Born to Die cover art

  Studio Album · No. 2

Born to Die Songwriting Credits by Lana Del Rey

2012 Polydor / Interscope 12 tracks 49 min

Produced by Emile Haynie, Justin Parker, Patrik Berger, Robopop, Jeff Bhasker, Mike Daly, David Sneddon, James Bauer-Mein, Rick Nowels, Chris Braide, Al Shux  ·  Engineered by Dan Grech-Marguerat, Manny Marroquin, John Davis

Polydor / Interscope Baroque PopIndie PopSadcore
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 12 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 12 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Lana Del Rey carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
12 trackswritten by Lana Del Rey 0 tracksoutside writers
Lana Del Rey's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
11
Lyricists
11
Producers
5 million
US Copies Sold
2012
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

GAFFA Award for International Album of the Year (2012)
Data Insight

Born to Die shows Lana Del Rey's authorship taking shape: she co-wrote every track, sitting in the lyricist column on all twelve, while the composer column pairs her with a tight circle of collaborators like Justin Parker and Rick Nowels. Emile Haynie produced most of the album, so the credits map a single author working in close partnerships rather than the crowded writing rooms common to mainstream pop.

Born to Die is the major-label debut studio album by Lana Del Rey, released in January 2012 after the viral success of 'Video Games.' It established her cinematic, melancholy aesthetic, pairing orchestral baroque-pop and hip-hop-tinged production, mostly by Emile Haynie, with lyrics steeped in old-Hollywood glamour and doomed romance. Lana Del Rey co-wrote every track, working with a core group of collaborators including Justin Parker and Rick Nowels. Despite a frosty early critical reception, it became a commercial juggernaut, driven by the singles 'Video Games' and 'Summertime Sadness,' the latter reaching the US top ten in a remixed version. The album is certified five-times platinum in the United States and launched one of the most influential pop careers of the 2010s.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Born to Die
Lana Del ReyJustin Parker Elizabeth GrantJustin Parker Emile HaynieJustin Parker Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)
2
Off to the Races
Lana Del ReyTim Larcombe Elizabeth GrantTim Larcombe Patrik BergerEmile Haynie Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)
3
Blue Jeans
Lana Del ReyEmile HaynieDan Heath Elizabeth GrantEmile HaynieDan Heath Emile Haynie Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)
4
Video Games
Lana Del ReyJustin Parker Elizabeth GrantJustin Parker Robopop Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)
5
Diet Mountain Dew
Lana Del ReyMike Daly Elizabeth GrantMike Daly Emile HaynieJeff BhaskerMike Daly Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)
6
National Anthem
Lana Del ReyJustin ParkerDavid SneddonJames Bauer-Mein Elizabeth GrantJustin ParkerDavid SneddonJames Bauer-Mein Emile HaynieJeff BhaskerDavid SneddonJames Bauer-Mein Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)
7
Dark Paradise
Lana Del ReyRick Nowels Elizabeth GrantRick Nowels Emile HaynieRick Nowels Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)
8
Radio
Lana Del ReyJustin Parker Elizabeth GrantJustin Parker Emile HaynieJustin Parker Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)
9
Carmen
Lana Del ReyJustin Parker Elizabeth GrantJustin Parker Emile HaynieJeff BhaskerJustin Parker Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)
10
Million Dollar Man
Lana Del ReyChris Braide Elizabeth GrantChris Braide Emile HaynieChris Braide Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)
11
Summertime Sadness #6
Lana Del ReyRick Nowels Elizabeth GrantRick Nowels Emile HaynieRick Nowels Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)
12
This Is What Makes Us Girls
Lana Del ReyTim LarcombeJim Irvin Elizabeth GrantTim LarcombeJim Irvin Emile HaynieAl Shux Lana Del Rey (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 16 contributors

More from Lana Del Rey

Frequently Asked Questions Born to Die

Who wrote Lana Del Rey's Born to Die?
Lana Del Rey co-wrote every track, working mainly with Justin Parker and Rick Nowels. Most of the album was produced by Emile Haynie.
What is the biggest song on Born to Die?
'Video Games' was the breakout hit, while a remix of 'Summertime Sadness' became her biggest US single, reaching the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.
Who produced Born to Die?
Emile Haynie produced most of the album, with contributions from Justin Parker, Rick Nowels, Patrik Berger, and others.
How well did Born to Die sell?
It is certified five-times platinum in the United States and was one of the best-selling albums of the early 2010s worldwide.
What genre is Born to Die?
It blends baroque pop, indie pop, and sadcore with orchestral and hip-hop-influenced production, defining Lana Del Rey's cinematic sound.
Did Lana Del Rey write Video Games?
Yes. She co-wrote 'Video Games' with Justin Parker, and it was the song that made her famous.

Sources