Cannabis Playlist #7: Lana Del Rey — “High by the Beach”

Lana Del Rey is known for her raw and realistic lyrics, which never shy away from mentioning her love of using psychotropic substances, including cannabis. Lana Del Rey's references to cannabis and other substances serve as metaphors to explore deeper themes, such as the desire to escape reality and emotional suffering, troubled love, and the search for true identity. These songs offer an introspective look at the complexities of the human experience through the lens of contemporary culture.

In this article we explore some of Lana Del Rey's compositions that address cannabis, with a focus on “High by the Beach”.

High by the Beach (2015)

Released on August 10, 2015, High by the Beach was the second single from the album Honeymoon and marked a sonic and thematic turning point in Lana Del Rey's discography. After the dark, psychedelic rock tone of Ultraviolence (2014), this track brought a more electronic and ambient sound, with soft beats, atmospheric synthesizers and an almost hypnotic structure.

The song was written by Lana Del Rey, Rick Nowels and Kieron Menzies — longtime collaborators of the artist — and is a kind of emotional rupture ballad with a rebellious background.

Cannabis as a symbol of liberation

The song begins with the repetition of the word “high”, which means to be “stoned”, and is repeated in the chorus:

“All I wanna do is get high by the beach, get high by the beach, get high..
All I wanna do is get high by the beach, get high, Baby, baby, bye bye”

Lana Del Rey seems to reflect a declaration of disinterest and weariness in the face of the emotional pressures of a relationship. Here, cannabis is not used simply as a recreational substance, but as a symbol of emotional escape, of escaping suffering, of a desire for peace and tranquility. The music video reinforces this feeling: Lana, isolated in a house by the sea, is pursued by a paparazzo by helicopter — but ends up shooting it down with a missile launcher. A perfect visual metaphor for someone who is fed up with the invasion, the fame, the expectations… and who just wants to be “high by the beach”.

The song High by the Beach was well received by critics and fans, having debuted in the top 10 on iTunes in several countries. It was considered one of Lana Del Rey's most radio-friendly tracks to date, despite her still very characteristic style: vocal languor, cinematic production and raw lyrics. Cannabis, in this case, does not appear as a provocation, but as a tool for introspection and distance — a recurring theme in many of the artist's other songs.

But High by the Beach isn't the only song in which Lana talks about cannabis.

In Brooklyn baby there is a verse where Lana sings:

“And my boyfriend's in a band
He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed
I've got feathers in my hair
I get high on hydroponic weed”

Other references to substances (not just cannabis) in Lana Del Rey's songs appear in:

“Taco Truck x VB”

This track from the album Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (2023) contains an explicit reference to the use of vaporizers, often associated with cannabis consumption.

“Pass me my vape, I'm feeling sick, I need to take a puff”

“Florida Kilos”

This 2014 track, part of the special edition of the album Ultraviolence, delves into the underworld of drug trafficking in Florida. Although the song focuses more on cocaine trafficking, there is a general atmosphere of indulgence in illicit substances, reflecting a dangerous and seductive lifestyle.

"A&W"

Released in 2023 on the album Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, “A&W” is a reflection on Del Rey’s life, addressing themes such as early growth, sexuality and toxic relationships. In the second half of the song, there is a reference to “Jimmy”, a recurring character in her songs, who only seeks her out when he wants to take drugs:

“Jimmy only loves me when he wants to get high”

“Dealer”

Integrated in the album Blue Banisters 2021's "Dealer" stands out for its collaboration with Miles Kane. The song explores feelings of alienation and despair, with references to a "dealer" that can be interpreted as both a drug supplier and a metaphor for an agent or manager. The lyrics reflect, as usual, an internal struggle and a search for some form of escape from reality.

“Hallucinogenics” (with Matt Maeson)

Although a collaboration with Matt Maeson, this song features Del Rey singing about experiences with hallucinogenic substances, suggesting an exploration of altered states of consciousness and the effects they have on the perception of reality.

Watch the music video for Lana Del Rey's High by the Beach here. The lyrics are below.

“High By The Beach” — Lyrics

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Laura Ramos

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With a degree in Journalism from the University of Coimbra, Laura Ramos has a postgraduate degree in Photography and has been a Journalist since 1998. Winner of the Business of Cannabis Awards in the category "Journalist of the Year 2024", Laura was a correspondent for Jornal de Notícias in Rome, Italy, and Press Officer in the Office of the Minister of Education of the 21st Portuguese Government. She has an international certification in Permaculture (PDC) and created the street-art photography archive “Say What? Lisbon” @saywhatlisbon. Co-founder and Editor of CannaReporter® and coordinator of PTMC - Portugal Medical Cannabis, Laura directed the documentary “Pacientes” and was part of the steering group of the first Postgraduate Course in GxP's for Medicinal Cannabis in Portugal, in partnership with the Military Laboratory and the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon.

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