He now tours under the name Dickey Betts and Great Southern, which has recently added Dickey's son, Duane Betts, on lead guitar.
In 2005 Betts released the live DVD "Live from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame".
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California Blues
Dickey Betts & Great Southern Lyrics
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LA goes on far as I can see
got an old time feelin'
somewhere down the line is calling me
been going' through the pages of my mind
wonder what I think I'm gonna find
it don't matter anyway
tomorrow I'll be leavin' you, LA.
California Blues, I know you well
what the hell, you're nothin' new to me
California Blues, you can never tell
could be I loved her more than she could see
Now, I walked in here grinnin'
I ain't winnin' but I'm leavin' like I came
I gambled with the love she gave
and like a fool I did not know the game
but the closest thing to winning must be losin'
and now and then it gets so damned confusin'
but it don't matter anyway
tomorrow I'll be leavin' you, LA
California Blues, I know you well
what the hell, you're nothin' new to me
California Blues, you can never tell
could be I loved her more than she could see
could be I wasn't what she wanted me to be
In the song "California Blues," Dickey Betts & Great Southern's singer describes his feelings about leaving Los Angeles. He is sitting in his big house and looking at LA, wondering what he will find as he goes through the pages of his mind. He has an old-time feeling that something down the line is calling him. He is leaving tomorrow anyway and feeling the pain of California Blues. He knows the feeling well, and it's nothing new to him. He wonders if he loved her more than she could see, and if he wasn't what she wanted him to be.
The song is about a man who's leaving LA and feeling the pain of the California Blues. He's been gambling with the love that she gave him, and now he's leaving like he came in. He wonders if he loved her more than she could see, and if he wasn't what she wanted him to be. He's on his way out, and he's not looking back.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' up here in a big house
I am relaxing in a large property in LA.
LA goes on far as I can see
I have a sweeping view of Los Angeles from where I am.
got an old time feelin'
I am experiencing a nostalgic sensation.
somewhere down the line is calling me
I feel a pull from my past.
been going' through the pages of my mind
I have been reflecting on my memories.
wonder what I think I'm gonna find
I am curious about what I will uncover.
it don't matter anyway
Whatever I find, it won't affect my decision to leave LA tomorrow.
tomorrow I'll be leavin' you, LA.
I will be departing from Los Angeles tomorrow.
California Blues, I know you well
I am familiar with the feeling of longing for California.
what the hell, you're nothin' new to me
Being torn between leaving and staying is not a new experience for me.
California Blues, you can never tell
It's hard to predict whether I will miss California or not.
could be I loved her more than she could see
Maybe I had deeper feelings for someone than they realized.
Now, I walked in here grinnin'
I entered this situation with a positive attitude.
I ain't winnin' but I'm leavin' like I came
I may not have succeeded, but I am leaving without any regrets.
I gambled with the love she gave
I took a risk by pursuing a romantic relationship.
and like a fool I did not know the game
I made naive mistakes because I didn't understand the complexity of the situation.
but the closest thing to winning must be losin'
Sometimes it feels like losing is the best outcome in a situation.
and now and then it gets so damned confusin'
Occasionally, my situation becomes overwhelmingly unclear.
could be I wasn't what she wanted me to be
It's possible that I didn't fit the expectations of the person I pursued.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DICKEY BETTS, FOREST RICHARD BETTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind