All The Gold In California
Gatlin Brothers Lyrics


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All the gold in California is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills
In somebody else's name, so if you're dreaming about California
It don't matter at all where you've played before
California's a brand new game

Tryin' to be a hero, winding up a zero
Can scar a man forever right down to your soul
Living on the spotlight can kill a man outright
'Cause everything that glitters is not gold

And all the gold in California is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills
In somebody else's name, so if you're dreaming about California
It don't matter at all where you've played before
California's a brand new game

All the gold in California is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills
In somebody else's name, so if you're dreaming about California
It don't matter at all where you've played before
California's a brand new game




Brand new game
A brand new game

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "All the Gold in California" by Gatlin Brothers is a contemplation on the nature of California as a place of dreams and possibilities. The song is reflective of a time when the American west was still seen as a place of unbridled opportunities where anyone could make it big. The first lines of the song say it all - all the gold in California is locked up in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills, and it belongs to someone else.


The song cautions against the tendency to become starry-eyed about California and to overestimate its possibilities. The lyrics suggest that California is not the kind of place where past achievements or fame can guarantee success. The song also warns against the lure of immediate gratification, the tendency to try and be a hero and win everything in one go. Instead, the song offers a somber and cautionary note - "Tryin' to be a hero, winding up a zero / Can scar a man forever right down to your soul."


The song's overall message is that California is a brand new game, a new opportunity that requires a fresh start and a fresh approach. The song cautions against the pitfalls of chasing after immediate success and suggests that success in California requires a different mindset, a willingness to start anew and to persist despite setbacks. Ultimately, the song is a contemplation on the nature of success and what it takes to make it in a place that represents the American dream.


Line by Line Meaning

All the gold in California is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills
Most of the wealth of California is held in a bank located in the central area of Beverly Hills


In somebody else's name, so if you're dreaming about California
The wealth is owned by other people, so if you aspire to be rich in California,


It don't matter at all where you've played before
Your past achievements or successes are irrelevant in California,


California's a brand new game
California is a new, challenging environment where one has to start afresh and navigate new situations


Tryin' to be a hero, winding up a zero
Attempting to be a hero, but ending up a failure,


Can scar a man forever right down to your soul
Can cause emotional wounds that never heal,


Living on the spotlight can kill a man outright
Living under constant attention and scrutiny can be harmful and even fatal,


'Cause everything that glitters is not gold
Appearances can be deceiving; what looks valuable or desirable on the surface may not be so in reality


Brand new game
A completely new and unfamiliar situation that requires new strategies and approaches to succeed




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LARRY GATLIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@cyndie-anjellvernet4114

Righteous Gemstones anyone?

@matthewdinslage7179

Yes :).

@cyndie-anjellvernet4114

@@matthewdinslage7179 🤭

@Jiddy12345

REDEEEEMER!!!!!

@cyndie-anjellvernet4114

@@Jiddy12345 🤭Fu€|<ing Montgomerys!

@MrJballn

Danny McBride's out here destigmatizing ignorance lol

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@TrophyGuide101

This song is good all all but have you ever watched Baby Billy's Bible Bonkers?

@michaellrakes5521

Eagerly anticipating the debut of that blockbuster game show

@juliacroom4054

Who's listening in 2024

@bluexfourtwentyx

The Gemstones brought me here

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