It Never Rains in Southern California
Hammond & West Lyrics
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Didn't think before deciding what to do
Oh, that talk of opportunities, TV breaks and movies
Rang true, sure rang true
Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California
It pours, man, it pours
Out of work, I'm out of my head
Out of self respect, I'm out of bread
I'm underloved, I'm underfed
I wanna go home
It never rains in California
But girl, don't they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours
Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it?
Had offers but don't know which one to take
Please don't tell 'em how you found me
Don't tell 'em how you found me
Gimme a break, give me a break
Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California
But girl, don't they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours
The song "It Never Rains in Southern California" by Albert Hammond is an expression of the struggle of a man who leaves his hometown in search of economic opportunities and success in the land of Hollywood. The songโs first verse talks about how the singer made a life-changing decision by getting on board a westbound 747 without thinking about the consequences. He heard about the opportunities, the TV shows, and the movies in Hollywood, and he believed in them. However, the second verse portrays the reality which is very different from his expectations. The chorus emphasizes how the city is promotion as a place where it "never rains in Southern California", but in reality, the rain pours with the same intensity as anywhere else.
In the third stanza, the audience gets an insight into how the man struggles to adjust to the new world. He is out of work, out of self-respect, and underfed, which makes him miss his homeland. He misses his comforting zone and wants to go back to the place where he is loved, respected, and taken care of. The fourth stanza is about a man who is still struggling with his decisions, and he asks his loved ones not to tell anyone about his whereabouts. The song finally ends the way it started. The man is still trying to hold onto his dreams, but now he has accepted the reality that it never rains in California, but it pours.
Line by Line Meaning
Got on board a westbound 747
I boarded a westbound airplane without much thought
Didn't think before deciding what to do
I acted impulsively, without much consideration
Oh, that talk of opportunities, TV breaks and movies
I was convinced by the allure of opportunities in the entertainment industry
Rang true, sure rang true
It seemed like a genuine opportunity
Seems it never rains in southern California
The climate in southern California is typically dry and sunny
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
I've been promised similar opportunities in the past
It never rains in California
California is often associated with sunny weather
But girl, don't they warn ya?
People often warn about the harsh realities of the entertainment industry
It pours, man, it pours
Despite the promises of sunshine, there can be a lot of difficulty and hardship
Out of work, I'm out of my head
I don't have a job and it's starting to affect my mental state
Out of self respect, I'm out of bread
I'm struggling financially and it's damaging my self-worth
I'm underloved, I'm underfed
I'm feeling unloved and undernourished in all aspects of my life
I wanna go home
I'm feeling homesick and overwhelmed
Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it?
If I don't succeed, can you tell my family that I came close?
Had offers but don't know which one to take
I've been presented with opportunities, but I'm not sure which one is best
Please don't tell 'em how you found me
I don't want my family to know how much I'm struggling
Gimme a break, give me a break
Please give me some space and understanding
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Albert Hammond, Mike Hazlewood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pataprin
Got on board a westbound 747
Didn't think before deciding what to do
Oh, that talk of opportunities, TV breaks and movies
Rang true, sure rang true
Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California
But girl, don't they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours
Out of work, I'm out of my head
Out of self respect, I'm out of bread
I'm underloved, I'm underfed
I wanna go home
It never rains in California
But girl, don't they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours
Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it?
Had offers but don't know which one to take
Please don't tell 'em how you found me
Don't tell 'em how you found me
Gimme a break, give me a break
Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California
But girl, don't they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours
@joemaxwell1044
I'm in High school again listening to this on the radio. Through some kind of time warp I am in 2024. Please God take me back.
@tbailey6382
Today, 3/1/24 is my mom's birthday. She would be 52 years old, but she passed 36 days ago on 1/25/24. To celebrate her, I drove up the CA coast and stopped at El Matador Beach to write a happy bday message to her in the sand. It started sprinkling and there was a gentlemen playing this song nearby. I had never heard it before this moment.
@pfl387
So sorry for your loss, but what a beautiful way to celebrate your mom and so cool that this was being played in that moment (and that it was the first time you heard it!). I live in Chicago, but lived in LA for a short time years ago and El Matador was my favorite beach and this song was always on heavy rotation. :)
@frankiefrazer2988
I'm listening to this as it is raining in Southern California ๐
@quintonmaxfield5757
I have been cheated and lied to...
@watchandpray8918
What part?
@frankiefrazer2988
@@watchandpray8918 well when I first left the comment it was in orange county ๐
@watchandpray8918
@@frankiefrazer2988 I lived in OC for many years. I miss it but I won't return to Commiefornia.
@Theoraclealaynalove
Me too! ๐
@LunchNLauren
It is currently HEAVILY raining in southern cali but this song is hitting the spot!