In this song, Lana Del Rey sings about giving a helping hand to a person who is going through a tough time. You lose your way, just take my hand You're lost at sea, then I'll command your boat to me again Don't look too far, right where you are, that's where I am I'm your man

The song was inspired by a late night walk Del Rey took with a boyfriend. The singer explained in an interview with BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac that they stopped in front of the titular apartment complex, "and he put his hand around my shoulder." He said that they were similar because "we're both really messed up." Del Rey thought it was the saddest thing she'd ever heard. She responded, "I'm not sad, I didn't know that's why you thought you were relating to me on that level, I'm actually doing pretty good." You took my sadness out of context At the Mariners Apartment Complex I ain't no candle in the wind The guy was upset by the mix-up, and Del Rey wrote this song about the many times she had to "step on that role where I was showing the way and I was sort of being the brighter light."

"Mariners" was produced by Jack Antonoff, the guitarist for fun and frontman for Bleachers. This marked the first time Del Rey had worked with Antonoff, who has previously helmed hit tunes for Lorde ("Green Light") and Taylor Swift ("Look What You Made Me Do").