Santa Monica Dream
Angus & Julia Stone Lyrics


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Goodbye to my Santa Monica dream
Fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine
You tell me stories of the sea
And the ones you left behind
Goodbye to the roses on your street
Goodbye to the paintings on your wall
Goodbye to the children we'll never meet
And the ones we left behind
And the ones we left behind

I'm somewhere, you're somewhere
I'm nowhere, you're nowhere
You're somewhere, you're somewhere
I could go there but I don't

Rob's in the kitchen making pizza
Somewhere down in Battery Park
I'm singing songs about the future
Wondering where you are
I could call you on the telephone
But do I really want to know?
You're making love now to the lady down the road
No I don't, I don't want to know

I'm somewhere, you're somewhere
I'm nowhere, you're nowhere
You're somewhere, you're somewhere
I could go there but I don;t

Goodbye to my Santa Monica dream
Fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine
You will tell me stories of the sea




And the ones you left behind
And the ones we left behind

Overall Meaning

The song "Santa Monica Dream" by Angus & Julia Stone tells the story of someone bidding farewell to their past life in Santa Monica. The lyrics are infused with feelings of nostalgia and longing for a place where the person was once happy. The opening verses describe a gathering of fifteen kids in the backyard, drinking wine and sharing stories of the sea. The person who is singing is saying goodbye to the roses on the street, the paintings on the walls, and the children they won't meet again. The repeated phrase "and the ones we left behind" echoes the pain of leaving things and people behind.


As the song progresses, we get a glimpse into the present situation of the person. The lyrics suggest that they are no longer in Santa Monica where they once shared the memories. Instead, they are somewhere else, feeling lost and frail. The person thinks of calling someone on the telephone, but decides against it, fearing that they might hear something they don't want to know. The final verse once again brings up the reminiscence of their time in Santa Monica and the stories of the sea that they will never forget.


The song's wistful melody and poetic lyrics make it a bittersweet tribute to a past that can never come back. It's a beautiful portrayal of the human experience of looking back at the times we shared with people and places that we love.


Line by Line Meaning

Goodbye to my Santa Monica dream
Farewell to the idyllic life that I had once imagined in Santa Monica


Fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine
A group of young people drinking wine and enjoying each other's company in a backyard


You tell me stories of the sea
You share tales of your experiences and adventures at sea


And the ones you left behind
And those who were left behind, perhaps family, friends or a past life


Goodbye to the roses on your street
Saying goodbye to the familiar sights of the roses that lined the street


Goodbye to the paintings on your wall
Parting with the personal, meaningful art pieces that decorated the walls


Goodbye to the children we'll never meet
Bidding farewell to the possibility of children that we will never have


And the ones we left behind
And the people from our past that we've decided to leave behind


I'm somewhere, you're somewhere
We're both in different places, mentally and physically


I'm nowhere, you're nowhere
We're both feeling lost and distant from each other


You're somewhere, you're somewhere
You're somewhere else, but not necessarily content or happy


I could go there but I don't
I have the option to join you, but I choose not to


Rob's in the kitchen making pizza
A friend named Rob is currently cooking pizza


Somewhere down in Battery Park
Rob is located in Battery Park, a public park in Manhattan


I'm singing songs about the future
I'm contemplating and dreaming about what's to come


Wondering where you are
Curious about your current whereabouts and what you're doing


I could call you on the telephone
I have the ability to reach out to you via phone call


But do I really want to know?
But do I really want to hear about what you're up to?


You're making love now to the lady down the road
It's likely that you're currently engaging in intimate moments with someone else nearby


No I don't, I don't want to know
I realize that I don't actually want to know about your current romantic partner


I could go there but I don't
Again, I have the ability to join you, but I choose not to


Goodbye to my Santa Monica dream
Once again, reiterating the farewell to the idealized vision of life in Santa Monica


Fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine
Repeating the image of a group of young people enjoying themselves with wine


You will tell me stories of the sea
Highlighting that you have many tales and memories related to the ocean


And the ones you left behind
Again, emphasizing the people and places that have been left behind as you've journeyed through life


And the ones we left behind
And again, mentioning those from our past that we've moved beyond




Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANGUS STONE, JULIA STONE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@zeconthreehundredsixtyfive3563

For some reason I just have to commend the idea of putting together this footage, because it just makes the song. And now that I know that the footage is original and was from the Stone's grandparents, it just makes me... think. It makes me think of when they lived, and how their youth is far more different than ours. God, for some reason I have a nostalgia for an age I never even existed in. The clothes, the houses, the cars, the colors, it feels like things were so simple. I wish I lived then instead of now, I guess. It feels like there was actual heart and soul back then, there was actual physical interaction with others. And although I absolutely embrace computers and the digital age, I can't help but think about what was.

I guess that's the price that comes with time. You're born where you are, and you can't go anywhere else but forward, with only the fragments of the past before your birth affecting you, yet you never truly live those fragments. And all the while, you live your own fragments for those born after you to be affected. It's an amazing yet complex feeling realizing history got you to where you are.


Honest to God, this made me cry. It's this realization that the past is over, it's done with. You can never be a child forever, or a teen, or a young adult. You'll grow old, and all you'll have to live for is your memories as you slowly wait for death to get to you. And if, somehow, we were able to live forever, maybe by uploading our brain or something like that, I don't think I'd choose to. It honestly just devalues the life we're given. We live our memories because we know that sometime, they'll cease to exist, and only you would have lived in that unique moment. It might as well have never happened, but it did anyways.


It makes me realize I haven't lived a life worth living. I've taken it for granted. I've taken my mom for granted, and she died when I didn't make any worthwhile memories with her. And yet it took me years to truly realize the value of the time you're given. And although I may have much of my life to look forward to, I just hope I'll remember this lesson for years to come. It's such a goddamn timeless message, because it's about time itself.

Yes, you may have just witnessed some stranger on the Internet come to a life change. It's odd how the Internet allowed all this to happen. And I feel like it's made me mature faster than I would've liked. Should a fifteen year old realize this so soon? Once you do truly realize something like this, you'll find out that your simple days are gone. It will always be too late because such a complex thought requires a complex mind, a mature mind. (Just realized that could come off wrong. I'm not bragging about my so-called "superior mind", I'm just saying these thoughts normally come to an adult, and I guess I'm on my way to becoming one with this thought.) All you can do now is tell your children to embrace their childhood before it's too late, or else they'll end up crying in the middle of the night with this sudden, depressing realization.


Sorry for the rant, but I really wanted to just get this complex feeling out there. It's hard to put a handle on it with words, and there's so much to say about it, but you can never fully describe it.



@latifamahmoud4762

Goodbye to my Santa Monica dream
Fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine
You tell me stories of the sea
And the ones you left behind

Goodbye to the roses on your street
Goodbye to the paintings on the wall
Goodbye to the children we'll never meet
And the ones we left behind
And the ones we left behind

I'm somewhere, you're somewhere
I'm nowhere, you're nowhere
You're somewhere, you're somewhere
I could go there but I don't

Rob's in the kitchen making pizza
Somewhere down in Battery Park
I'm singing songs about the future
Wondering where you are

I could call you on the telephone
But do I really want to know?
You're making love now to the lady down the road
No, I don't, I don't want to know

I'm somewhere, you're somewhere
I'm nowhere, you're nowhere
You're somewhere, you're somewhere
I could go there but I don't

Goodbye to my Santa Monica dream
Fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine
You tell me stories of the sea
And the ones you left behind
And the ones we left behind



All comments from YouTube:

@n543576

Life is strange brought me here. What a wonderful song. Needs more attention for it's wonderfulness.Ā 

@Grogan07

What is the song that she listens to when she first goes into the hallway? Something about American girl or something.

@ultimazer0

Kevin Grogan
Syd Matters - To All of You

@ashN2f

i agree...it saddens me that such wonderful songs arent getting the kinda attention they absolutely should...such lovely songs...

and thx to 'a game': life is strange to let me know of such beautiful songs :)

@Thelordaa

lol Life is strange brought me here to...

@aguslac3168

Alex Vaamonde omg same I looooove all the songs from life is strange

27 More Replies...

@shrestho1

thnx to life is strange, for introducing me to indie songs

@bilbabaobo

Which other, similar indie songs can you recommend ?

@LivelyMephisto

Foals - Spanish Sahara

@shrestho1

u can try daughter youth

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