Shifting from a loving to a careless undertone in “Serial Killer”, Lana Del Rey uses alluring similes and metaphors, addictive characterization, and sultry imagery to convey that she loves “just a little too much”.
Lana starts off discussing how she wants to fall in love, but she doesn’t seem to mind who with by saying “Wish I may, wish I might, find my one true love tonight. Do you think that he could be you?” She is determined to find love, she’s “on the warpath”, this characterization seems almost obsessive with one person, but really, she isn’t on the warpath for a man, she’s on the warpath for the feeling of love itself, for the feeling of being wanted. Also, she doesn’t stay with one man for long, she even states “Wanna play you like a Game Boy, what’s the thrill with the same toy?” She finds that the thrill with being in love, being with someone, wears off, and isn’t really worth any of it anymore. She loves a lot in the beginning, but after awhile, the flame wears off, and she’s on to the next addictive feeling she finds in love “watching them fall one by one, they fight”.
The use of similes and metaphors in this song is limited, but strong. Lana uses such devices to portray what she is like before things turn to muck. She is “like a light” luring guys in. She shows she has the power to make anyone fall in love with her, make them feel like they are in control, when really she picked him, not the other way around. She’s like a candle dancing in darkness, she is making you drawn to her, luring you in for her next kill, after all she is a “sweet serial killer”.
Lana is obsessed with love, and she’d do anything to be in a relationship. She uses sultry imagery so one can almost imagine her trying to reel in a guy, such as “Sneak up on you, really quiet, whisper "Am I what your heart desires?" I could be your ingenue.” One can picture her trying to get a guy by being somewhat of a slut, it’s all part of her game. She knows what she wants, and she knows how to get it, and she conveys it throughout the song.
