Forming in 2009, after original band members, Zima, O’Connor, and Michel, realized they needed to cover new ground, Kramer suddenly brought his love of electronic music into an already talented core of musicianship that completed the foursome, and blended all of their influences into one cohesive idea.
Fanning the flames after recording and releasing dance-pop love child, “EL 84” in early 2009, California Wives’ self-recorded 4-track EP No. 8 dropped only a few months later, reinforcing the foursome that they were on the right track with songs such as the bass-grooving “True Blue” and the vibrant pop single “Bibles & Wires.” Later that fall, the group released the synth-tastic “Twenty Three”, which became the band’s hottest single to date. Now on the verge of releasing their much anticipated September 3 EP, Affair, recorded at Gravity Studios, and mixed at Chicago’s famed Engine Music Studios -whose artists include Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Iron and Wine- Affair displays California Wives’ all-around musical dexterity that boasts flanking guitar and glimmering keys, with ever-so-clever lyricism, in tracks “Blood Red Youth”,“Guilt”, Photolights”, “Purple”, and a brand new version of “Twenty Three”.
For booking and other information, contact californiawives@gmail.com
Los Angeles
California Wives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The people talk, people talk now
The voices stick inside your head
They make you wait now for so long
All the day you’re on the tracks
You wore a flower to impress
A little more than the less
When you wake up on your own, don’t you know that you were wrong?
When you wake up on your own, don’t you know that you were wrong?
Don’t you know that you are?
I know the deep past
I watch walk with the wrong crowd
I watch you fake it to the end
And you’ve been waiting for so long
All the day you’re on the tracks
You wore a flower to impress
A little more than the less
You’re searching lights now they talk, talk
When you wake up on your own, don’t you know that you were wrong?
When you wake up on your own, don’t you know that you were wrong?
When you wake up on your own, don’t you know that you were wrong?
When you wake up on your own, don’t you know that you were wrong?
Don’t you know that you are?
When you wake up on your own, don’t you know that you were wrong?
When you wake up on your own, don’t you know that you were wrong?
When you wake up on your own, don’t you know that you were wrong?
When you wake up on your own, don’t you know that you were wrong?
The lyrics of California Wives' song Los Angeles seems to be speaking to the feeling of being lost and overwhelmed in a big city. The opening line, "Los Angeles, arrived," suggests that the singer has just arrived in the city, and the next line, "The people talk, people talk now," highlights the constant hum of conversation and activity that surrounds them.
As the song continues, it becomes clear that the singer is struggling to find their footing in this new environment. They feel as though they are constantly waiting for something, whether it be a sense of direction or purpose. The line, "All the day you're on the tracks," paints a picture of the singer feeling stuck, like a train moving forward but never arriving at its destination.
The chorus, with its repetition of the phrase "When you wake up on your own, don't you know that you were wrong?" seems to be a plea for the singer to recognize their own mistakes and take responsibility for their own life. The lines, "You wore a flower to impress/A little more than the less" suggest that the singer has been attempting to fit in or impress others rather than being true to themselves.
Overall, the lyrics of "Los Angeles" create a sense of disorientation and confusion in a new environment, but also hint at the potential for self-discovery and growth if the singer is willing to look inward and make a change.
Line by Line Meaning
Los Angeles, arrived
We've finally made it to Los Angeles
The people talk, people talk now
We hear the chatter of the people in Los Angeles
The voices stick inside your head
The noise and buzz of Los Angeles stays with you
They make you wait now for so long
The wait in Los Angeles seems endless
All the day you’re on the tracks
We're always on the move in Los Angeles
You wore a flower to impress
You try to look your best in Los Angeles
A little more than the less
You try to be more than just average in Los Angeles
Told you once now you’re lost, lost
Someone warned you but you're now lost in the craziness of Los Angeles
When you wake up on your own, don’t you know that you were wrong?
Looking back, do you realize your mistakes and wrong decisions in Los Angeles?
Don’t you know that you are?
Do you know who you really are in the midst of the flashy facade of Los Angeles?
I know the deep past
I understand the history and culture of Los Angeles
I watch walk with the wrong crowd
I observe people who are making poor choices in Los Angeles
I watch you fake it to the end
I see people pretending to be someone they're not in Los Angeles
And you’ve been waiting for so long
The wait in Los Angeles seems endless
You’re searching lights now they talk, talk
You're now seeking the bright lights of Los Angeles, despite others talking about the downsides
Writer(s): Jayson Frank Kramer, Joseph John O'connor, Daniel Albert Zima Copyright: Vagrant Records Publishing
Contributed by Sophie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@buecar
Remember seeing you live back in the day and grabbing your CD, blew me away. I cannot remember who you opened for though - underrated band. Art History is fire from start to finish
@mamc11898
The best thing i've heard in my short 12 years of life.
@jimbiava4861
Keep searching for music that moves you; P.S. I'M OLD.
@lfamily2220
mitch!