Lana Del Rey’s first release of the year, “Henry, come on” hints at a new era defined by cinematic strings and a Western tinge, marking a subtle yet striking shift in her sound.
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Stream: “Henry, come on” – Lana Del Rey
Yesterday, I heard God say, “You were born to be the one to hold the hand of the man who flies too close to the sun”…
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Lana Del Rey’s “Henry, Come On” is one of the few clues we have as to what the American singer/songwriter’s next phase will look like.
While the name and release date of her tenth studio album remain unknown, the single is one of two recent releases to offer the melancholy, story-like spirit that Del Rey is known and loved for. Nonetheless, she has once again rearranged a few aspects of her work.
I mean, Henry, come on
Do you think I’d really choose it?
All this off and on
Henry, come on
I mean, baby, come on
Do you think I’d really lose it on ya
If you did nothing wrong?
Henry, come on
The song is immediately recognizable as a product of Lana Del Rey: Her signature whispery vocals, instrumentation that features strings, a cinematic touch, and her unavoidable themes of love and heartbreak. This time, however, the track takes place in the West, co-written with Grammy-winning country songwriter Luke Laird and produced by Drew Erickson. Together, the three deliver a refreshing Lana Del Rey ballad, even if the storyline draws from another genre.
Last call, ”Hey, y’all”
Hang his hat up on the wall
Tell him that his cowgirl is gone
Go on and giddy up
Soft leather, blue jeans
Call us into void’s dreams
Return it but say it was fun
And it’s not because of you
That I turned out so dangerous
Yesterday, I heard God say,
“It’s in your blood”
And it struck me just like lightning
I’ve been fighting, I’ve been striving
Yesterday, I heard God say,
“You were born to be the one
To hold the hand of the man
Who flies too close to the sun”
Despite her recent marriage and relationship that went public last year, “Henry, Come On” hardly has anything to do with her current personal and romantic life. Instead, the track tells the story of an on-again, off-again relationship that is clearly reaching its end, and this time we can identify one character by name: Henry. Although there may be no man by that name connected to Lana Del Rey’s past or present, listeners inevitably speculate that it’s tied to one of her ex-lovers. Ultimately, though, the song works as allegory: Every listener has their own Henry – someone who leaves because there’s nothing left to salvage. Del Rey has crafted this breakup ballad into a Western-inspired narrative.
Here, then, lies a different tale: In the West, a cowboy leaves behind his lover, forcing her to grapple with themes of acceptance, fate, vulnerability, and destructive patterns. With lyrics such as, “I’ll still be nice to your mom / It’s not her fault you’re leaving” and “Don’t even bother explaining,” she reveals that both partners have given up, acknowledging that time and chances are over. Other lines like, “You can’t chase a ghost when it’s gone,” deepen the lament and pain of the narrator, complicating the deceptive simplicity of the song’s first minute.
I’ll still be nice to your mom
It’s not her fault you’re leaving
Some people come and they’re gone
They just fly away
Take your ass to the house
Don’t even bother explaining
There’s no working it out
No way
It’s last call, “Hey, y’all”
Hang his hat up on the wall
Tell him that his cowgirl is gone
Come on and giddy up
Soft leather, blue jeans
Don’t you get it? That’s the thing
You can’t chase a ghost when it’s gone
Some would say that country music is defined by detailed storytelling. Yet, “Henry, Come On” doesn’t fully embrace that element of the genre. Still, in Lana Del Rey’s style, there are always signature elements that cross genres: Lush instrumentals and an intimate ambience forever pair well with the “Summertime Sadness” singer’s smoky voice. If her aesthetic is considered cinematic, then she has succeeded once again – this time with a Western-tinged ballad.
And it’s not because of you
That I turned out so dangerous
Yesterday, I heard God say,
“It’s in your blood”
And it struck me just like lightning
I’ve been fighting, I’ve been striving
But yesterday, I heard God say,
“You were born to be the one
To hold the hand of the man
Who flies too close to the sun”
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Stream: “Henry, Come On” – Lana Del Rey
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