I think we all collectively held our breath when Lana recently revealed that her forthcoming, much-anticipated album would once again undergo a title change and a revised release date. She promised we’d be getting another track from the album imminently—a claim I’m sure many of us rolled our eyes at, given her history of broken promises.
But then… a single cover was released. A new shot from the same photoshoot as ‘Henry, come on’—or was it? We genuinely wondered whether she’d used Picsart yet again to tweak the image, but it doesn’t seem that way. In contrast to the song’s subject matter, the cover features Del Rey half-smirking demurely, gazing directly into the lens.
‘Bluebird’ continues the country-tinged sound she’s been embracing this era: a simple guitar melody, her soft vocals, and gentle strings in the background. It’s a song about finding a way to freedom in a dark situation, with Del Rey asking the bluebird to fly away for the both of them, as they both “shouldn’t be dealing with him.” It’s quintessential Lana—reflecting on hopeless, perhaps abusive love—as she urges the bird to escape before things get worse.
It’s a sombre, almost bleak track, which contrasts with her current loved-up, newly married status. Perhaps Lana is revisiting her past in light of her recent nuptials, her newfound happiness offering her the clarity to reflect on darker times—ultimately making her appreciate the peace she has now even more.
