“Doin’ Time” by Lana Del Rey

The lyrics of Lana Del Rey’s “Doin’ Time” deals with two distinctly-different topics. As far as the chorus is concerned, it centers on the wherewithal of the singer and her bandmates to make the party jump, particularly within the confines of “the L.B.C.” (Long Beach, California). It is also made explicitly clear that they are doing so during the “summertime”, giving the lyrics an overall feel-good vibe.

However, in terms of the verses, they deal with the unfaithfulness of the singer’s girlfriend. And in that regard, it should be noted that this is actually the cover of a song that was originally sung by a male lead. But overall, being bound to this particular lover is frustrating the storyteller. She depicts her girlfriend as someone who is “evil, most definitely” and whom she would like to “hold her head underwater” – all in the “summertime”.

So again this track runs along two different themes. On one hand, it is a summer-based party song. But in terms of the actual title, what the singer likely means by “Doin’ Time”, a phrase commonly associated with serving a prison sentence, is that she is in love with a partner whose cheating ways are driving her crazy.

The narrator therefore feels stuck in prison (“doin’ time”) because of her unfaithful, cold partner. However, despite all that, she still finds a reason to party.

Facts about “Doin’ Time”

• This song was originally released by the American ska punk band Sublime in 1997. This makes Lana Del Rey’s version technically a cover.
• Based on the aforementioned information, Lana receives no songwriting credits on this song.
• Record producers watt and Happy Perez worked with Lana Del Rey to produce her version of this song.
• Lana released “Doin’ Time” on May 17th, 2019. On May 7, 2019 (ten days prior to its release), she teased the song.

On which of Lana Del Rey’s albums does “Doin’ Time” appear?

It is highly likely that it would appear on her sixth studio album. That album is titled Norman F*cking Rockwell.

Who wrote “Doin’ Time”?

About eight songwriters (including the late Bradley Nowell of Sublime) are credited with writing “Doin’ Time”. The other writers are as follows:

• Rick Rubin
• Marshall Goodman
• Ira Gershwin
• George Gershwin
• DuBose Heyward
• Ad-Rock
• Adam Yauch