In early 2014 the band announced that they had signed with Razor & Tie. On April 22, 2014, Augustana released the album, Life Imitating Life. On September 2, 2015, Augustana release three new tracks ("Climb", "Must Be Love" and "You Can Have Mine").
In 2016, they began touring as an opener for the Dixie Chicks on their DCX MMXVI World Tour. On August 3, 2016, Augustana's social media sites changed their named to Dan Layus, the name of the sole remaining founding member and lead singer/songwriter. Dan Layus released the album, "Dangerous Things," on October 21, 2016.
The band members are:
Dan Layus (lead vocals, piano, guitar)
Jared Palomar (bass, keyboards, vocals)
Chris Sachtleben (lead guitar, mandolin)
Justin South (drums)
John Vincent (keyboards, vocals)
Former band members include:
Simeon Lohrmann (bass, vocals)
Josiah Rosen (lead guitar, vocals)
Kyle Baker (drums)
Josh Calhoun (drums)
David Lamoureux (keyboards, vocals)
California's Burning
Augustana Lyrics
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Burning to the ground
And my head is turning, turning
Turning round and round, round
Allie's stomach's churning, churning
Like a storm today
And your mother's cryin', cryin'
Safe
Closin' up the safe, safe
And I'm here
Wonderin' where the sun has gone
Driving through New Mexico
Askin' why there's no one home
Encinitas likes to miss me
Like nobody's child
And my eyes like rainy Tuesdays
Like to watch you smile
Smile
Like to watch you smile, smile
And I'm here
Wonderin' where the sun has gone
Drivin' through the Midwest storm
Askin' why there's no one home
There's no one home
No one home
The lyrics to Augustana's song "California's Burning" are a reflection on the chaos and destruction caused by wildfires in California, as well as the personal struggles faced by the singer and the people around him. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of flames sweeping through the land, while also highlighting the singer's confusion and sense of disorientation. He feels lost and overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster.
The second verse shifts the focus to the people around him. Allie, presumably someone close to the singer, is suffering from anxiety and physical distress. Meanwhile, someone else's mother is crying and locking up a safe, perhaps out of fear for their own safety or that of their possessions. In this moment of crisis, everyone is trying to protect themselves and deal with their own issues, making the singer feel even more isolated.
The chorus serves as a bittersweet moment of longing, as the singer reflects on happier times spent with someone special. The imagery of Encinitas, a city in southern California, reinforces the theme of homesickness and the desire to be with loved ones. The final lines of the song, "Askin' why there's no one home / There's no one home," convey a sense of loneliness and abandonment, as if the singer is pleading for someone to be there for him in this difficult moment. Overall, "California's Burning" is a haunting and introspective tribute to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of disaster.
Line by Line Meaning
California's burning, burning
California is undergoing intense fires causing damage to the place
Burning to the ground
Fires are completely destroying the area
And my head is turning, turning
The singer is getting confused and is struggling to comprehend what's happening
Turning round and round, round
The singer feels harangued and can't remain stable or focused
Allie's stomach's churning, churning
Allie is feeling nauseous and unwell and is constantly restless
Like a storm today
Her condition is similar to the gale that is happening in California now
And your mother's cryin', cryin'
Your mother is tearing and weeping due to the present catastrophe
Closin' up the safe
She is closing something precious, suggesting she is in fear of losing it
Safe
She doesn't want anything to be lost
And I'm here
The singer is physically present
Wonderin' where the sun has gone
Questioning the nature which has brought about these disasters
Driving through New Mexico
The singer is en route to New Mexico
Askin' why there's no one home
The place is empty and deserted, which is puzzling and distressing
Encinitas likes to miss me
The singer believes that Encinitas has no fondness or regard for him
Like nobody's child
He seemingly feels isolated and unloved
And my eyes like rainy Tuesdays
The singer is sullen and gloomy
Like to watch you smile
The only moment of happiness comes when he sees a smile on someone's face
Smile
An emotional crutch of the singer
And I'm here
The singer is talking about himself
Drivin' through the Midwest storm
The singer is driving through Midwest amid a thunderstorm
Askin' why there's no one home
He wonders why there is no one around during this volatile weather condition
There's no one home
He senses a desolation and emptiness in the area
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind