Alvin and his older brother Phil Alvin grew up loving Americana, country and blues. In 1979 they formed The Blasters with friends Bill Bateman and John Bazz.
Shortly after leaving the Blasters, Alvin joined X as lead guitarist after the departure of Billy Zoom. Alvin amicably left the group to work on a solo project shortly after the recording sessions for their album See How We Are. Alvin is also a member of country band The Knitters (composed mainly of members of X), appearing on 1987's Poor Little Critter on the Road and the 2005 follow-up, The Modern Sounds of The Knitters.
In the early 1980s Alvin, along with fellow Blasters members Bill Bateman and Steve Berlin, performed on several albums with the Los Angeles punk band The Flesh Eaters. These albums are considered precursors to what is now called "deathrock". Alvin also played with the band The Gun Club briefly, playing guitar on "Eternally Is Here" & "The Stranger in Our Town" from the 1984 album, The Las Vegas Story.
Alvin's first solo album, entitled Romeo's Escape (1987) in the United States and Every Night About This Time in England, added a purer country influence along with a larger side-portion of the blues; while the album was critically well received, it didn't fare well in the marketplace, and Alvin was dropped by his American record label, Columbia. Alvin suffered health problems which sidelined him for a while, except for a wild tour with friends Mojo Nixon and Country Dick Montana as the Pleasure Barons, which was described as "a Las Vegas revue from acts who aren't going to be asked to play Vegas." (A live album was released of a second Pleasure Barons tour in 1993.)
In 1989, Dwight Yoakam scored a hit on the country charts with Alvin's song "Long White Cadillac," and Alvin used the royalties to start work on his second solo set, Blue Blvd. Released by the California-based roots-music label Hightone Records in 1991, Blue Blvd received enthusiastic reviews and sold well enough to re-establish Alvin as a significant artist in the roots rock scene.
After releasing Museum of Heart in 1993, Alvin began to turn his attention to acoustic music with 1994's King of California, and over the next several years Alvin moved back and forth between hard-edged roots rock and more introspective acoustic material that still honored his influences (and allowed him to display a greater range as a vocalist).
In 2000, Alvin recorded a collection of traditional folk and blues classics, Public Domain: Songs From the Wild Land, which earned him a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
In 2011, Alvin released the album Eleven Eleven on Yep Roc Records. The album was a return to Alvin's rock roots. According to Rolling Stone, "Though Alvin has often switched between electric and acoustic, almost everything here is plugged in – above all Alvin, an under-recognized guitar hero."
www.davealvin.net
King Of California
Dave Alvin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
East of the Ohio River
My father said we'd never wed
For I had me no gold nor silver
But my darling dear, please shed no tears
But I think that it's fair to warn you
That I return to claim your hand
Over deserts hot and mountains cold
I traveled the Indian country
Whispering your name under lonesome skies
Remembering my only company
But my darling dear, please have no fear
For I think that it's fair to warn you
That I return to claim your hand
As the King of California
I went up from Sacramento town
To the Sierra gold fields
And I worked my stake on a riverbank?
Dreaming just how a rich man feels
Now my darling dear, listen here
For I think that it's fair to warn you
That I return to claim your hand
As the King of California
Now the dead man's lying at my feet
Who tried to steal my earnings
Yet I still recall your tender kiss
Though this bullet in my chest is burning
But my darling dear, please have no fear
For I think that it's fair to warn you
That I return to claim your hand
As the King of California
That I return to claim your hand
As the King of California
Dave Alvin’s “King of California” tells the story of a man who leaves his home and his love interest behind to seek gold and wealth in California. The song opens with the singer confessing that his father prevented him from marrying his true love because of his lack of gold or silver. The man, however, promises to return as the King of California to claim his lover’s hand. He travels through harsh and unrelenting terrains, across deserts and mountains. He remains lonely, but his love for his woman keeps him strong as he whispers her name under lonesome skies.
The man eventually reaches the Sierra gold fields and strikes gold there. He works his stake on a riverbank, living the life he dreamt of, knowing how a rich man felt. Unfortunately, he becomes embroiled in deadly confrontations in his quest for riches. In the second to last verse, he faces a man who tried to steal his earnings, and after a struggle, he kills the man in self-defense. Despite being shot, he remembers his love interest's tender kiss, which makes him want to return to her side as the King of California.
Dave Alvin's "King of California" is a ballad rich in metaphorical language, and its lyrics are a vivid depiction of the American dream, where everyone can overcome their obstacles and achieve greatness. It tells of the man’s determination, his grit, and his love for his woman, which pushes him forward in his arduous journey. Despite the hardships that come with pursuing wealth, he never forgets the woman he left behind, and she remains his driving force. The song's title, "King of California," may refer to the man's victorious return with his wealth, which potentially transforms him into the ultimate ruler of the land.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I left my home and my one true love
East of Ohio River
I abandoned my home and lover in the eastern side of Ohio River.
My father said we'd never wed
For I had me no gold nor silver
My dad didn't think my lover and I should marry since I had no money.
But my darling dear, please shed no tears
But I think that it's fair to warn you
That I return to claim your hand
As the King of California
My lover, don't worry, I will come back to you as the King of California and we'll be together.
Over deserts hot and mountains cold
I traveled the Indian country
Whispering your name under lonesome skies
Remembering my only company
I traveled across the Native American lands, whispering your name and thinking of you as my company.
I went up from Sacramento town
To the Sierra gold fields
And I worked my stake on a riverbank?
Dreaming just how a rich man feels
I went from Sacramento to the Sierra gold fields where I worked hard to become rich like the rest of the successful people there.
Now the dead man's lying at my feet
Who tried to steal my earnings
Yet I still recall your tender kiss
Though this bullet in my chest is burning
I killed somebody who tried to steal from me, but despite being shot, I still remember the sweet kiss I shared with you.
That I return to claim your hand
As the King of California
I will return to claim you as my wife and be the King of California, ruling over the land and its riches.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVE ALVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Atchley
This song is amazing and I'm sad that it doesn't have more views. This is one of those songs that moves me to tears and that's a short list.
Adana Gardner Marfield
Chris, I agree 100%. It moves me to tears. Every. Damn. Time.
Dave Decker
Viewed and acknowledge.
Been a king and a pauper here in Central California goin' on near 21 years. I LOVE the challenge. Makes life interesting.đź‘Ť
Jennings Sandlin
I like to cancel this app
Mark Dess
Just a great song … Dave has a unique and wonderful voice and is a terrific musician
Grace Newton
Ok...who is this guy?? I just heard him for the first time on Outlaw Country, a Sirius XM station, earlier today, and the voice struck me and resonated with me so I had to look him up. I usually have so much on my mind I kind of have certain music as background noise, but my ears perked up when this song came on, and it nearly moved me to tears. Not so much the lyrics, but the voice, the talent, and the calm vibe. How have I not heard of him? Just wow. More, please. Wow.
Patrick Hamrock
Los Angeles area artist. Started with Rockabilly. Incredible singer song writer
Patrick Hamrock
Downey Ca. Found the The Blasters Rockabilly. Band in late 70s. With Brother Phil.
Paul Barry
You are in for a wonderful musical adventure when you go through the Dave Alvin catalog.
760kdub
did the lune in the afternoon play this? Just curious, I Am of of Dave And Mojo! FAN! ,and a big fan of Country Dick!, Long Live the Pleasure Barrons!