For a "proper" understanding of the track, these key elements are frequently cited in both academic and critical reviews:
: Critics at Billboard and PopMatters analyze the "black beaches" motif as a symbol for both personal heartbreak and the "noir" complexity of her public life. Lana Del Rey: Lust for Life - PopMatters Lana Del ReyВ 13 Beaches
Several academic works analyze "13 Beaches" as a representation of psychological and social conflict: For a "proper" understanding of the track, these
: Lana Del Rey has stated the song is literally about driving past 13 different beaches between Santa Monica and Ventura until she found one without paparazzi. Lana Del ReyВ 13 Beaches