Lana Del Rey has this thing for the forgotten corners of California. You know, the places that were once glamorous but now just kind of sit there, gathering dust and ghost stories. When she announced her ninth studio album, Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, people immediately started Googling if the place was even real. It is. But it’s not some grand, open thoroughfare. It’s a sealed-off relic under the streets of Long Beach.
Most pop stars title their albums something punchy, like Midnights or Renaissance. Lana went the opposite way. She chose a sentence. A question. It’s long, it’s clunky, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mouthful. But that’s the point. It sets the tone for a record that is obsessed with legacy, being seen, and what happens when the world moves on without you.
The Real Jergins Tunnel: A Long Beach Ghost Story
So, let’s talk about the actual tunnel. It’s called the Jergins Tunnel. Back in 1928, it was a big deal. It was built so people could get from the Jergins Trust Building to the beach without having to dodge traffic on Ocean Boulevard. At its peak, it was beautiful. Think white tiles, skylights, and even little shops inside. It was a piece of Art Deco functionalism that allowed thousands of people to reach the sand every day.
By 1967, it was over. The building was demolished, and the tunnel was sealed. It’s still there, though. Under the pavement, the tiles are still on the walls, and the air is probably thick with seventy years of silence. Lana uses this as a metaphor for herself. She asks, "When's it gonna be my turn?" It's a heavy question. She’s wondering if she’ll end up like that tunnel—sealed off, full of beauty, but completely inaccessible to the public.
If you go to the corner of Ocean Blvd and Pine Ave today, you won't see a grand entrance. You'll see a locked gate and some concrete. It’s a strange feeling knowing there’s an entire world right beneath your feet that you can’t touch. That’s exactly the vibe of the title track. It’s grand and sweeping, but it feels claustrophobic at the same time.
Breaking Down the Sound of the Record
Musically, this isn't Born to Die. It’s not even Norman F*ing Rockwell!. It’s something weirder. Working with Jack Antonoff, Mike Hermosa, and Drew Erickson, Lana leaned into a style that feels like a long, rambling conversation at 2:00 AM.
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There are these massive, orchestral swells that suddenly cut into "trap" beats or folk melodies. Take "A&W" for example. It starts as this haunting acoustic ballad about being a "lightweight" and feeling disposable, then halfway through, it pivots into a distorted, bass-heavy chant. It’s jarring. It’s meant to be. She isn’t trying to give you a radio hit; she’s trying to show you the mess inside her head.
The guest list is just as eclectic. You’ve got Jon Batiste bringing this loose, improvisational jazz energy to "Candy Necklace" and "Jon Batiste Interlude." Then there’s Father John Misty, who shows up for "Let The Light In," a song that sounds like it could have been written in 1972. It’s a patchwork quilt of influences. It’s basically a tour through her own personal musical history.
The Family Ties and the "Grants"
One thing that sticks out is how much family matters here. The opening track is literally called "The Grants"—that’s her real last name. She sings about taking her family’s memories with her when she goes. It’s an intensely private sentiment for a global superstar.
She mentions her niece, her brother Charlie, and her sister Chuck. By using her real name, she’s stripping away the "Lana Del Rey" persona that she spent years building up. It feels like she’s tired of the character. She just wants to be Elizabeth Grant for a minute. This vulnerability is why her fanbase is so obsessed. They don't just like her music; they feel like they’re reading her diary.
Why the Lengthy Title Actually Works for SEO and Fans
From a marketing perspective, the title Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd was a stroke of genius, even if it wasn't intended to be. It’s a "long-tail keyword" built right into the art. People search for the tunnel. They search for the street. They search for the lyrics.
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But beyond the metrics, the title serves as a litmus test. If you’re a casual listener, you might find it pretentious. If you’re a "Lana Stan," it’s a secret handshake. It signals that this album is going to be dense, lyrical, and full of references that require a bit of homework. She’s referencing the Sylvia Plath poem The Bell Jar and the photography of Neil Krug. She’s not catering to the TikTok attention span, even though her songs ironically go viral there all the time.
Misconceptions About the "Ocean Blvd" Narrative
A lot of people think the album is a love letter to Long Beach. It really isn't. It’s more of a eulogy for a version of California that doesn't exist anymore. Lana has always been obsessed with "Old Hollywood," but on this record, the glamour feels tarnished.
There’s a track called "Taco Truck x VB" where she samples her own song, "Venice Bitch." It’s meta. She’s looking back at her own career with a bit of a smirk. Some critics argued the album was too long or lacked a "hit," but they’re missing the point. The "tunnel" represents the parts of her that she keeps hidden from the spotlight. If the album feels long and winding, it’s because a tunnel isn’t a straight line to a destination; it’s a passage.
The Cultural Impact of the Album
Since the album dropped, the Jergins Tunnel has seen a massive spike in interest. Local historians in Long Beach have had to field questions from fans about whether they can get a tour (spoiler: you usually can’t, though there have been occasional "open house" events in the past).
It’s rare for a pop album to ignite interest in urban archaeology. But Lana has that power. She turns mundane locations into shrines. Whether it’s a Hells Angels hangout or a defunct pedestrian underpass, she gives these places a soul. It’s why her version of America feels so much more vivid than the one you see on the news.
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What to Listen For
If you’re diving into the record for the first time, don’t try to finish it in one go while you’re doing the dishes. It won’t click. You need to sit with it.
- The Piano Work: The arrangements are incredibly lush. It sounds like someone playing a grand piano in an empty ballroom.
- The Lyrics: Pay attention to the "interludes." The Judah Smith Interlude is controversial because it’s a long sermon, but it provides a weird, religious context to the themes of guilt and salvation that run through the tracks.
- The Transitions: The way "Kintsugi" flows into "Fingertips" is some of her best songwriting to date. It’s raw. She talks about death, her mother, and her own mortality without any filters.
Final Practical Takeaways
If you want to truly appreciate the depth of Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, start by looking at the photography for the era. Neil Krug shot the visuals on film, giving them a grainy, 1970s feel that matches the music perfectly.
Next, read up on the history of the Jergins Trust Building. Understanding that the tunnel was a "Gateway to the Sea" that was eventually bricked up because it was "no longer needed" makes the lyrics hit ten times harder. It’s a lesson in how cities treat their history, and how we treat our own memories.
Finally, listen to the album with headphones. The production is layered with whispers, background chatter, and subtle instrumental shifts that you’ll miss on a phone speaker. It’s an immersive experience designed to make you feel like you’re underground with her.
The most important thing to remember is that Lana isn’t just asking if you know about a tunnel. She’s asking if you see the value in things that have been forgotten. In a world obsessed with the "new" and the "viral," she’s making a case for the old, the dusty, and the hidden.
Next Steps for the Listener:
- Listen to "A&W" and "The Grants" back-to-back. This gives you the full spectrum of the album's sound, from traditional folk-gospel to experimental pop.
- Search for archival photos of the Jergins Tunnel. Seeing the original mosaics and skylights helps visualize the "beauty" Lana is trying to preserve in her lyrics.
- Explore the "Norman Fing Rockwell!" album* if you haven't already. It serves as the spiritual predecessor to this record and helps bridge the gap between her older, cinematic style and this newer, more diaristic approach.