California Dreamin'
the mamas & the papas Lyrics
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And the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)
You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)
He knows I'm gonna stay (knows I'm gonna stay)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
If I didn't tell her (if I didn't tell her)
I could leave today (I could leave today)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
The lyrics to The Mamas & The Papas' song "California Dreamin'" paint a vivid picture of the desire to escape to the warm and sunny state of California. The first verse sets the scene with the image of brown leaves and a grey sky on a winter's day. The singer then expresses the wish to be safe and warm in Los Angeles, which is portrayed as a dream destination. The chorus, "California dreamin'", emphasizes this desire and highlights the melancholic tone of the song, suggesting that the dream is unlikely to become a reality.
In the second verse, the singer stops at a church and kneels down to pray, suggesting a deeper longing or searching for meaning beyond simply escaping the cold. The preacher is described as "liking the cold," perhaps indicating a contrast between those who are content with their current situation and those who are always dreaming of something better. However, the singer believes they will stay, indicating a commitment to the dream of California.
The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is considering leaving without telling someone, perhaps a loved one or a significant other. This adds a bittersweet element to the dream, suggesting that the cost of escaping to California might be leaving something behind.
Overall, "California Dreamin'" captures the yearning for something better, a longing that many people can relate to. The song's melancholic tone and vivid imagery make it a classic of 1960s counterculture, immortalizing the desire to escape to California that was so prevalent at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
The leaves have dried and turned brown, indicating a change in season and the passing of time.
And the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)
The sky is overcast and dull, reflecting the somber and mundane reality of everyday life.
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
The singer has gone for a stroll to clear their head and find some solace from their troubles.
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
The walk taken by the artist is in the midst of winter, a time of hibernation and darkness.
I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)
The artist longs for a sense of comfort and security that is currently lacking in their life.
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)
The singer believes that going to Los Angeles would solve their problems and provide the safety and warmth they crave.
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
The singer is lost in a reverie of a perfect life in California, which feels like an unattainable dream given their current situation.
Stopped into a church
The artist goes into a church, possibly seeking guidance or solace from religion.
I passed along the way
The church was not their intended destination but it caught their eye on the path they were taking.
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
The artist engages in the physical act of prayer, perhaps as a desperate attempt to find a way out of their problems.
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)
The singer is going through the motions of prayer without truly feeling connected to any higher power or religious belief.
You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)
The artist observes that the preacher tolerates the cold and is accustomed to the harsh realities of life, unlike the artist who is struggling with their problems.
He knows I'm gonna stay (knows I'm gonna stay)
The singer is aware that they will not be leaving the church anytime soon, either because they are physically exhausted or emotionally drained.
If I didn't tell her (if I didn't tell her)
The singer is referring to someone they care about, possibly a romantic partner or a family member, and contemplates leaving them without informing them.
I could leave today (I could leave today)
The singer feels trapped by their daily existence and considers running away to California without telling their loved ones, as a form of escape and liberation.
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
The artist remains lost in their fantasy of a better life in California, even as they face the grim reality of winter and their personal struggles.
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
The repetition of this line reiterates the juxtaposition between the bleakness of reality and the hopefulness of the artist's dreams.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN EDMUND ANDREW PHILLIPS, MICHELLE GILLIAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sephorapatricia4832
The 80's was all about being as mysterious and weird as possible
@shabbir9480
it was a greater time but mysterious to the people born after it
@yeezytheslump1709
Damn can u explain that me I'm a 2000s baby
@JenFromWebsite
@@yeezytheslump1709 if you watch other music videos from the 80s (“Visage-Fade to gray” or “The Cure-The forest) you’ll see that most of them are weird and mysterious. They don’t make sense. The lead singers also act really weird. That’s just the 80s. The reason for this is probably because music videos started becoming extremely popular at that era and artists wanted to stand out from the usual pop music that everyone heard.
@ockerdebokx3369
dont forget about the cocaine
@internetperson573
@@ockerdebokx3369 truly the most important piece of the music making process
@GrossGore
when quicksilver knows a classic.
@mrsapin814
you right bro
@adriansmith7722
well he does live in the 80s
@erntha
In 80s it isnt a classic. Isnt it?