, who is someone we would expect him to meet if not for anyone else, since most people use weed as a source of spending their alone time. The ‘dealer’ could also be his business manager (record deal), which hints that he is not even enjoying what he used to love the most, music. Kane is not in touch with anybody.
Please don’t try my father either
He ain’t been home for years
I know I’m no spirit-seeker
The singer is not in touch with his father as well, and there is no mention of his mother. He is not someone who is spiritually elevated who can live with these disassociations, but he has no choice. He just cries himself to sleep.
In the second verse, Kane sings about his doctor (again not to reach out to his doctor, either). He says that even his doctor has no medicine for the state of mind he is in.
He is lost in the ether. This is a place of nothingness. A void of attachments and detachments at the same time. One could even argue that these emotions reference depression. In line with the title of the song, the singer could be talking about his hallucinations from his weed.
In the chorus of the song, Lana Del Rey sings about being disconnected from the one person she wants to be connected to. She talks about how she gave them everything and they would not bat an eye about it.
Why can’t you be good for something?
It must be frustrating to be the one who always gives and the one who always has to compromise. Now she is coming to terms with the fact that this relationship is headed nowhere. She reels back to isolation.
Let us hear what you think about this song in the comments below. Check out the complete lyrics on Genius.
personally, i find it to be about a person struggling through addiction and picking the addiction over their family and friends.
Personally, i think this song is about someone that getting a lot in the relationship but hes just not ready for it . Meantlly he just want to be alone, mentally he just want them to leave because he scared to hurt them with their “drug” addiction.
My father explained his wonderful interpretation of this song to me. He says that the song is about drugs ruining his/her life. ‘I don’t wanna live, I don’t wanna give you nothing’ is like contracting herself. She needs the drugs but she doesn’t want to give this dealer any more of her money… ‘gave ya all my money…’
therefore she is depressed and disassociating from her life and the people around her.
Such a heavy, beautiful song. One of her best
It’s definitely not about weed, lol. More like an addiction to coke…I’ve been there can highly associate with this song. I’ve never heard anyone reach rock bottom on weed and take all their money…it’s dirt cheap. It’s cocaine.
I think this is a wonderful interpretation of the song. This description accurately portrays the emotions one feels while listening to this song. Love it.
I think he’s conveying a hidden message. He’s so depressed that he might commit suicide. It’s a farewell to this world. ‘ I don’t wanna live, I don’t want to give nothing’, He is sending this message to someone he loves very much but who in turn does not forgive. This is the last goodbye.